A month or so ago, enthusiasts for traditional folk-singing all over the world collectively mourned the death of Louisa Jo Killen. She had been singing traditional songs - to great acclaim - since the 1950s.
Writing an obit for her, however, comes with a logistical problem. Y'see, Louisa Jo has only been publicly known since around 2010. Up until then she was known as Louis Killen; a bearded, beer-swilling tenor who specialised in bawdy songs. All her well-known albums were recorded as Louis and almost all of her performing was done under that name, too. She came out as female at the age of 76, just three years before she died.
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Here's Lou Killen singing one of my favourite songs: Blackleg Miner
Writing an obit for her, however, comes with a logistical problem. Y'see, Louisa Jo has only been publicly known since around 2010. Up until then she was known as Louis Killen; a bearded, beer-swilling tenor who specialised in bawdy songs. All her well-known albums were recorded as Louis and almost all of her performing was done under that name, too. She came out as female at the age of 76, just three years before she died.
( Read more... )
Here's Lou Killen singing one of my favourite songs: Blackleg Miner