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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZCOVINGTON, JulieUK singer/actress. At university late '60s Pete Atkin urged her to pursue recording; led to late-night TV music and satire programmes early '70s, Rock Follies '75, an ambitious and successful drama series with co- stars Rula Lenska and Charlotte Cornwell, music by Roxy Music's Andy Mackay. Chosen by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber for title role of Evita album '76, with no. 1 UK hit 'Don't Cry For Me Argentina', but she turned down the stage role for political reasons and disapproved of releasing the single out of context. Records on Virgin gave her hit with cover of Alice Webber's 'Only Women Bleed' (UK no. 12 '77). Debut LP Julie Covington '78 was a strong package, with Richard Thompson, Steve Winwood, John Cale, UK folk-rock nucleus of Simon Nicol, Trevor Lucas, Ian Matthews, John Kirkpatrick; incl. covers of Thompson's 'I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight', Kate Bush's 'Kick Inside', John Lennon's 'How'. Her effective, unmannered, recognizably English style drew her towards Fairport Convention alumni; she sang back-up on Richard and Linda Thompson's First Light, Albion Band's Rise Up Like The Sun (both '78). Concentrated on acting: joined National Theatre; appeared in David Hare's Plenty '80, highly praised Guys And Dolls revival '81. |