Judy Dyble, singer and early member of British folk band Fairport Convention, has died from a long-term illness. She was 71.
Born in London, Dyble formed her first band, Judy and the Folkmen, in 1964; they played exactly one gig. She joined a nascent Fairport Convention—commonly considered to be the first British folk-rock group—in 1967, shortly before they recorded their self-titled debut album, and left the band in May 1968, just before it was released.
Dyble would later sing in Robert Fripp’s early band Giles, Giles and Fripp, as well as forming Trader Horne with Jackie McAuley. After an extended hiatus, she would release several solo albums in the 2000s. The singer had been recording an album with Big Big Train frontman David Longdon, set to be released later this year.