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Judy Collins' Early Years
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Judy Collinswas born the eldest of five on May 1, 1939, in Seattle, where she lived for 10 years before moving to Denver with her musically inclined, blind father.
Inheriting her dad’s talents, Collins was a piano prodigy. At age 13, she pursued an impressive music career and dazzled audiences performing Mozart’s “Concerto for Two Pianos.”
02of 15Judy Collins' Love LifeRobin Platzer/GettyCollins married Peter Taylor in 1958 and had her only child,Clark C. Taylor, with him that same year. After they divorced in 1965, she married designerLouis Nelsonin 1996.After 25 years of marriage,Collins told PEOPLE of Nelson, “He’s just an amazing person.”
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Judy Collins' Love Life
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Collins married Peter Taylor in 1958 and had her only child,Clark C. Taylor, with him that same year. After they divorced in 1965, she married designerLouis Nelsonin 1996.
After 25 years of marriage,Collins told PEOPLE of Nelson, “He’s just an amazing person.”
03of 15Judy Collins' Debut Album ReleaseMichael Ochs Archives/GettyCollins made her masterful debut withA Maid of Constant Sorrowin 1961 at age 22 through Elektra Records. The album consisted of a collection of interpretive works from social poets includingBob Dylan, Phil Ochs, and Tom Paxton.WhileA Maid of Constant Sorrowwas her first record, it wasWildflowersthat gained widely-acclaimed recognition in 1967 — following her 1966 albumIn My Life, housing her first-charting single “Hard Lovin' Loser.”
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Judy Collins' Debut Album Release
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty
Collins made her masterful debut withA Maid of Constant Sorrowin 1961 at age 22 through Elektra Records. The album consisted of a collection of interpretive works from social poets includingBob Dylan, Phil Ochs, and Tom Paxton.
WhileA Maid of Constant Sorrowwas her first record, it wasWildflowersthat gained widely-acclaimed recognition in 1967 — following her 1966 albumIn My Life, housing her first-charting single “Hard Lovin' Loser.”
04of 15Judy Collins' Influence on FolkSulfiati Magnuson/GettyCollins' trailblazed when she made her way to N.Y.C.’s Greenwich Village and thrived within the folk community throughout the 1960s. She not only put forth her own music, but helped amplify the voices of other musicians — includingJoni Mitchelland Randy Newman — to a wider audience before they gained worldwide recognition.Collins' work mainly consisted of guitar-based folk prior toIn My Life— the pivotal album that sourced from artists includingThe Beatlesand added lush orchestration to many of the songs, diversifying her future sound in the projects that followed.
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Judy Collins' Influence on Folk
Sulfiati Magnuson/Getty
Collins' trailblazed when she made her way to N.Y.C.’s Greenwich Village and thrived within the folk community throughout the 1960s. She not only put forth her own music, but helped amplify the voices of other musicians — includingJoni Mitchelland Randy Newman — to a wider audience before they gained worldwide recognition.
Collins' work mainly consisted of guitar-based folk prior toIn My Life— the pivotal album that sourced from artists includingThe Beatlesand added lush orchestration to many of the songs, diversifying her future sound in the projects that followed.
05of 15Judy Collins' Grammy Award WinRon Galella/Ron Galella Collection via GettyHaving earned a number of accolades, graced the top of the charts and influenced an entire genre of music, Collins has had an undeniably successful musical career. The artist has nabbed sixGrammy Awardnominations to date andone win in 1969.She took home the coveted gramophone for “Both Sides, Now” in the best folk recording category.
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Judy Collins' Grammy Award Win
Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty
Having earned a number of accolades, graced the top of the charts and influenced an entire genre of music, Collins has had an undeniably successful musical career. The artist has nabbed sixGrammy Awardnominations to date andone win in 1969.
She took home the coveted gramophone for “Both Sides, Now” in the best folk recording category.
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Judy Collins' Political Wave
Elektra
As Collins further cemented her stardom status, she began to diversify her music — even using it as apolitical platformfor her longtime activism endeavors, particularly with 1976’sBread and Roses.
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Judy Collins' Oscar Nomination
Gus Stewart/Redferns
Alongside Jill Godmilow, Collins co-directedAntonia: A Portrait of the Womanin 1974, a documentary that centered on Antonia Brico, the first female conductor to conduct major orchestras in the U.S. and Europe.
08of 15Judy Collins on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonFred Sabine/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via GettyCollins left Elektra Records after her 1984Home Againalbum’s poor sales performance. Despite her departure after 23 years, she signed several record deals and continued to release music throughout the 1980s and 1990s, includingFires of Edenwith Columbia Records.She performed the aforementioned album’s title track onThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonandThe Joan Rivers Show. She filmed a music video for it and Cher even recorded the single for her 1991 albumLove Hurts.Collins was also invited to perform atBill Clinton’s first Presidential Inauguration in 1993, where she performed “Amazing Grace” and “Chelsea Morning,” the song that is credited as theClinton’s inspiration behind naming their daughter.
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Judy Collins on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Fred Sabine/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty
Collins left Elektra Records after her 1984Home Againalbum’s poor sales performance. Despite her departure after 23 years, she signed several record deals and continued to release music throughout the 1980s and 1990s, includingFires of Edenwith Columbia Records.
She performed the aforementioned album’s title track onThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonandThe Joan Rivers Show. She filmed a music video for it and Cher even recorded the single for her 1991 albumLove Hurts.
