Joan Armatrading

Joan Armatrading's synthesis of folk, reggae, soul, and rock has made her a critical and cult favorite in America, where Me, Myself, I (#28, 1980) and The Key (#32, 1983) were successful. In Europe, particularly in the U.K., she is a major star. She left the West Indies and moved to England with her family while still a child. She began her professional career in 1972 in collaboration with lyricist Pam Nestor (born April 28, 1948, Guyana), but by the mid-'70s the two had parted.

A distinctive vocalist and lyricist, Armatrading has worked with producers Gus Dudgeon, Glyn Johns, Richard Gottehrer, and Steve Lillywhite, but generally does her own arranging; she produced Heart and Flowers. Her backup bands have included alumni of Fairport Convention and Little Feat, and guitarist Albert Lee. Except for a sole charting single, “Drop the Pilot” (#78, 1983), from The Key, Armatrading has had relatively little commercial success in the States. In comparison, her albums have consistently charted in the U.K. Top 30, with Show Some Emotion, Me, Myself, I, Walk Under Ladders, and The Key going Top 10. In 1994, she parted ways with her longtime label, A&M Records, and signed to RCA, which released What’s Inside the following year.

from The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll (Simon & Schuster, 2001)