Norma Waterson
Encyclopedia
Norma Christine Waterson (born 15 August 1939) is an English
musician, best known as one of the original members of The Watersons
, a premier English traditional group. Other members of the group included her brother Mike Waterson
and sister Lal Waterson
, and in later incarnations of the group her husband Martin Carthy
.
Waterson was born in Hull
, East Riding of Yorkshire
. Her eponymously titled solo debut was produced
by John Chelew and released by Hannibal Records
in 1996, and was well-received in the scene (including a nomination for the prestigious 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".
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
musician, best known as one of the original members of The Watersons
The Watersons
The Watersons were an English folk group from Hull, Yorkshire. They performed mainly traditional songs with little or no accompaniment. Their distinctive sound came from their closely woven harmonies.-Career:...
, a premier English traditional group. Other members of the group included her brother Mike Waterson
Mike Waterson
Michael Waterson was an English writer, songwriter and folk singer.Waterson was born in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. He is best known as a member of The Watersons, with his sisters Lal Waterson and Norma Waterson and his brother-in-law Martin Carthy...
and sister Lal Waterson
Lal Waterson
Lal Waterson was an English folksinger and songwriter. She sang with, among others, The Watersons, The Waterdaughters and Blue Murder. She was born in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire and died suddenly in Robin Hood's Bay, of cancer diagnosed only ten days before...
, and in later incarnations of the group her husband Martin Carthy
Martin Carthy
Martin Carthy MBE is an English folk singer and guitarist who has remained one of the most influential figures in British traditional music, inspiring contemporaries such as Bob Dylan and Paul Simon and later artists such as Richard Thompson since he emerged as a young musician in the early days...
.
Waterson was born in Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
, East Riding of Yorkshire
East Riding of Yorkshire
The East Riding of Yorkshire, or simply East Yorkshire, is a local government district with unitary authority status, and a ceremonial county of England. For ceremonial purposes the county also includes the city of Kingston upon Hull, which is a separate unitary authority...
. Her eponymously titled solo debut was produced
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
by John Chelew and released by Hannibal Records
Hannibal Records
Hannibal Records was a record label and one of the first to work with the World music genre.Hannibal was started by Joe Boyd in 1980. Boyd had produced records by artists such as Nick Drake, The Incredible String Band and Fairport Convention and released recordings by these artists as well as...
in 1996, and was well-received in the scene (including a nomination for the prestigious Mercury Music Prize), featuring collaborations with her daughter, Eliza Carthy
Eliza Carthy
Eliza Carthy is an English folk musician known for both singing and playing fiddle. She is the daughter of English folk musicians singer/guitarist Martin Carthy and singer Norma Waterson.-Life and career:...
, Martin Carthy and other members of The Watersons, as well as Danny Thompson
Danny Thompson
Daniel Henry Edward 'Danny' Thompson is an English multi-instrumentalist best known as a double bassist and businessman...
(Pentangle
Pentangle (band)
Pentangle are a British folk rock band with some folk jazz influences. The original band were active in the late 1960s and early 1970s and a later version has been active since the early 1980s...
), Richard Thompson (Fairport Convention
Fairport Convention
Fairport Convention are an English folk rock and later electric folk band, formed in 1967 who are still recording and touring today. They are widely regarded as the most important single group in the English folk rock movement...
) and Roger Swallow
Roger Swallow
Roger Swallow is an English producer, musician and songwriter. He was a member of The Albion Band and worked with many artistes in the late 1960s early '70s as a session and touring drummer/percussionist.- Biography :...
(Albion Country Band
Albion Country Band
The Albion Band, also known as The Albion Country Band and The Albion Dance Band, were an English electric folk band, brought together and led by musician Ashley Hutchings...
).
In 1999, the follow-up The Very Thought of You was released by Hannibal Records
Hannibal Records
Hannibal Records was a record label and one of the first to work with the World music genre.Hannibal was started by Joe Boyd in 1980. Boyd had produced records by artists such as Nick Drake, The Incredible String Band and Fairport Convention and released recordings by these artists as well as...
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
Topic Records
Topic Records is a British folk music label, which played a major role in the second British folk revival. It began as an offshoot of the Workers' Music Association in 1939, making it the oldest independent record label in the world.-History:...
.
She is a member of Waterson:Carthy
Waterson:Carthy
Waterson:Carthy are an English folk group originally comprising Norma Waterson on vocals, her husband Martin Carthy on guitar and vocals and their daughter Eliza Carthy on fiddle and vocals....
with Martin Carthy and Eliza Carthy, and of the "supergroup" Blue Murder
Blue Murder (folk)
Blue Murder is an occasional English folk "supergroup", consisting at various times of various members of Swan Arcade, Coope Boyes and Simpson, Waterson:Carthy and The Watersons....
. She has appeared on a variety of collective recordings, notably Peter Bellamy
Peter Bellamy
Peter Franklyn Bellamy was an English folk singer. He was a founding member of The Young Tradition but also had a long solo career, recording numerous albums and touring folk clubs and concert halls...
's The Transports. In 2008, Norma made a guest appearance alongside Mike Waterson
Mike Waterson
Michael Waterson was an English writer, songwriter and folk singer.Waterson was born in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. He is best known as a member of The Watersons, with his sisters Lal Waterson and Norma Waterson and his brother-in-law Martin Carthy...
on Scottish musician James Yorkston
James Yorkston
-Music career:A native of Fife, James Yorkston was an integral early member of the Fence Collective whose reach across contemporary music continues to lengthen: King Creosote, The Aliens, KT Tunstall, The Beta Band...
's album When the Haar Rolls in
When the Haar Rolls in
When the Haar Rolls In is an album by James Yorkston.Due to be released on September 1, 2008 in the UK, When the Haar Rolls In is the fourth studio album by Yorkston...
, singing her sister Lal Waterson
Lal Waterson
Lal Waterson was an English folksinger and songwriter. She sang with, among others, The Watersons, The Waterdaughters and Blue Murder. She was born in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire and died suddenly in Robin Hood's Bay, of cancer diagnosed only ten days before...
's song, "Midnight Feast".