DAR WILLIAMS

folk-pop singer-guitarist

“No, I can’t remember the first album I ever bought. And you know why? Because I so thoroughly pillaged my sister’s record collection that anything that I actually bought was just sort of an enhancement.

“But I’m sure that whatever album I first bought was eternally uncool. I listened to pop music and had a very meaningful relationship with my parents’ folk-rock collection. The Kingston Trio albums were well worn in my house. I really loved Joan Baez’s ‘David’s Album’ and Judy Collins’ ‘Whales and Nightingales’ and ‘Wildflowers.’ And, of course, I listened to all the Beatles’ albums backwards and forwards.

“And somewhere along the way I took it upon myself to open my ears to classical music because my father was such a huge fan. And the cast album to ‘Godspell.’ Simon & Garfunkel. And, oh yeah, Herman’s Hermits, too.”