Karen Dalton

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New York City, New York, United States (1961 – 1993)

Karen J. Dalton (born Karen J. Cariker (July 19, 1937 - March 19, 1993) was an American singer and banjo player associated with the early 1960s Greenwich Village folk music scene, particularly with Fred Neil and The Holy Modal Rounders as well as Bob Dylan.

Dalton, whose heritage was Cherokee, was born Karen J. Cariker in Enid, Oklahoma. Her bluesy, world-weary voice is often compared to that of iconic singer Billie Holiday. She sang blues, folk, , pop, Motown - making over each song in her own style. She played the twelve string Gibson guitar and a long neck banjo.

In his 2004 autobiography, Bob Dylan wrote this in his description of discovering and joining the music scene at Greenwich Village’s Cafe Wha? after arriving in New York City, New York, United States in 1961: “My favorite singer in the place was Karen Dalton. Karen had a voice like Billie Holiday and played guitar like Jimmy Reed… I sang with her a couple of times.”

Dalton’s second album, In My Own Time (1971), was recorded at Bearsville Studios and originally released by Woodstock Festival promoter Michael Lang’s label, Just Sunshine Records. The album was produced and arranged by Harvey Brooks, who played bass on it. (Harvey Brooks played bass also on the Miles Davis album Bitches Brew, on the Bob Dylan album Highway 61 Revisited and on the Richie Havens album Mixed Bag.) Piano player Richard Bell guested on In My Own Time. Its liner notes were written by Fred Neil and its cover photos were taken by Elliot Landy. Less well-known is Dalton’s first album, It’s So Hard to Tell Who’s Going to Love You the Best (Capitol, 1969), which was re-released by Koch Records on CD in 1996.
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  • In My Own Time
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  • It's So Hard To Tell Who's Going To Love You The…
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  • 1966
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  • Green Rocky Road
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  • harryduns

    Haunting.

    25 days ago
  • blebbio

    my dad loves 1966 he asks me to play it every time we're in the car together

    last month
  • cjkisaragi

    1966 is gold.

    last month
  • Nochek

    thank you.

    March 2012
  • Antonius-Blovk

    I love sooo much her sweet heart-breaking voice. Oh my god she's amazing.

    March 2012
  • blebbio

    love 1966. is her best material i've heard. i much prefer her folk stuff to her full band stuff.

    February 2012
  • lichtblau-

    February 2012
  • sophiagray

    1966 sold out all over philly, finally found it in princeton

    February 2012
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