Maddy Prior

Maddy Prior is a British folk singer.

Maddy was born on 14th August 1947 in Blackpool. While in her teens she moved to St Albans. In St. Albans she befriended the young Donovan Leitch and Mac

Maddy Prior is a British folk singer.

Maddy was born on 14th August 1947 in Blackpool. While in her teens she moved to St Albans. In St. Albans she befriended the young Donovan Leitch and Mac MacLeod. She later formed a duo with MacLeod called Mac & Maddy. In 1966 she began performing with Tim Hart, another St Albans resident, and together they recorded two albums before becoming founding members of Steeleye Span in 1970. They were the backbone of the group until the early 1980s when ill-health forced Tim into semi-retirement. Maddy married bassist Rick Kemp, and their daughter, Rose Kemp, launched her own recording career in 2003. Although best known as the powerful soprano in Steeleye Span, Maddy has recorded session work, albums of her own songs and eclectic styles from medieval, through folk-rock, prog-rock and traditional songs. She left Steeleye Span in 1997 but returned in 1999.