Amazing Grace - Jon Bickley with Judy Collins - An iconic performance

Invisible Folk Club Podcasts

In this episode Jon talks talk to Judy Collins, a beloved and admired folk singer since the early sixties. She toured the southern states with Fannie Lou Hamer to support Black voter registration as part of the Civil Rights Movement, introduced Leonard Cohen and Joni Mitchell to the world. In 1970 she had a world wide hit with Amazing Grace that went a long way to making it the universally known and loved hymn it is today. Not only had Judy been involved in the growth of this song in the world but it has proved to be a talisman in the dangers, toils and snares of her personal life. http://www.judycollins.com/

From July 2022 to July 2023 a small English town called Olney will be at the centre of commemorations marking the 250th anniversary of the writing of 'Amazing Grace' possibly the world's most beloved hymn. The famous words were written by Revd John Newton in the weeks leading up to his New Year's Day service at St Peter & St Paul Church on 1st January 1773. The hymn, in various musical styles, has gone on to inspire countless people and has even become known in America as the nations's 'spiritual anthem.' https://cowperandnewtonmuseum.org.uk/amazing-grace-250-commemorations/