Judy Dyble, R.I.P.

Singer, songwriter, autoharp player and flautist Judy Dyble, best known for her brief stint with the 1960's British folk rock group Fairport Convention, passed away this morning after a lengthy battle with cancer. She was 71.

Dyble was Fairport Convention's first female vocalist and sang on their eponymous 1968 debut album. One of Dyble's idiosyncrasies was to knit during ex-boyfriend Richard Thompson's guitar solos or even when Jimi Hendrix would perform in London. However, when Fairport Convention shifted to a pure folk music outfit, Dyble would be replaced by Sandy Denny.

Undeterred, Dyble and boyfriend Ian McDonald would briefly collaborate with the trio Giles, Giles and Fripp who later became King Crimson. Dyble would then form the duo Trader Horne with ex-Them keyboard player and backup singer Jackie McAuley. They would record one album titled Morning Way which was released in 1970 to a limited reception. However since it's re-issue in 2008 it has garnered critical acclaim.

Dyble largely moved away from music after the commercial failure of Morning Way with the exception of sporadic guest appearances at Fairport Convention's annual Cropredy Convention. It wasn't until 2003 that Dyble resumed writing, performing and recording music on a full time basis releasing several albums the most successful of which was Talking with Strangers (2009).

At the time of her death, Dyble was collaborating with David Longdon of the British prog-rock band Big, Big Train on an album called Between A Breath & A Breath which is due out in September.

I leave you with Dyble performing Richard Farina's "Reno, Nevada" with Fairport Convention on French TV in April 1968. R.I.P.