Louisa Jo (Louis) Killen Passes
Aug 10, 2013 Heather Wood
http://singout.org/2013/08/10/louisa-jo-louis-killen-passes/Louisa Jo (Louis) Killen
10 January 1934 – 9 August 2013
(A few years ago, Louis Killen decided to fulfill an almost lifelong desire and came out as a woman: Louisa Jo).
Lou was a Geordie, born and bred in Gateshead, Tyneside. The family sang at home – hymns, cowboy songs, ballads, music hall, opera, and everything in between. Getting involved in the skiffle craze of the early 'sixties, she then went on to become one of the founders of the Bridge Folk Club, in Newcastle upon Tyne.
Unequaled as a singer of the "big" ballads, Lou also had a great repertoire of maritime songs, songs from her Irish ancestry, and of course the songs of Tyneside – mining, fox-hunting, etc. Plus a great appreciation of music in all its forms. She was a grand harmony singer too.
