Collins, Judy (1939–)
Collins, Judy (1939–)
American folksinger, writer, and filmmaker. Born May 1, 1939, in Seattle, Washington; dau. of Chuck Collins (bandleader); sister of Holly Collins (dancer); studied piano with Antonia Brico; m. Peter Taylor, 1958 (div. 1965); m. Louis Nelson (designer), 1996; children: Clark (b. 1959, committed suicide 1992).
Studied classical piano from age 5 and made public debut at 13 with Denver Symphony Orchestra; began singing folksongs in coffeehouses (late 1950s); released debut A Maid of Constant Sorrow (1961); covered and popularized songs by Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, and Randy Newman; earned mainstream success with singles "Both Sides Now" (1968) and "Send in the Clowns" (1975); acted in New York Shakespeare Festival's Peer Gynt (1969); produced celebrated documentary on Antonia Brico, Antonia: Portrait of the Woman (1974); released albums Wildflowers (1967), Recollections (1969), Judith (1975), Hard Times for Lovers (1979), Fires of Eden (1990), and All on a Wintry Night (2000); inspired Crosby, Stills, and Nash song "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes"; recorded album of Bob Dylan songs (1993); published 1st novel and released accompanying album Shameless (1995); founded own record label Wildflower. Song "Chelsea Morning" inspired first daughter Chelsea Clinton's name.
See also autobiographies, Trust Your Heart (1987) and Singing Lessons: A Memoir of Love, Loss, Hope an Healing (1998).