Hedy West
Hedwig Grace "Hedy" West, born April 6, 1938, in Cartersville, Georgia, was an
American folksinger and songwriter. Raised in a family steeped in folk music and
activism, West began performing at local festivals as a teenager. She moved to
New York City in 1959 to study music and drama, joining the folk revival scene.
Her breakthrough came with an appearance at the Indian Neck Folk Festival in
1961, leading to a signing with Vanguard Records and her debut album New Folks.
West's unique banjo style and powerful vocals made her song "500 Miles" one of
America's most popular folk son...
