Melanie Harrold


Melanie Harrold is a British singer/songwriter, best known for her 1970s albums for DJM plus recording with Gerry Rafferty, and singing with Hank Wangford. In her early career, and even for her first album, Melanie went under the name Joanna Carlin so as not to be confused with the other singer Melanie.

Biography

Harrold worked the folk clubs where she met Jasper Carrott. When Carrott got a recording contract with DJM Records, it led to Melanie also being signed up by the company.
The Fancy That LP was released in 1977, with Blue Angel released the following year. As she was singing backing vocals on Gerry Rafferty's albums, she was able to use his backing band and producer Hugh Murphy to work on her albums.
In the 1980s she fronted the comedy country The Hank Wangford Band. She went under the name Irma Cetas.
She also recorded the song Holy Horses on the Lovely In The Dances album, originally released in 1981. The album featured artists such as Maddy Prior, Shusha and John Kirkpatrick.
In the 1990s she released two albums with double-bass player Olly Blanchflower.
She was also involved with the album Daphne's Flight, a 1996 collaboration between five highly regarded female vocalists, instrumentalist and songwriters in the British folk and root music scene: Christine Collister, Melanie Harrold, Julie Matthews, Helen Watson and Chris While. The collaboration resulted in a sell out tour. On the album, Melanie sang lead on the opening track Over And Over and The Letter.
In recent years she has concentrated on choir work, including developing the Trade Winds, Raise The Roof, and Vocal Chords choirs.

Discography