Barb Jungr
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Barb Jungr (born 9 May 1954) is an English singer, songwriter and theatre writer, who has recorded versions of songs by
Bob Dylan Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan; born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Described as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture over his nearly 70-year ...
, Sting,
Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one of the most significant cultural figures of the ...
,
Bruce Springsteen Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen (born September 23, 1949) is an American Rock music, rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Nicknamed "the Boss", Springsteen has released 21 studio albums spanning six decades; most of his albums feature th ...
and
Leonard Cohen Leonard Norman Cohen (September 21, 1934November 7, 2016) was a Canadian songwriter, singer, poet, and novelist. Themes commonly explored throughout his work include faith and mortality, isolation and depression, betrayal and redemption, soc ...
.


Career

Barb Jungr was born in
Rochdale Rochdale ( ) is a town in Greater Manchester, England, and the administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale. In the United Kingdom 2021 Census, 2021 Census, the town had a population of 111,261, compared to 223,773 for the wid ...
,
Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated ''Lancs'') is a ceremonial county in North West England. It is bordered by Cumbria to the north, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire to the east, Greater Manchester and Merseyside to the south, and the Irish Sea to ...
, England, to immigrant parents. Her father, Miroslav Jungr, was a Czech scientist who moved to Britain as a refugee after
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
and after incarceration in German work camps. Her mother, Ingrid, was a German nurse. The eldest of three siblings, she grew up in
Stockport Stockport is a town in Greater Manchester, England, south-east of Manchester, south-west of Ashton-under-Lyne and north of Macclesfield. The River Goyt, Rivers Goyt and River Tame, Greater Manchester, Tame merge to create the River Mersey he ...
, Cheshire, where she attended Stockport Convent School for Girls before earning a degree from
Leeds University The University of Leeds is a public research university in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It was established in 1874 as the Yorkshire College of Science. In 1884, it merged with the Leeds School of Medicine (established 1831) and was renamed ...
. Arriving in London in the mid-1970s, Jungr worked with playwright Pam Gems and composer Paul Sand, appearing as the singer at the
Edinburgh Festival __NOTOC__ This is a list of Arts festival, arts and cultural festivals regularly taking place in Edinburgh, Scotland. The city has become known for its festivals since the establishment in 1947 of the Edinburgh International Festival and the ...
production of Gem's play ''Dead Fish'', which became ''Dusa Fish Stas and Vi''. Jungr's first single was "He's Gone", as the Stroke, released by CBS, was single of the week in ''New Musical Express'' and was written and recorded with her husband Dan Bowling. She formed the Three Courgettes with Michael Parker and Jerry Kreeger and performed new wave versions of gospel songs in the Kings Road and Portobello Market in the late 1970s. The band was discovered by
Island Records Island Records is a multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded in Jamaica by Chris Blackwell, Graeme Goodall, and Leslie Kong in 1959, and was eventually sold to PolyGram in 1989. Island and A&M Records, another ...
, then toured with Kid Creole and the Coconuts, Sade,
Mari Wilson Mari Macmillan Ramsay Wilson (born 29 September 1954, Neasden, London) is a British pop and jazz singer. She is best known for her 1982 UK top-10 hit single " Just What I Always Wanted". She had a further UK top-40 hit in 1983 with a cover of ...
, and the Jets. The Three Courgettes recorded a Christmas song for Michael Zilkha's '' A Christmas Record''. She formed the duo Jungr and Parker with blues guitarist Michael Parker. For thirteen years they performed internationally and appeared regularly on British television and radio. They hosted the
BBC Radio 2 BBC Radio 2 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It is the List of most-listened-to radio programs, most popular station in the United Kingdom with over 14 million weekly listeners. Since launching in 1967, the sta ...
series ''We Stayed in with...Jungr and Parker'' with specials recorded at the Edinburgh Festival and produced by Sonia Beldom. Jungr and Parker toured with
Alexei Sayle Alexei David Sayle (born 7 August 1952) is an English actor, author, stand-up comedian, television presenter and former recording artist. He was a leading figure in the British alternative comedy movement in the 1980s. He was voted the 18th g ...
and Arnold Brown, with whom they won a Perrier Award in Edinburgh in 1987 at the Gilded Balloon Theatre, and toured nationally and internationally with
Julian Clary Julian Peter McDonald Clary (born 25 May 1959) is an English actor, comedian, novelist and presenter. He began appearing on television in the mid-1980s. Since then, he has also acted in films, on television and in stage productions, including n ...
, appearing with him in the West End at the
Aldwych Theatre The Aldwych Theatre is a West End theatre, located in Aldwych in the City of Westminster, central London. It was listed Grade II on 20 July 1971. Its seating capacity is 1,200 on three levels. History Origins The theatre was constructed in th ...
