English Singer-songwriter and Folk-Rock Pioneer Judy Dyble Dies at 71

English singer-songwriter Judy Dyble passed away on July 12^th, 2020 following a long illness. Judy Dyble was one of the forerunners of the English folk rock scene in the 1960s, most remarkably as a founding member of celebrated band Fairport Convention and also as vocalist with cult band Trader Horne.

Judith Aileen Dyble was born on February 13, 1949 in London, England. She performed folk music in the 1960s and was a founding member of seminal folk-rock band Fairport Convention.

She also worked with progressive rock musicians Giles, Giles & Fripp who later founded king Crimson.

Judy essentially withdrew from the music scene in the early 1970s to concentrate on her family. She was invited to participate in the Fairport Convention 30^th anniversary reunion in 1997 at Cropredy. She continued to perform concerts with Fairport Convention in the following years.

Judy was also very interested in progressive music and made three albums with Marc Swordfish, of ambient trance band Astralasia, as she started a revival of her music career. She appeared as guest on albums by various artists including, in 2017, celebrated progressive rock band Big Big Train. Judy went on to form a close working relationship with Big Big Train’s multi-instrumentalist frontman David Longdon. They recorded an album together titled ‘Between A Breath And A Breath’ that is set for release on September 25^th, 2020.  Longdon provides the music for Judy’s touching lyrics.

David Longdon stated: “It is with great sadness that I write to say that my dear friend Judy Dyble passed away this morning. Judy and I became friends during the writing and making of this album. Along the way, there was much laughter and joy – but also challenging moments. She was a woman of a certain age and she wrote articulately and unflinchingly about the autumn phase of her life.”

“She dealt with her illness with incredible courage and fortitude. She suspected this album was her swan song and she gave it her all. Judy reassured me that she’d had a great life. Which indeed she did. And I will miss her greatly.”

Her solo discography includes Summer Dancing (Acid Jazz, 2017); Gathering The Threads – Fifty Years of Stuff (Starcrazy, 2015); Live at WMJazz (Cromerzone, 2014); Flow and Change (Gonzo Multimedia, 2013); Grey October Day (featuring The Curator), with Tim Bowness (Starcrazy, 2011); Starcrazy (Classic Rock – Future Publishing, 2011); Fragile E.P (Brilliant Records, 2011); Every Sentimental Moment, with King’s Cross (Fixit Records, 2009); Talking with Strangers (Fixit Records, 2009); Songs From Spindle & The Whorl (Fungus Records, 2007); The Whorl (Talking Elephant, 2006); Spindle (Talking Elephanty, 2006); and Enchanted Garden (Talking Elephant, 2004).