Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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ARMSTRONG, Frankie

(b 13 Jan. '41, Workington, Cumbria) UK folksinger, social worker. Began singing '50s, infl. by USA trad. music, especially the Weavers; joined skiffle group Ceilidh Singers '60; music interests gradually returned to England. Recorded The Bird And The Bush '66 with A.L. Lloyd and Anne Briggs, first solo LPs Lovely On The Water '72, Frankie Armstrong '75, all on Topic. Continued as social worker, repertoire frequently reflecting concerns; Out Of Love, Hope, Sufferin' '74 (Bay), Nuclear Power '81 (Pl„ne) covered some of these issues, latter with topical songwriters Roy Bailey, Leon Rosselson. Often worked solo, but occasionally with Bailey or Rosselson, later with eclectic instrumental group Blowzabella, with whom she recorded Tam Lin (Plant Life), a long work based on a folktale. Till the Grass Grew O'er The Corn on Fellside had trad. ballads, with guest John Kirkpatrick; Ways Of Seeing '97 on Harbourtown was a strong message set, half written by Armstrong, the title track about finding courage in the face of losing one's sight.