and on Channel 4 television in '' Sticky Moments'' and '' Terry and Julian''. In 1991, Jungr and Parker performed in a Festival of European music in
Sudan Sudan, officially the Republic of the Sudan, is a country in Northeast Africa. It borders the Central African Republic to the southwest, Chad to the west, Libya to the northwest, Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the east, Eritrea and Ethiopi ...
funded by the
British Council The British Council is a British organisation specialising in international cultural and educational opportunities. It works in over 100 countries: promoting a wider knowledge of the United Kingdom and the English language (and the Welsh lang ...
. The success of that trip led to them performing and giving workshops in
Cameroon Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon, is a country in Central Africa. It shares boundaries with Nigeria to the west and north, Chad to the northeast, the Central African Republic to the east, and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the R ...
,
Tanzania Tanzania, officially the United Republic of Tanzania, is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It is bordered by Uganda to the northwest; Kenya to the northeast; the Indian Ocean to the east; Mozambique and Malawi to t ...
,
Malawi Malawi, officially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country in Southeastern Africa. It is bordered by Zambia to the west, Tanzania to the north and northeast, and Mozambique to the east, south, and southwest. Malawi spans over and ...
, and
Burma Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and ha ...
. Jungr wrote about these experiences for the ''Guardian Diary'', ''Folk Roots'', and ''The Singer'', and in 1994 enrolled in a masters program at
Goldsmiths College Goldsmiths, University of London, formerly Goldsmiths College, University of London, is a Member institutions of the University of London, constituent research university of the University of London. It was originally founded in 1891 as The G ...
in ethnomusicology for which she received a Distinction. She specialised in the Voice and Singing. During that time Jungr began to embark on solo shows, accompanied by Russell Churney, and started a solo career with the release the album ''Bare'', which was recorded in a day, live at the
Conway Hall Conway Hall in Red Lion Square, London, is the headquarters of the Conway Hall Ethical Society. It is a Grade II listed building. History The building was commissioned by the South Place Ethical Society, which had previously been accommodated ...
with the support of Overtones Studios. In the early 1990s, Jungr developed themed shows which have become her speciality: "Hell Bent Heaven Bound" (with Ian Shaw, Christine Collister and Michael Parker) was Perrier Pick of the Fringe, "Money the Final Frontier" (with Helen Watson, Christine Collister and Michael Parker) was invited to the Canadian Music Festivals. In 1998 she toured with the show ''Sex, Religion and Politics'' directed by Julia Pascal, appearing at the 1998 Edinburgh Festival. With composer James Tomalin she contributed "Jackie" to the Jacques Brel compilation album and ''Fear of a Red Planet''. In 1999, Jungr was invited to record for Linn Records in
Glasgow Glasgow is the Cities of Scotland, most populous city in Scotland, located on the banks of the River Clyde in Strathclyde, west central Scotland. It is the List of cities in the United Kingdom, third-most-populous city in the United Kingdom ...
. In 2000 Linn released ''Chanson: The Space in Between'', an album of English translations of classic French chansons. In 2002, she released ''Every Grain of Sand'', an album of arrangements of Bob Dylan's songs, followed by ''Waterloo Sunset'' in 2003. Appearing in a New York season at the Flea Theatre in 2002, she was given the Backstage Bistro Award in 2003 for Best International Artist. In 2004 she recorded ''Love Me Tender'', an album of songs recorded by
Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one of the most significant cultural figures of the ...
for release in March 2005, followed by ''Walking in the Sun'' (2006) featuring guitarist Eric Bibb. In 2007, Jungr collaborated with British composer Mark Anthony Turnage, appearing with the
London Sinfonietta The London Sinfonietta is an English contemporary chamber music, chamber orchestra founded in 1968 and based in London. The ensemble has headquarters at Kings Place and is Resident Orchestra at the Southbank Centre. Since its inaugural concert ...
in the commissioned piece ''About Water'' at Queen Elizabeth Hall to celebrate the reopening of the Festival Hall. In 2008, she released ''Just Like a Woman – Hymn to Nina'' featuring the repertoire of Nina Simone and was given a Nightlife Award in New York in 2008 for Outstanding Cabaret Vocalist. In March 2010, she released ''The Men I Love – The New American Songbook'' . She performed a second season at the Cafe Carlyle in the Carlyle Hotel in New York. In 2010 Jungr released ''Man in the Long Black Coat: Barb Jungr Sings Bob Dylan''. In 2012 she released ''Stockport to Memphis''. In March 2014, Jungr released ''Hard Rain: the songs of Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen'' and toured the UK with a season at the 59E59 Theater in New York. The album won Best Cabaret CD from BroadwayWorld.com. Other collaborations include composer Jonathan Cooper on his "Moon Behind the Clouds" song cycle, the cabaret show ''Girl Talk'' with Mari Wilson and Claire Martin, and Gwyneth Herbert which toured intermittently for ten years and the trio Durga Rising with tabla player Kuljit Bhamra and pianist Russell Churney. During 2015, her collaborations included performances with John McDaniel on both sides of the Atlantic. Since 2015, she has recorded and toured on both sides of the Atlantic with pianist Laurence Hobgood, with whom she recorded '' Shelter from the Storm'' (2016) featuring three original compositions alongside songs by
