Women Folk Singers

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 1 
Joni Mitchell
(Famous for Her Studio Album 'Blue')
Joni Mitchell
17
Birthdate: November 7, 1943
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Fort Macleod, Canada

Joni Mitchell is one of the most popular Canadian singer-songwriters. Widely regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, her songs reflect her feelings about joy, romance, disillusionment, and confusion. Apart from being a musician, Joni is also a visual artist who designs most of her album covers. In fact, she calls herself a painter derailed by circumstance.  

 2 
Tracy Chapman
(Known for Her Hit Singles 'Fast Car', 'Talkin' 'bout a Revolution' and 'Baby Can I Hold You')
Tracy Chapman
12
Birthdate: March 30, 1964
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio, United States

A four-time Grammy Award-winning artist, singer Tracy Chapman is best known for her hit single, Give Me One Reason. Interested in music from a young age, she learned to play multiple instruments as a child. She made her major-stage debut in 1985 and soon became a sensational hit. She is also known for her social activism.

 3 
Sandy Denny
(Legendary British Folk Rock Singer and Former Lead Singer of the Band ‘Fairport Convention’)
Sandy Denny
8
Birthdate: January 6, 1947
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: London
Died: April 21, 1978

English singer-songwriter Sandy Denny, considered a leading British folk-rock singer, performed as lead-singer of the famous folk-rock band Fairport Convention, and fronted it through many of its successful albums like What We Did on Our Holidays. Other notable works of Denny includes her solo-albums like Rendezvous; and her folk-duet The Battle of Evermore with Robert Plant for Led Zeppelin's album.

 4 
Joan Chandos Baez
(Best Known for Her Songs "Diamonds & Rust," "We Shall Overcome" and "Joe Hill")
Joan Chandos Baez
7
Birthdate: January 9, 1941
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Staten Island, New York, United States

Singer, songwriter, musician, and activist Joan Baez has been active in the music world for over six decades. She emerged as a major musical figure in the counterculture era of the 1960s. Her music encompasses various genres like pop, folk-rock, country, and gospel music. She is involved in civil rights, human rights, and environmental activism as well.

 5 
Enya
(Irish Singer and Musician Known for Pioneering Modern 'Celtic' and 'New-Age' Music)
Enya
7
Birthdate: May 17, 1961
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Gweedore, County Donegal, Ireland

Known for her unique blend of Celtic and folk tunes, Irish singer Enya has been dubbed the Queen of New Age. The Academy Award-nominated singer is also a 4-time Grammy winner and soared to fame with tracks such as Only Time and Orinoco Flow. She is the best-selling Irish solo artist ever.

 6 
Joanna Newsom
(Keyboardist in the San Francisco–based Indie Band “The Pleased”)
Joanna Newsom
11
Birthdate: January 18, 1982
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Grass Valley, California, United States

Joanna Newsom is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and actress. Noted for her unique musical style, Newsom's early work was influenced by polyrhythms. She is one of the most important members of the modern freak folk and psychedelic folk movement. Newsom is also noted for her songwriting, which incorporates elements of avant-garde modernism and Appalachian music.

 7 
Roberta Flack
5
Birthdate: February 10, 1939
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Black Mountain, North Carolina, United States
Height: 5'4" (163 cm)
 8 
Jewel
(Singer-Songwriter)
Jewel
17
Birthdate: May 23, 1974
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Payson, Utah, United States
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
 9 
Judy Collins
(Singer-songwriter)
Judy Collins
13
Birthdate: May 1, 1939
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Seattle, Washington, United States
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
 10 
Buffy Sainte-Marie
(Actor, Singer-songwriter, Visual artist, Record producer, Composer)
Buffy Sainte-Marie
7
Birthdate: February 20, 1941
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Piapot, Canada

Known for her music that showcases the issues of Native Americans, Canadian-American singer Buffy Sainte-Marie became the first person from any indigenous community to win an Oscar, with the song Up Where We Belong. She had also been blacklisted by many radio stations earlier due to her activism.

 11 
Janis Ian
(Singer, Songwriter, Musician & Author)
Janis Ian
4
Birthdate: April 7, 1951
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Farmingdale, New Jersey, United States
 12 
Amy Macdonald
(Scottish Folk Rock Singer and Songwriter)
Amy Macdonald
4
Birthdate: August 25, 1987
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Bishopbriggs, Scotland

With songs that are a blend of contemporary folk-rock and traditional storytelling, Scottish singer-songwriter Amy Macdonald sold 3 million copies of her debut album worldwide. Known for hits such as This Is the Life, she is a self-taught musician and began her career singing at pubs and cafes in her teens.

