Julie Felix

JULIE FELIX, one of the all time greats of the ‘60s folk music boom, left  her native California in 1964,  and after hitching through Europe with a duffle bag and guitar, arrived in England.

 A few months after her arrival she became  the first solo folk artist to be signed to a major British record company when  Decca released her first album, 'Julie Felix' , and a single, 'Someday Soon' .  That same year Julie appeared on The Eammon Andrews TV show, and was  asked back the following week by popular demand.

In 1965 Julie headlined Croydon's Fairfield Hall, followed by the Royal Albert Hall, becoming the first British-based folk singer to fill London’s top venue, prompting  ‘The  Times’ to declare her “Britain's first lady of folk”

In 1966 Julie became the resident singer on the amazingly popular T.V show  'The Frost Report',  quickly becoming  a household name. The same year she played at Westminster Abbey's 900th Anniversary -  the first "popular" singer to perform there.

Over 18s only.

In 1967,  Beatles manager Brian Epstein booked  Julie to top the bill with Georgie Fame for a two week engagement at London's Saville Theatre,  supported by  a newcomer named Cat Stevens….

In 1968 she  was  given her own TV series of 17 shows - the first colour series produced by the BBC.  Guests included Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, Leonard Cohen, Donovan,  Dusty Springfield,  Spike Milligan and Richard Harris.

The following year Julie appeared at the  Isle of Wight Festival with  Bob Dylan.

In 1970 Julie's T.V series was  moved from BBC2 to BBC1, and  she was signed by hit-maker Mickie Most,  becoming the first artist to have a hit on the RAK label with her version of Paul Simon's 'If Could '(El Condor Pasa)’. Her first LP on RAK,  “Clotho's Web“,  included contributions from John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin), Danny Thompson (John Martyn Band, Pentangle, Richard Thompson Band)  and the late Cozy Powell (Jeff Beck Group). This  album has become a collector’s item, and has recently been re-released. 

In 1974 Julie signed with the EMI label and recorded the album “Lightning“,  touring Japan, Australia and New Zealand to promote it., and in  the late 70's she moved to Norway where the title track of her 1976 album ‘Hot Chocolata’ went to number 1 in the singles chart.

“Bright Shadows” was the debut album for   Julie’s own label,  Remarkable Records, followed by  albums that included  “Starry Eyed & Laughing”, a double CD of Julie’s versions of Bob Dylan’s songs on which she was backed by ‘superstar’ musicians  including John Paul Jones, (Led Zeppelin),  John Renbourn (Pentangle etc.), Danny Thompson (John Martyn Band, Pentangle, Richard Thompson Band  etc.), Dave Swarbrick (Fairport Convention etc.), Martin Carthy (Steeleye Span etc.) , Kiki Dee and P.J Wright (Steve Gibbons Band, The Dylan Project).

In April 2008  Julie again joined forces  with P.J Wright, and with  the multi-instrumentalist Anna Ryder formed  The Julie Felix Trio,  headlining  - ‘for one night only’  -  a tribute to Bob Dylan at Hammermith Cultural Centre, London to great acclaim.

War in London, and joined Brian Eno in a London concert for “Stop The War - Don’t Attack Iran”.

In 2008  her fine album “Highway of Diamonds” was released , and also a  double CD released repackaging her first three albums for Decca.  

The album”La Que Sabe” was released in  2009, and  her first live album for some years, “In The Spotlight” was released in 2013, documenting a performance  at the prestigious Leicester Square Theatre. 

During her long career Julie Felix has sung out for many causes, She  has visited the Middle East as a humanitarian ambassador for Christian Aid; urged New Zealanders not to engage in conscription at a concert during the Vietnam War; campaigned for Latin American refugees; founded ‘Guitars Against Landmines’ , and  marched against the Iraq War.