Sandy Denny - The Tragedy of a Talented Singer

Sandy Denny was one of the greatest singer-songwriters on the British folk scene in the beginning of the Seventies. But what made such a talent go to waste in a turbulent life ending in a tragic death long before it was time to go?

Originally trained as a nurse and studying at art college she made her first performances in a small folk club--and her band career started out when David Cousins noticed her talent and had her join his band The Strawbs.

Next she joined Fairport Convention, the band that basically invented the British folk-rock scene in the late Sixties, and she had a major influence in changing the course of the band into playing traditional material and making that unique style that has since then inspired a vast number of folk-rock bands, mostly known perhaps Jethro Tull.

Later she pursued her own solo career writing and playing her own material which has a very unique and personal style that one can easily be addicted to. After discovering her music I practically did not listen to any other music than Sandy Denny for a year--I could repeat the CDs--one after the other and never got tired of the beautiful songs so personally and perfectly rendered.

Unfortunately, a vast talent and potential, does not guarantee that the personal life is going to be perfect. Like any of us she was also disposed for the bad influences in life--alcohol to kill the boring waiting time at tours, and perhaps she could have done something to transform those great songs into more mainstream forms which could have given the needed feeling of success and resources when lack of self-confidence sets in. In the same way, the people you surround yourself with is, can have major impact.

Especially artists are vulnerable to this when you first and foremost want to practice your art but do not aim the necessary energy at protecting yourself from bad influence of those who make a living criticising. I am certain that she was missing a stable guideline for living--getting married (to fellow folk musician Trevor Lucas) could have been the stabilizing point. But it seems that her personal problems stood in the way of her own success, also on this subject.

While her songs stands out as unique and of high caliber, her physical health declined and it even affected her as singer--she could definitely express the emotion and lyrics better as ever but her technique was suffering and singing put her out of breath. One day she fell down the stairs--and passed away some weeks later from the injury.

Expressed cynically, this was no surprising end of the declining line of the talented Sandy Denny. Yet, her music remains today and many young musicians is rediscovered her music today.

Here is to a great artist. Sandy Denny.