British musician and singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading turns 74 today. She was born in the British colony of Saint Christopher and Nevis and moved to Anigua when she was three. Four years later she joined her parents in Brookfields, a district of Birmingham. Around age fourteen she began teaching herself to play guitar. She left school at age 15 to help support her family. She was fired from her first job because she took her guitar to work and would play it during tea-breaks. At age 16 she began playing in the local area, mainly relying on her own songs. By age 18 she had joined a touring comp-any of Hair. Armatrading released her debut album, Whatever's for Us, in 1972. By the mid-Seventies, she became the first Black British female singer to enjoy international success. And the songs and the acclaim just kept coming.
Armatrading is also known for supporting new music and local talent. she released a three-disc compilation featuring takes from 56 singer-songwriter/artists, each of whom opened for her in their respective home towns during her 2012 Starlight tour. Among her many awards, she was made an Honorary Fellow in 2022 of Newnham College, Cambridge; in giving the award, the college said, "We believe that Ms Armatrading embodies and lives the spirit of Newnham. Intellectually curious and focused on achieving her potential, she is pioneering, inspiring, supporting and sharing."
When asked which book she would choose to have with her if she were a castaway on a desert island, Armatrading picked Why Don't They Ask Evans? by Agatha Christie.
"Love and Affection"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oag3I4VRXyM
"The Weakness in Me"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i95GcmpXPe0
"Drop the Pilot"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ak_C18uh2Bo
"Here's What I Know"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxTa-tSx-lc
"Down to Zero"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7147pAjGbpU
"More Than One Kind of Love"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6SdtRjiXh0
"Me Myself I"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ibds7i_jLWw
"Willow"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pU35pF0JYCE
"25 Kisses"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M24W35NbpcY
"Barefoot and Pregnant"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xiWCBNMYvw&list=PLbonMlLqZPFuDrq87S_HWUOayRKoAnE_U&index=1
"Taking My Baby Up Town"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGLZDimtDw8&list=PLbonMlLqZPFuDrq87S_HWUOayRKoAnE_U&index=7
"Save Me"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoOdRrVwRiA
A nearly lifelong favorite. I think WKRP IN CINCINNATI put me onto her ca. 1978.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRyfwZfLF9c "Kind Words and a Real Good Heart" the album cut...for a more danceable than improved extended mix: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaQ-kgPBWU0. Probably the most happifying listener call I received during my short run on WPPR-FM in Philadelphia was from a young mostly hip-hop fan who heard me spinning "Kind Words..." and was blown away, not having yet heard of Armatrading.
ReplyDeleteThe name is familiar but I could not name a song. So sad, I missed so much music in my lifetime.
ReplyDeleteAnd, Jerry...I didn't double-check...JA's birthday is Today, 12/9!
ReplyDeleteYeah, this was supposed to run today, not yesterday. **sigh**
DeleteTry playing any of Jerry's links or mine, Patti!
ReplyDelete