BBC Radio Documentary
The first act signed to David Geffen’s Asylum Records in the early 1970s, Judee Sill produced two astonishingly beautiful albums in her lifetime.
Seemingly emerging from the Laurel Canyon scene, her music wove a diverse tapestry of influences – from gospel piano to Bach, rhythm and blues to country, forty-part vocal harmonies blending into piano ballads…
So why did Judee Sill disappear from view? Ruth Barnes traces Judee’s peculiar life story – hearing tales of armed robberies, reform school and addiction, alongside musical invention and heartstopping songs.
With contributions from family, friends, lovers and devotees of her music including JD Souther, XTC’s Andy Partridge, Jim Pons, Tommy Peltier and ‘Whispering’ Bob Harris.
Overall, the BBC radio documentary provides a compelling portrait of an artist who was ahead of her time, and whose music continues to resonate with listeners decades after her death. It sheds light on Sill’s unique musical vision and the challenges she faced, and serves as a fitting tribute to her talent and legacy.
