Judy Dyble, Fairport Convention Singer, Dead at 71

The singer had been suffering from a long-term illness
Judy Dyble
Judy Dyble, August 1971 (Michael Putland/Getty Images)

Judy Dyble, singer and early member of British folk band Fairport Convention, has died from a long-term illness, the BBC reports. She was 71.

Born in London, Dyble formed her first band, Judy and the Folkmen, in 1964; they played exactly one gig. She joined a nascent Fairport Convention—commonly considered to be the first British folk-rock group—in 1967, shortly before they recorded their self-titled debut album, and left the band in May 1968, just before it was released.

Dyble would later sing in Robert Fripp’s early band Giles, Giles and Fripp; she also formed Trader Horne with Jackie McAuley. After an extended hiatus, Dyble released several solo albums in the 2000s. The singer had been recording an album with Big Big Train frontman David Longdon, set to be released later this year.