After a long period of ill health grande dame of folk Norma Waterson has died at the age of 82. When Norma sang a song it bloody well stayed sung, to the extent that it was hard to imagine why anyone else would bother trying it.
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If there was a song to post that epitomised her it would be this one. It got played an awful lot at the time of release. Will dig it out tonight – it’s a very good album that it comes from.
Not unexpected but a great shame nevertheless. I did wonder if she was going to come out again, when I heard that she was in hospital a week or so back.
A great lady. I count myself lucky to have seen her sing a few times.
So sad to hear that Norma has passed. Gone to join Lal. It’s one of my great musical regrets that I never saw either of them perform.
Norma Waterson was a towering figure in traditional music. A powerful, unforgettable voice. Many condolences to Martin, Eliza, and all her other family members.
Very well expressed, Du Cool.
One of the great voices of English folk music. We will not see her like again.
Back to 1996, and Norma with something of a folk supergroup:
Martin Carthy on rhythm guitar, Eliza Carthy on vocals, Richard Thompson on guitar, Dave Mattacks on drums and Danny Thompson on bass.
Hopefully she saw recently a demonstration of how widely she and her family were appreciated and loved. RIP Norma.
It must be 20+ years ago now, but I saw the Waterson-Carthy family lineup in the Cambridge Junction. There was a fundraiser for a couple of Cambridge academics who had been held in some foreign chokey on trumped-up spying charges.
The great and the good of the Cambridge scene did their sets. Then Norma, Martin, Eliza (who had not long since released her Red/Rice set) and the rest of the clan took to the stage. To say they blew the support acts off stage would be an understatement.
Norma Waterson? She was a Great.
R.I.P.
My favourite singer. There are shades and depths in this I can’t think I have heard anyone else do. https://youtu.be/5JWzLjEPoyM
Saw her several times the upstairs of a pub nearly 50 years ago with the Watersons, the RAH with the Mighty River of Song, and with Waterson/Carthy.
I have a friend who dances with Goathland Plough Stots, Eliza plays fiddle for them. After their dance out one January after the meal Norma “sang for her supper” accompanied by Eliza. A lovely moment.
A wonderful person who just loved to sing.
Astonishing singer. Thanks for the songs and the singing.