Collins was also invited to perform atBill Clinton’s first Presidential Inauguration in 1993, where she performed “Amazing Grace” and “Chelsea Morning,” the song that is credited as theClinton’s inspiration behind naming their daughter.
09of 15Judy Collins' Onscreen SuccessesBrad Barket/GettyCollins releasedJudy Collins Live at the Metropolitan Museum of Arton DVD in 2012. The special, which also aired on CBS,received acclaimed recognition, including a New York Emmy nomination and a Bronze Medal win at the 2013 New York Festival International Television & Film Awards.Collins later put out another live show recording from her 2014 gig at Dromoland Castle in Ireland, which also won a Bronze Medal at the 2014 New York Festival International Television & Film Awards.
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Judy Collins' Onscreen Successes
Brad Barket/Getty
Collins releasedJudy Collins Live at the Metropolitan Museum of Arton DVD in 2012. The special, which also aired on CBS,received acclaimed recognition, including a New York Emmy nomination and a Bronze Medal win at the 2013 New York Festival International Television & Film Awards.
Collins later put out another live show recording from her 2014 gig at Dromoland Castle in Ireland, which also won a Bronze Medal at the 2014 New York Festival International Television & Film Awards.
10of 15Judy Collins' Comeback Grammy NominationJeff Kravitz/FilmMagicCollins continued to film and release several of her live performances in the years that followed, dazzling audiences with her voice and music. But in 2017, she grabbed the attention of theRecording Academywith herSilver Skies Bluealbum released in 2016.Featuring her writing partner Ari Hest, the collaborative album was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2017 for best folk album, marking the first Grammy nomination for Collins in over 40 years.
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Judy Collins' Comeback Grammy Nomination
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Collins continued to film and release several of her live performances in the years that followed, dazzling audiences with her voice and music. But in 2017, she grabbed the attention of theRecording Academywith herSilver Skies Bluealbum released in 2016.
Featuring her writing partner Ari Hest, the collaborative album was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2017 for best folk album, marking the first Grammy nomination for Collins in over 40 years.
11of 15Judy Collins' Social Activism EffortsRay Mickshaw/WireImageCollins has incorporated her political and social ideologies into her music for decades. She’s been a representative of several nonprofit organizations and causes includingUNICEF, as well as a longtime advocate for suicide prevention, mental health awareness and stigma reduction.
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Judy Collins' Social Activism Efforts
Ray Mickshaw/WireImage
Collins has incorporated her political and social ideologies into her music for decades. She’s been a representative of several nonprofit organizations and causes includingUNICEF, as well as a longtime advocate for suicide prevention, mental health awareness and stigma reduction.
12of 15Judy Collins' Published BooksCrownCollins has also written a number of books includingSanity & Graceand her tell-all memoir,Sweet Judy Blue Eyes: My Life in Music. In 2017, she releasedCravings, a book that chroniclesher past personal struggles with eating disordersand her journey to recovery.
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Judy Collins' Published Books
Crown
Collins has also written a number of books includingSanity & Graceand her tell-all memoir,Sweet Judy Blue Eyes: My Life in Music. In 2017, she releasedCravings, a book that chroniclesher past personal struggles with eating disordersand her journey to recovery.
13of 15Judy Collins' Grammy Hall of Fame InductionGai Terrell/RedfernsIn 2017, Collins' famed rendition ofJoni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now"off her 1967 albumWildflowerswas entered into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
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Judy Collins' Grammy Hall of Fame Induction
Gai Terrell/Redferns
In 2017, Collins' famed rendition ofJoni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now"off her 1967 albumWildflowerswas entered into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
14of 15Judy Collins' Legacy TributeKMazur/WireImageIn 2008, contemporary and classic artists honored Collins' legacy with a tribute compilation album titledBorn to the Breed: A Tribute to Judy Collins.Rufus Wainwright, Shawn Colvin,Dolly Parton,Joan Baez, andLeonard Cohenwere all featured on the project, and a portion of the proceeds from album sales went to the Jazz Foundation of America.
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Judy Collins' Legacy Tribute
KMazur/WireImage
In 2008, contemporary and classic artists honored Collins' legacy with a tribute compilation album titledBorn to the Breed: A Tribute to Judy Collins.Rufus Wainwright, Shawn Colvin,Dolly Parton,Joan Baez, andLeonard Cohenwere all featured on the project, and a portion of the proceeds from album sales went to the Jazz Foundation of America.
15of 15Judy Collins' Most Recent WorkPer Ole Hagen/RedfernsAfter a career spanning six decades, Collins is still going strong. In 2019, she released an album titledWinter Storiesin collaboration with critically-acclaimed Norwegian folk artist Jonas Fjeld and bluegrass band Chatham Country Line.In February 2022, she put out her sixth album in six years titledSpellbound— also marking her first record of entirely original songs and her 29th studio album.“You have to be somehow in a place that you can trust yourself and the rest of the world,“she told PEOPLE exclusively. “It takes courage, and I wanted this to bemystory.”
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Judy Collins' Most Recent Work
Per Ole Hagen/Redferns
After a career spanning six decades, Collins is still going strong. In 2019, she released an album titledWinter Storiesin collaboration with critically-acclaimed Norwegian folk artist Jonas Fjeld and bluegrass band Chatham Country Line.
In February 2022, she put out her sixth album in six years titledSpellbound— also marking her first record of entirely original songs and her 29th studio album.
“You have to be somehow in a place that you can trust yourself and the rest of the world,“she told PEOPLE exclusively. “It takes courage, and I wanted this to bemystory.”
source: people.com
