Maddy Prior

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Maddy Prior MBE
Prior at Fairport's Cropredy Convention in 2016.
Background information
Birth name	Madeleine Edith Prior
Born	(1947-08-14) 14 August 1947 (age 77)
Origin	Blackpool, Lancashire, England
Genres	British folk rock, folk
Occupation(s)	Singer, dancer
Instrument(s)	Vocals, percussion, banjo
Years active	1967–present
Labels	Park
Website	www.maddyprior.co.uk

Madeleine Edith Prior MBE (born 14 August 1947) is an English folk rock singer, best known as the lead vocalist of Steeleye Span.^[1] She was born in Blackpool and moved to St Albans in her teens. Her father, Allan Prior, was co-creator of the police drama Z-Cars. She was married to Steeleye bass guitarist Rick Kemp, and their daughter, Rose Kemp, is also a singer. Their son, Alex Kemp, is also a guitarist and has deputised for his father playing bass guitar for Steeleye Span.

She was part of the singing duo 'Mac & Maddy', with Mac MacLeod. She then performed with Tim Hart and recorded two albums with him, before they helped to found the group Steeleye Span, in 1969. She left Steeleye Span in 1997, but returned in 2002, and has toured with them since. With June Tabor she was the singing duo Silly Sisters. She toured with the Carnival Band, in 2007, and with Giles Lewin and Hannah James, in 2012 and 2013. She has released singles and albums as a solo artist, with these bands and in several collaborations. She runs an Arts Centre called Stones Barn, in Bewcastle, in Cumbria, which offers residential courses.