Judy Collins
With a voice of crystalline clarity, she bridged folk tradition and contemporary songwriting, becoming a voice of social conscience.
Born 1939 (age 87)·American singer-songwriter and musician (b. 1939)·Birthday: May 1·The Silent Generation
Biography
Judy Collins emerged from the folk clubs of Greenwich Village not as a mere interpreter of traditional songs, but as a curator and catalyst for a movement. Her early albums were masterclasses in folk, but her inquisitive spirit led her to champion then-unknown songwriters like Leonard Cohen and Joni Mitchell, introducing their work to a massive audience with her definitive renditions. Her 1967 recording of 'Both Sides, Now' became an anthem, showcasing her ability to locate profound emotional truth in a song. Collins never stood still; she trained as a classical pianist, wrote her own poignant material, directed an Oscar-nominated documentary, and used her platform for activism on issues from mental health to anti-war efforts. Her career is a testament to artistic integrity, marked by a voice that remains, decades on, an instrument of remarkable purity and emotional force.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Judy was born in 1939, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Judy Was Born
The biggest hits of 1939
#1 Movie
Gone with the Wind
Best Picture
Gone with the Wind
Judy's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1939Born
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1944Started school
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1952Became a teenager
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1955Could drive
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1957Could vote
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1960Turned 21
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1969Turned 30
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1979Turned 40
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1989Turned 50
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1999Turned 60
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2009Turned 70
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 80
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 87 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Her 1967 album 'Wildflowers' featured her landmark recording of Joni Mitchell's 'Both Sides, Now', which became a signature hit.
- She introduced the songs of Leonard Cohen to a wide audience, recording 'Suzanne' years before he released his own version.
- Directed the documentary 'Antonia: A Portrait of the Woman', which was nominated for an Academy Award in 1974.
- Won a Grammy Award for Best Folk Performance in 1968 for her album 'Both Sides Now'.
Did You Know?
She studied classical piano as a child with the ambition of becoming a concert pianist.
She overcame a decades-long struggle with alcoholism and wrote openly about her recovery.
She performed at the legendary 1969 Woodstock festival.
“I think we are all capable of making beautiful music if we just open our hearts and our minds.”