Bob Dylan Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan; born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Described as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture over his nearly 70-year ...
,
Leonard Cohen Leonard Norman Cohen (September 21, 1934November 7, 2016) was a Canadian songwriter, singer, poet, and novelist. Themes commonly explored throughout his work include faith and mortality, isolation and depression, betrayal and redemption, soc ...
,
Joni Mitchell Roberta Joan Mitchell (née Anderson; born November 7, 1943) is a Canadian and American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and painter. As one of the most influential singer-songwriters to emerge from the 1960s folk music circuit, Mitch ...
,
Rodgers and Hammerstein Rodgers and Hammerstein was a theater-writing team of composer Richard Rodgers (1902–1979) and lyricist-dramatist Oscar Hammerstein II (1895–1960), who together created a series of innovative and influential American musicals. Their musical ...
,
David Bowie David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer, songwriter and actor. Regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Bowie was acclaimed by critics and musicians, pa ...
,
Stephen Sondheim Stephen Joshua Sondheim (; March22, 1930November26, 2021) was an American composer and lyricist. Regarded as one of the most important figures in 20th-century musical theater, he is credited with reinventing the American musical. He received Lis ...
,
Bruce Springsteen Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen (born September 23, 1949) is an American Rock music, rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Nicknamed "the Boss", Springsteen has released 21 studio albums spanning six decades; most of his albums feature th ...
, and
Peter Gabriel Peter Brian Gabriel (born 13 February 1950) is an English singer, songwriter, musician, and human rights activist. He came to prominence as the original frontman of the rock band Genesis. He left the band in 1975 and launched a solo career wit ...
. In early 2016, Jungr was a featured artist in James Gavin's
Lincoln Center Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (also simply known as Lincoln Center) is a complex of buildings in the Lincoln Square neighborhood on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. It has thirty indoor and outdoor facilities and is host to 5  ...
songbook series celebrating
Peggy Lee Norma Deloris Egstrom (May 26, 1920 – January 21, 2002), known professionally as Peggy Lee, was an American jazz and popular music singer, songwriter, and actress whose career spanned seven decades. From her beginning as a vocalist on local r ...
. The following year, Jungr penned a short introduction for Playerist Poetry Magazine for its themed edition on Music. Jungr acted in British director Robina Rose's film ''Nightshift'', playing the bar girl. For Debbie Isitt's Snarling Beastie Theatre Company she composed music for ''The Woman who Cooked Her Husband'' at the Royal Court Upstairs and ''Matilda Liar'' at the Tricycle Theatre. She appeared in Isitt's ''10 by 10'' for BBC Television. In 2002 the British Council supported Jungr's three-week run at the Flea Theatre in New York. Jungr has presented, written, and researched many programmes for national BBC Radio 2, (three series of "We Stayed in with Jungr and Parker" and two Edinburgh Specials), BBC Radio 3 (For Heavy Entertainment two programmes on Persian music "Sweet Lips Dark Eyes" and two on Ethiopian music "Shaking Shoulders and Honey Beer" ), BBC Radio 2 (writer and presenter of "The Hoppings" two-hour arts special for Soundbite Productions) and BBC Radio 4 (Malawi Diary producer Paul Dodgson) and in Canada for CBC, as a regular contributor to ''The Global Village'' as well as contributing to many BBC arts programmes including ''
Woman's Hour ''Woman's Hour'' is a radio magazine programme broadcast in the United Kingdom on the BBC Light Programme, BBC Radio 2, and later BBC Radio 4. It has been on the air since 1946. History The first BBC programme for women was the programme cal ...
'', ''
Kaleidoscope A kaleidoscope () is an optical instrument with two or more reflecting surfaces (or mirrors) tilted to each other at an angle, so that one or more (parts of) objects on one end of these mirrors are shown as a symmetrical pattern when viewed fro ...
'', '' Saturday Review'', '' Saturday Live'', and ''
A Good Read ''A Good Read'' is one of BBC Radio 4's longest-running programmes in which two guests join the main presenter to choose and discuss their favourite books. The programme grew out of an occasional slot on '' Weekend Woman's Hour'', initiated in 1 ...
''. Jungr coached the young offenders in vocal delivery for Brian Hill's Bafta-winning film ''Feltham Sings''. She created the voice course at London Metropolitan University and formed and ran the Raise the Roof Horseman Choir (which she founded) for several years. In 2012, she created the song cycle "Deep Roots Tall Trees" for the Core Theatre at Corby, with local musicians, songwriters, and poets, which culminated in a concert at Corby football ground in August 2014 incorporating local musicians, the Deep Roots Tall Trees Choir, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Antony Weedon. This concert started the Made in Corby Arts Council England initiative.


Writing

* ''Cinderella'' (2005), (lyricist), Jack and the Beanstalk (2006), (composer and lyricist), and Beauty and the Beast (2007), (composer and lyricist). Director (all) – Cal McCrystal, Pantomimes (Newbury Corn Exchange) * ''The Ballad of Norah's Ark'' – songs Barb Jungr and Russell Churney, book Barb Jungr and Andy Goldberg, from original idea by Barb Jungr. In development in northeast England, previous workshops and readings in New York and London. Performed by the Billingham Players in June 2011. * ''The Jungle Book'' (lyricist) – Birmingham Stage Company, toured again 2011/12 * ''The Fabulous Flutterbys'' (2010) – (book, composer and lyricist), Produced by the Little Angel Puppet Theatre in spring 2010. * ''Liver Birds Flying Home -'' Liver Birds Flying Home opened at The Royal Court Liverpool in April 2018 with lyrics Barb Jungr music Mike Lindup of Level 42, and book by Barb Jungr, George Seaton and Linda McDermott. Produced by The Royal Court Liverpool and James Seabright Productions with George Seaton, directed by Benji Sperring. * ''Chocolate Cake'' - Based on best-selling children's author Michael Rosen's poem, co-adapted by director Peter Glanville and Barb Jungr with music and songs by Barb Jungr, Chocolate Cake opened at Polka Children's Theatre in March 2018 and toured spring and summer 2018. * ''How To Hide A Lion'' - Opened in autumn 2016 at Polka Children's Theatre then played at The Little Angel Theatre, Islington and Oxford Playhouse. Produced by Polka Theatre and Oxford Playhouse. Directed by Peter Glanville, with songs and music Barb Jungr. The show toured nationally with Pigtail Productions in autumn 2018. * ''The Singing Mermaid'' - Based on the best-selling children's book by Julia Donaldson, opens at The Little Angel Puppet Theatre in February. Co-adapted by director Samantha Lane and Barb Jungr, it features songs and music by Barb Jungr. * ''We're Going On A Bear Hunt'' - A musical adaptation based on the book written by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury. Music and Lyrics by Barb Jungr. Adapted by Peter Glanville and Barb Jungr. * ''The Pixie and The Pudding'' - Co-written by Barb Jungr and Samantha Lane with Music and Songs by Barb Jungr. The Pixie and The Pudding was presented as The Little Angel Theatre's Christmas show and ran from December 2019 to February 2020. * ''Jack v Giant'' - Created by Peter Glanville and Barb Jungr, the team behind We’re Going on a Bear Hunt and How to Hide a Lion. The show had its initial run at The Polka Theatre and ran from 11 February to 26 March 2023.