 13 
Colbie Caillat
(Singer-songwriter)
Colbie Caillat
7
Birthdate: May 28, 1985
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Malibu, California, United States
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 14 
Regina Spektor
(Singer-Songwriter)
Regina Spektor
5
Birthdate: February 18, 1980
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Moscow, Russia
Height: 5'2" (157 cm)
 15 
Laura Marling
(Brit Award-Winning British Folk Singer-Songwriter Known for Albums like 'Song for Our Daughter')
Laura Marling
6
Birthdate: February 1, 1990
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: England

British folk singer-songwriter Laura Marling is noted for albums like I Speak Because I Can and Song for Our Daughter, which garnered her nomination for Mercury Music Prize. The latter and her sixth album, Semper Femina also earned her Grammy Award nomination for Best Folk Album. She has won the Brit Award for Best British Female Solo Artist in 2011.

 16 
Sharon Van Etten
(Singer)
Sharon Van Etten
5
Birthdate: February 26, 1981
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Belleville, New Jersey, USA
 17 
Maddie Poppe
(Singer)
Maddie Poppe
5
Birthdate: December 5, 1997
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Clarksville, Iowa, United States
Height: 5'4" (163 cm)
 18 
Kim Carnes
(Singer)
Kim Carnes
13
Birthdate: July 20, 1945
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Pasadena, California, USA
Height: 5'3" (160 cm)
 19 
Gillian Welch
(Singer-songwriter, Singer, Guitarist, Composer)
Gillian Welch
7
Birthdate: October 2, 1967
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Manhattan, New York, United States
 20 
Maddy Prior
(British Folk Singer Best Known as a Founding Member and Lead Vocalist of ‘Steeleye Span’)
Maddy Prior
6
Birthdate: August 14, 1947
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Blackpool

English folk-singer Maddy Prior MBE is best-known as a founding-member and lead vocalist of the folk-rock band Steeleye Span. Her musical pursuits also include collaborating with Mac MacLeod as part of singing duo Mac & Maddy, with June Tabor as part of singing duo Silly Sisters; performing and recording two albums with Tim Hart; and releasing solo albums like Ravenchild.   

 21 
Constanze Mozart
(Austrian Singer and Biographer )
Constanze Mozart
3
Birthdate: January 5, 1762
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Zell im Wiesental, Germany
Died: March 6, 1842
 22 
Ashe
(Singer)
Ashe
5
Birthdate: April 24, 1993
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: San Jose, California, United States
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
 23 
Natalia Lafourcade
(Has been one of the most successful singers in Latin America)
Natalia Lafourcade
3
Birthdate: February 26, 1984
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Mexico City, Mexico
 24 
Suzanne Vega
(Singer-songwriter, Musician)
Suzanne Vega
7
Birthdate: July 11, 1959
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Santa Monica, California, United States
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 25 
Nanci Griffith
(Singer-songwriter)
Nanci Griffith
3
Birthdate: July 6, 1953
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Seguin, Texas, U.S.
 26 
Deborah Falconer
(Singer-songwriter and Ex-Wife of Robert Downey Jr.)
Deborah Falconer
11
Birthdate: August 13, 1965
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Sacramento, California, United States
Deborah Falconer has appeared in quite a few films, such as the comedy Pyrates and the biographical film The Doors. She also released music albums such as Untangle and Brave Like Me. She was previously married to actor Robert Downey Jr. and also had a son with him.
 27 
Beth Gibbons
(English Singer-Songwriter and Member of the Trip Hop Band 'Portishead')
Beth Gibbons
5
Birthdate: January 4, 1965
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Exeter, Devon, England

Singer and lyricist of the English band Portishead, Beth Gibbons was at her family’s farm in Exeter and grew up shunning modern lifestyle or education. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with many artists. She has also been a judge at the Independent Music Award.

 28 
Sasha Spielberg
(Actress)
Sasha Spielberg
6
Birthdate: May 14, 1990
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
Height: 5'3" (160 cm)
 29 
Exene Cervenka
(Punk and Folk Singer & Member of the California Punk Rock Band 'X')
Exene Cervenka
7
Birthdate: February 1, 1956
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA

Exene Cervenka soared to fame as a singer of the punk rock band X. She has also held exhibitions for her mixed media art, published books, and released a spoken word album. She has also expressed her views as a conspiracy theorist named Christine Notmyrealname, on social media.

 30 
Kathy Mattea
(Singer-songwriter)
Kathy Mattea
5
Birthdate: June 21, 1959
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: South Charleston, West Virginia, United States
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 31 
Maria Muldaur
(Singer)
Maria Muldaur
4
Birthdate: September 12, 1943
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Greenwich Village, New York City New York, U.S.
 32 
Joy Williams
(American Singer-Songwriter)
Joy Williams
3
Birthdate: November 14, 1982
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: West Branch, Michigan, United States

Joy Williams established herself as a talented contemporary Christian artist before forming the Grammy-winning folk duo The Civil Wars with John Paul White. She had apparently rejected a recording offer at 14 to enjoy her childhood. She is best known for her chartbusting tracks such as From This Valley.

