Artist Details
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ID
10
First Name
Joan
Last Name
Armatrading
Display Name
Joan Armatrading
Biography
<p>Joan Armatrading's synthesis of folk, reggae, soul, and rock has made her a critical and cult favorite in America, where <i>Me, Myself, I </i>(#28, 1980) and <i>The Key </i>(#32, 1980) were successful. In Europe, particularly in the U.K., she is a major star. She left the West Indies and moved to England with her family while still a child. She began her professional career in 1972 in collaboration with lyricist Pam Nestor (born April 28, 1948, Guyana), but by the mid-Seventies the two had parted.</p><p>A distinctive vocalist and lyricist, Armatrading has worked with producers Gus Dudgeon, Glyn Johns, Richard Gottehrer, and Steve Lillywhite, but generally does her own arranging; she produced <i>Heart and Flowers</i>. Her backup bands have included alumni of Fairport Convention and Little Feat, and guitarist Albert Lee. Except for a sole charting single, "Drop the Pilot" (#78, 1983), from <i>The Key</i> Armatrading has had relatively little commercial success in the States. In comparison, her albums have consistently charted in the U.K. Top Thirty, with <i>Show Some Emotion, Me, Myself, I, Walk Under Ladders</i>, and <i>The Key</i> going Top Ten.</p>