Bridget St John

Bridget St John
Bridget St John, 2003
Background information
Birth name	Bridget Anne Hobbs
Born	(1946-10-04) 4 October 1946 (age 70) Surrey, England, UK
Genres	Folk rock
Occupation(s)	Singer, guitarist, songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, guitar
Years active	1968–1976; 1999–present
Labels	Dandelion Chrysalis

Bridget St John (born Bridget Anne Hobbs; 4 October 1946, Surrey) is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist, best known for the three albums she recorded between 1969 and 1972 for John Peel's Dandelion record label. Peel produced her debut album Ask Me No Questions. She also recorded a large number of BBC Radio and Peel sessions and toured regularly on the British college and festival circuit. St John appeared at leading folk venues in the U.K., along with other folk and pop luminaries of the time such as Nick Drake, Paul Simon, and David Bowie, among others. In 1974 she was voted fifth most popular female singer in that year's Melody Maker readers poll. Blessed with a rich, husky vocal style, she is also an accomplished guitar player who credits John Martyn and Michael Chapman as her "musical brothers".

St John grew up in a musical household where her mother and sisters were all accomplished pianists. She took piano lessons at her mother's behest, but she didn't get along with her teacher and quit when she was 11. After studying the viola for two years and then the trumpet for two years, St John bought a guitar with 20 pounds her grandmother gave her shortly before she finished high school. Her first performances were at Sheffield University in 1964-5, and her very first "proper gig" was at a pub in Rotherham. In 1967 Bridget spent 3 months in Aix-en-Provence as part of her French studies. During this period she met American singer-songwriter Robin Frederick.

When it was time to return to England, St. John traveled back to London with Robin Frederick. It was through Robin that Bridget met John Martyn when he was living in Richmond. He was instrumental in getting St John's music out to a larger audience. In 1968 a mutual poet friend of theirs, Pete Roche, put St John in touch with John Peel for his "Nightride" radio show. St John's first recording sessions for Peel were recorded by Al Stewart in 1968 on Stewart's ReVox. The four songs she recorded were released on John Peel Presents Top Gear, Peel's 1969 compilation of BBC demos. The four songs were: "The River" (written by Martyn), "Song To Keep You Company" (written by St John), "Night In The City" (written by Joni Mitchell), and "Lazarus" (traditional).