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The WomenfolkThen and now |
The Womenfolk began in 1963, toward the end of what we think of as the Folk Era. Conceived of by two music producers in Los Angeles, the group was unique in that it was comprised of five women, all of whom played instruments. Their music was not traditional folk, but primarily songs composed by them and other musicians of the time - most notably Malvina Reynolds, whose song "Little Boxes" propelled the group to national attention. Over their three and a half years of performing together, The Womenfolk recorded five albums for RCA Victor, singing in nightclubs and concert halls, on radio and television in the U.S., Canada, and England.
Joyce James Gibbs
Joyce is remembered for the velvety, deep voice that set the tone for the Womenfolk. She stayed in New York, singing and hosting several radio and television programs. With her son Josh, she relocated to New Hampshire where she worked at the University of NH in Newmarket and was very active in local theater, community and feminist concerns. After her death in 2001, the University created the Joyce Gibbs Award honoring contributions to "equity and inclusion."
Jean Amos
After the Womenfolk Jean worked in educational television production in New York City
for a number of years. In the 70's she moved back to California, where she grew up,
and has lived in San Francisco working as a landscape gardener and community organizer
in the Bay Area. Recently the piano replaced the guitar.
Leni Ashmore Sorensen
Since the Womenfolk Leni raised three more children (for a total of 4), in two countries, and three states. She farmed, milked cows and was part of the burgeoning organic movement of the late 1970s. Once in Virginia she went to college and became a history lecturer and a museum consultant. She lives in the country, reads a lot, listens to old 1920-40s blues music, and maintains a blog. The snapshot is a favorite farm image of Leni with her best cow and new heifer.
Barbara Cooper
Barbara stayed in New York folllowing the Womenfolk, singing and writing commercials.
She finished college and segued into a successful career in real estate.
These days she enjoys movies and books and other people's cats and dogs.
She is also overseeing the business side of online sales of Womenfolk music.
Judy Fine, now J. Lalah Simcoe
Lalah (Judy's middle name, which she's gone by since 1979) returned to California after the Womenfolk and continued to write songs and occasionally perform. She has two grown children, a daughter and a son. During the 80's she moved to Virginia, where she and her husband currently own a restaurant, the Bluegrass Grill & Bakery. She is an avid fiction reader and takes nightly walks with her dog and cat. Like Jean, Lalah plays more keyboard than guitar these days. Her CD of original songs, "Lightspeed," is a sort of autobiography beginning in the Womenfolk years.
