Interview with Judy Collins

Judy Collins:  With a sense of awe about her career which has spanned over 50 years, Judy reports that she is now more active than ever; her latest album “Paradise” one of her best yet.  Playing over 110 shows a year to sell out audiences around the world, Judy is excited and rather amazed at her growing audience that includes a great mixture of all ages.  With the recent publication of her children’s book “Over the Rainbow” (Imagine Publishing), even children are found in her audiences.   And I got to visit with this American Icon who is coming to San Francisco!

Judy recently performed at all the big festivals in England as well as the “fabulous” Stan Rogers Festival in Canada and the Woody Guthrie Festival in Oklahoma.  She enthusiastically credits festivals as the place “where all kinds of creativity is happening.”  Judy believes that “Live music is the secret of mental health and physical, spiritual and emotional stability.  We need to go to live shows to get a break from compulsivity of our machines,” she said. ”It’s essential to see live music.”  With that in mind, Judy has fostered the careers of many artists starting almost from the first moment she stepped on stage.  Her Wildflower Label is committed to nurturing fresh talent.

Child of the 60‘s and oft-jailed activist, Judy shared that she was “most privileged” to sing at a birthday party for Nelson Mandela, the person she “most admires in the world.”  Citing singing for President Clinton’s inauguration as one of her proudest moments, she wryly added “during his reign we had no debt.”  Judy is currently a representative for UNICEF, campaigns for the abolition of land mines, and is a strong advocate of suicide prevention.

Relating to the San Francisco scene, Judy proudly reports that Apples’ Insider Magazine once featured her on the cover after she hacked into the Apple 2C computer to make it work on a Digital Printer.  “They said it couldn’t be done,” she bragged.

Since Judy produced the documentary “Antonia: A Portrait of the Woman” which was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry,  I asked if she had any plans to do more films.  Judy responded that her memoir “Sweet Judy Blue Eyes” is due to be released in October 2011 and that maybe it would be to her advantage to begin looking for a production team for a “bio-pic.”  I suggested she look around San Francisco while she’s here because we have a great film scene. (You heard it here first!)

Don’t miss this icon of American music!  Known for many hit songs including “Both Sides Now” and “Chelsea Morning,” her still amazing range and interpretive style coupled with an eclectic mix of music, Judy Collins will take you on a journey of light and hope which speaks to the heart.  Tuesdays - Saturdays:  September 20 - October 1, 2011; 8 pm at the RRazz Room, Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason Street, San Francisco.  Tickets: 800-380-3095 or http://therrazzroom.com.

-Suzanne Birrell