 33 
Markéta Irglová
(Czech-Icelandic Singer-songwriter and Actress Best Known for Starring in the Film 'Once')
Markéta Irglová
3
Birthdate: February 28, 1988
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Valasske Mezirici, Czechia

Marketa Irglova is a Czech-Icelandic musician, singer-songwriter, and actress. She is best known for starring in the 2007 Irish musical drama film Once, which earned Irglová numerous prestigious awards, such as an Oscar under the Best Original Song category for her song, Falling Slowly

 34 
Vashti Bunyan
(Known for Her 1970 Album 'Just Another Diamond Day')
Vashti Bunyan
5
Birthdate: December 20, 1945
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

English singer-songwriter Vashti Bunyan is best-known for her debut album Just Another Diamond Day which got relatively unnoticed following its release in 1970 leading Bunyan  to abandoned her musical-career. The album however gained attention with time and acquired cult following by 2000. This motivated Bunyan to re-start her musical-career after around three decades, and release the albums Lookaftering and Heartleap.    

 35 
Lianne La Havas
(British Record Producer and Singer-Songwriter)
Lianne La Havas
7
Birthdate: August 23, 1989
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: London

Lianne La Havas is a British record producer and singer-songwriter. Apart from releasing award-winning albums like Lianne La Havas and Is Your Love Big Enough, La Havas also headlines concert tours. Her work has received nominations for the prestigious Grammy Awards and Brit Awards.

 36 
Iris DeMent
(Singer, Songwriter)
Iris DeMent
4
Birthdate: January 5, 1961
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Paragould, Arkansas, United States
 37 
Martha Wainwright
(Critically-Acclaimed Folk Pop Singer-Songwriter)
Martha Wainwright
7
Birthdate: May 8, 1976
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Montreal, Canada

Born into a family of musicians, Canadian-American folk singer Martha Wainwright initially studied drama but later began her music career, performing at coffee-houses. She is talented songwriter, too and has performed as part of the duo known as the Wainwright Sisters, with her half-sister Lucy Wainwright Roche.

 38 
Judee Sill
(Singer-songwriter, Singer, Composer, Pianist)
Judee Sill
6
Birthdate: October 7, 1944
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Oakland
Died: November 23, 1979
 39 
Ella Edmondson
(English Singer-Songwriter and Daughter of Comedians Ade Edmondson and Jennifer Saunders)
Ella Edmondson
6
Birthdate: January 22, 1986
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: London, United Kingdom

English singer-songwriter Ella Edmondson is the eldest daughter of comedians Ade Edmondson and Jennifer Saunders. During her teens, for some time, Ella became part of the goth subculture. She did several odd jobs before turning to music full-time releasing the EP, Blame Amy, and the album, Hold Your Horses. She also toured with Ade’s English folk band, The Bad Shepherds.   

 40 
Dana Rosemary Scallon
(Politician)
Dana Rosemary Scallon
3
Birthdate: August 30, 1951
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Islington, London, England
 41 
Jill Gibson
(Painter, Photographer, Singer, Songwriter)
Jill Gibson
4
Birthdate: June 18, 1942
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Los Angeles
 42 
Suzy Bogguss
(Musician)
Suzy Bogguss
3
Birthdate: December 30, 1956
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Aledo, Illinois, U.S.
 43 
Norma Tanega
(Former Folk and Pop singer-songwriter)
Norma Tanega
0
Birthdate: January 30, 1939
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Vallejo, California, United States
Died: December 29, 2019
 44 
Mercedes Sosa
(Iconic Argentine Folk Singer and Nueva Canción Leader)
Mercedes Sosa
5
Birthdate: July 9, 1935
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Tucumán
Died: October 4, 2009

Latin Grammy-winning Argentine singer Mercedes Sosa, also known as La Negra, remains an iconic figure of Argentine folk music and of the left-wing social movement nueva canción. Starting her music career with radio at age 15, she later soared to fame with the track Gracias a la vida.

 45 
Odetta
(American Singer, Actress and Guitarist)
Odetta
4
Birthdate: December 31, 1930
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Birmingham, Alabama, United States
Died: December 2, 2008
 46 
Mimi Fariña
(Singer)
Mimi Fariña
4
Birthdate: April 30, 1945
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Palo Alto, California, United States
Died: July 18, 2001
 47 
Lori McKenna
(Singer-songwriter, Singer, Guitarist)
Lori McKenna
4
Birthdate: December 22, 1968
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Stoughton
 48 
Kate Wolf
(Composer, Singer-songwriter)
Kate Wolf
5
Birthdate: January 27, 1942
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: San Francisco
Died: December 10, 1986
 49 
Peggy Seeger
(Singer)
Peggy Seeger
3
Birthdate: June 17, 1935
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: New York City
 50 
Moya Brennan
(Singer)
Moya Brennan
3
Birthdate: August 4, 1952
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland