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	Podcast:		Outlook
	Episode:		The break-up that cost me my voice
	Category:		Society & Culture
	Duration:		00:40:05
	Publish Date:		2021-04-12 11:45:00
	Description:		Shirley Collins grew up in a folk music-loving family in Sussex, England, during World War Two, and announced her intention to become a folk singer when she was still just a teenager. Her career would lead her to record music with her sister Dolly; to record folk songs in America with legendary song collector Alan Lomax, and to become a key figure in the 'folk revival' of the 1960s and 1970s. But the trauma of a painful break-up cost Shirley her singing voice - "sometimes I would open my mouth and nothing would come out", she remembers - and led to a heartbreaking decision: "I walked away from music for years. I felt I had no option." Shirley did all sorts of jobs to support her children, and avoided even listening to music sometimes - it made her too sad. Then one day, the musician David Tibet, a huge fan, got in touch and begged Shirley to try to sing again. Shirley tells Emily Webb the story of a voice lost and found again. Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Laura Thomas Picture: Shirley Collins circa 1963 Credit: Brian Shuel/Redferns via Getty
	Total Play:		0