The Ballad Of Shirley Collins < Must Watch >

: She formed a duo with her sister, Dolly, who played the portative organ, creating a unique sound that blended tradition with Renaissance-style arrangements.

The life of Shirley Collins is often described as a tragic and triumphant ballad itself, marked by a legendary song-collecting journey, a devastating medical condition that silenced her for decades, and a late-life return to the stage .

In 1978, Collins's life and career took a tragic turn. Following a traumatic marriage breakdown—where her husband abruptly left her for another woman—Collins developed , a condition that caused her throat to physically lock up. The Ballad of Shirley Collins

After decades of silence, Collins was coaxed back into the studio by friends and fellow musicians like David Tibet of Current 93.

Returning to Britain, Collins became a cornerstone of the 1960s folk revival: : She formed a duo with her sister,

Born in Hastings, East Sussex, in 1935, Shirley Collins grew up in a family deeply rooted in traditional English song. In 1954, she met famed American ethnomusicologist Alan Lomax in London and eventually became his lover and research assistant.

: Collins found herself unable to sing, even in private. She largely withdrew from the music world for nearly 40 years, taking low-level jobs and focusing on raising her children. The "Phoenix-Like" Return In 1954, she met famed American ethnomusicologist Alan

: The trauma was exacerbated when her husband's new partner began attending her shows, sometimes even wearing his clothes while standing in the front row.