Norma Waterson
| Norma Waterson | |
|---|---|
|
Martin Carthy and Norma Waterson at a Waterson–Carthy performance in Cranleigh, April 2006 | |
| Background information | |
| Born |
15 August 1939 Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England |
| Genres | Folk |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, record producer |
| Instruments | Vocalist, triangle |
| Labels | Hannibal Records, Topic Records |
| Associated acts | The Watersons, Martin Carthy, Waterson–Carthy, Blue Murder, Danny Thompson, Richard Thompson, Roger Swallow |
Norma Christine Waterson (born 15 August 1939) is an English musician, best known as one of the original members of The Watersons, a celebrated English traditional group. Other members of the group included her brother Mike Waterson and sister Lal Waterson,[1] a cousin John Harrison, and in later incarnations of the group her husband Martin Carthy.[2]
Waterson was born in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire and brought up there by her grandmother, who was half-Gypsy.[3] Her eponymously titled solo debut Norma Waterson was produced by John Chelew and released by Hannibal Records in 1996, and was well received in the scene (including a nomination for the Mercury Music Prize), featuring collaborations with her daughter, Eliza Carthy, Martin Carthy and other members of The Watersons, as well as Danny Thompson (Pentangle), Richard Thompson (Fairport Convention) and Roger Swallow (Albion Country Band).
In 1999, the follow-up The Very Thought of You was released by Hannibal Records and once again features Richard Thompson, Danny Thompson, Eliza Carthy and husband Martin Carthy.
In 2001, she released her first solo traditional folk album, Bright Shiny Morning, on Topic Records.
She is a member of Waterson–Carthy with Martin Carthy and Eliza Carthy, and of the "supergroup" Blue Murder. She has appeared on a variety of collective recordings, notably Peter Bellamy's The Transports. In 2008, Norma made a guest appearance alongside Mike Waterson on Scottish musician James Yorkston's album When the Haar Rolls in, singing her sister Lal Waterson's song, "Midnight Feast".
In 2009 the accompanying book to the Topic Records 70 year anniversary boxed set Three Score and Ten lists two Watersons albums and one Waterson–Carthy album as classic albums. These are Frost and Fire,[4]:34 For Pence and Spiced Ale[4]:46 and Waterson:Carthy.[4]:76 The tracks that Norma performs on are Hal-An-Tow track eleven on the second CD, Three Score and Ten track seventeen and We Poor Labouring Men with Waterson:Carthy track twenty one both on the sixth CD and with Blue Murder on No One Stands Alone on track twenty two of the seventh CD.
In 2010, Waterson released an album of collaborations with her daughter Eliza entitled Gift. A BBC reviewer wrote: "The gift in question here, one gathers, is a handing of talent from generation to generation; Norma Waterson and Eliza Carthy are, after all, the sublimely gifted mother and daughter who make up part of British folk’s great dynasty." Commenting on the final song, "Shallow Brown", the reviewer noted: "Backed variously by other family members, including Eliza’s father Martin Carthy on guitar as well as her cousin Oliver Knight on electric guitar, vocals and cello, there is a real sense of congregation and rootedness about this song, and indeed this record as a whole. Long may the dynasty flourish."[5]
References
- ↑ Pareles, Jon (4 December 1987). "Watersons, Folk Singers From Britain". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
- ↑ Harris, Craig. "Biography: The Watersons". Allmusic. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
- ↑ Denselow, Robin (31 October 2010). "Norma Waterson and Eliza Carthy – review". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
- 1 2 3 Three Score and Ten Accompanying Book
- ↑ Barton, Laura (21 July 2010). "Mother and daughter's first album as a folk duo is a beguiling listen.". BBC Music. Retrieved 17 August 2010.