Artist Detailed Info: Lal Waterson

Lal Waterson (born Elaine Waterson, 15 February 1943 - died 4 September 1998) was an English folksinger and songwriter. She sang with, among others, The Watersons, The Waterdaughters and Blue Murder. She was born in Hull, East Yorkshire and died in Robin Hood's Bay.

Lal Waterson was the sister of Norma Waterson and Mike Waterson, the aunt of Eliza Carthy, and the sister-in-law of Martin Carthy. She was survived by her husband of 30 years, George Knight, and her two children, Oliver Knight and Marie Gilhooley (nee Waterson, who performs as Marry Waterson, with both of whom she had recorded albums.

When Freddie Mercury revealed that he was HIV positive, Daily Mirror columnist Joe Haines made some offensive remarks. Lal Waterson responded to this with her song "Reply To Joe Haines". She never recorded it, but it appears on her sister Norma Waterson's album The Very Thought of You. Migrating Bird - The Songs of Lal Waterson (2007) is a tribute album, with contributions from James Yorkston, Alasdair Roberts, Willard Grant Conspiracy, Vashti Bunyan, Victoria Williams and others. Jo Freya's album "Lal" (2007) is another tribute to her.

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