Personal life

She was married to musician and writer Richard "Dan" Bowling (the son of painter
Frank Bowling Sir Richard Sheridan Patrick Michael Aloysius Franklin Bowling ''('' Richard Sheridan Franklin Bowling; born 26 February 1934), known as Frank Bowling, is a British artist who was born in British Guiana. He is particularly renowned for his larg ...
and writer Paddy Kitchen) from 1981 to 1991.


Discography


As leader

* ''Bouquet of Barbs'' (Magnet, 1985) * ''Wicked'' (Durium, 1987) * ''Off the Peg'' (Utility, 1989) * ''Over the Bridge'' (Leaping Lizards, 1990) * ''Hell Bent Heaven Bound'' (Harbourtown, 1993) * ''Duruga Rising'' with Kuljit Bhamra and Russell Churney (KEDA, 1996) * ''Bare'' (Irregular, 1999) * '' Chanson: The Space In Between'' (Linn, 2000) * '' Every Grain of Sand: Barb Jungr Sings Bob Dylan'' (Linn, 2002) * ''
Waterloo Sunset "Waterloo Sunset" is a song by English Rock music, rock band the Kinks. It was released as a single on 5 May1967 and featured on the album ''Something Else by the Kinks'' later that year. Written and produced by Kinks frontman Ray Davies, "Wat ...
'' (Linn, 2003) * '' Love Me Tender'' (Linn, 2005) * ''Girl Talk'' with Claire Martin and
Mari Wilson Mari Macmillan Ramsay Wilson (born 29 September 1954, Neasden, London) is a British pop and jazz singer. She is best known for her 1982 UK top-10 hit single " Just What I Always Wanted". She had a further UK top-40 hit in 1983 with a cover of ...
(Linn, 2005) * '' Just Like a Woman'' (Linn, 2008) * ''The Men I Love'' (Naim, 2009) * '' Man in the Long Black Coat: Barb Jungr Sings Bob Dylan'' (Linn, 2011) * ''Stockport to Memphis'' (Naim, 2012) * ''Hard Rain'' (Kristalyn, 2014) * ''Walking in the Sun'' (Linn, 2006) * ''Those Days'' (Stockfisch, 2015) * ''Shelter from the Storm'' (Linn, 2016) * ''Come Together'' (Kristalyn, 2016) * ''Float Like a Butterfly'' (Kristalyn, 2018) * ''Bob, Brel, and Me'' (Kristalyn, 2019) * ''In My Troubled Days - Single wit
The Fourth Choir
' (Kristalyn, 2020) * ''Dancing In The Dark - Single with Simon Wallace'' (Kristalyn, 2020) * Barb Jungr sings Leonard Cohen - Live at The Crazy Coqs (Kristalyn, 2022) * My Marquee (Marquee Records, 2023)


As guest

With Michael Parker * '' Wicked'' (1986) * ''Blue Devils'' (1987) * ''Night and Day'' (1988) * ''Off the Peg'' (1988) * ''Over the Bridge'' (1990) * ''Canada'' (1992) With others * Robb Johnson, '' Gentle Men'' with Jenny Carr, Jude Abbott, and John Forrester (Irregular, 2013) * Robb Johnson, '' The Triumph of Hope Over Experience'' (2002) *
Jonathan Cooper Jonathan Javell Cooper (born January 19, 1990) is an American former professional football player who was a guard in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Arizona Cardinals seventh overall in the 2013 NFL draft. He play ...
, ''The Magic of Kisses'' (2008) *
Peggy Seeger Margaret "Peggy" Seeger (born June 17, 1935) is an American Folk music, folk singer and songwriter. She has lived in Britain for more than 60 years and was married to the singer-songwriter Ewan MacColl until his death in 1989. She is a member ...
, '' Period Pieces: Women's Songs for Men and Women'' (1998) * Ian Shaw, ''Uneasy Street'' (2005)


References


External links


Barb Jungr – Official website

Barb Jungr
at
AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jungr, Barb Living people 1954 births People from Rochdale Musicians from Stockport Writers from Stockport Alumni of the University of Leeds English people of Czech descent British people of German descent English women singers English jazz singers British women jazz singers