Some forty years from her emergence on the late sixties folk club circuit, Maddy Prior is one of the most enduring, influential and respected artists in British music.

Born in Blackpool and, raised in St Albans, Maddy first came to prominence as a duo with singer/ guitarist Tim Hart, building a reputation around the folk clubs and releasing two albums. As the 70s dawned, they joined forces with Ashley Hutchings (of Fairport Convention) and Gay & Terry Woods, with the idea of fusing folk song with rock instrumentation and technique. The new group took its name from a traditional Lincolnshire ballad 'Horkstow Grange' - the tale of a character called Steeleye Span.

So began an incredible story. Others may claim the invention of folk-rock, but Steeleye were the first to drag it into the electronic age. In the age of the giant rock band, Steeleye Span fitted the bill perfectly, taking folk music out of the backroom clubs and into the charts with a string of hit albums, gold discs and world tours. Hart and Prior remained constant in a group whose changing line-ups read like a Who's who of British folk, until Tim left in 1980 and the band undertook a couple of sabbaticals, before returning in 1986.

Throughout this period, Maddy continued with extra-curricular activities. Two albums were released with June Tabor (as the Silly Sisters) and solo projects saw her work with the cream of traditional musicians including Martin Carthy, Nic Jones, Danny Thompson and John Kirkpatrick. While Steeleye continued to explore traditional material, Maddy used her albums to develop her own songwriting, despite claiming to be in awe of the craft.

One of her most abiding projects was born in 1987 with the release of A Tapestry of Carols with The Carnival Band. The meeting came out of chance but this part-time collaboration has lasted for twenty two years and several albums, primarily a Yuletide affair but also exploring other ways to combine early music, hymns, classical and more with an "anything goes" attitude. Their Christmas tours have become something of legend, as documented on the 1998 Carols At Christmas live album.

1997 was a year of change. Steeleye Span (now with original member Gay Woods back in the fold) released Time, acclaimed as their best album in many years. Two massive UK tours followed, the second of which saw Maddy make her last appearance with the band after 28 years. The workload of a band, the Carnivals, a solo career and a family had started to prove too much and a decision had to be made.

Maddy & Jethro Tull frontman Ian Anderson who produced Steeleye's Now We Are Six

Ravenchild proved to be something of a landmark, being Maddy's 35th album in as many years. It seemed only too appropriate to mark this, so in December 1999 Maddy set out on the road again for a special set of dates celebrating her career thus far. As well as Nick and Troy, the shows brought together some of the musicians Maddy has worked with over the years including Rick Kemp and Peter Knight (of Steeleye Span), Steve Banks (from The Carnival Band) June Tabor, and Maddy & Rick's daughter, Rose Kemp. These shows were documented in the live album (and DVD) Ballads and Candles, released the following year. The most recent new album - Gold Frankincense and Myrrh - is another seasonal endeavour, but this time with some exciting new directions in the form of another song-cycle, offering a new slant on the well-known story of the Three Kings, and Middle Eastern influences in the music.

2000 saw the announcement that Maddy's longstanding contribution to folk music was to be recognised with the award of an MBE in the New Year's honours list.

At this stage, many might be tempted to rest on their laurels, but if anything, Maddy has thrown herself into her work with even more vigour. Her most ambitious work so far, Arthur The King centred around an extended song-cycle exploring the facts and fictions surrounding England's legendary King.

Affirming Maddy's reputation as a songwriter, and as an unsurpassed interpreter of traditional song, the album explored an even broader musical palette, from traditional folk through to hard rock and ambient electronic textures.

Following Arthur, Maddy and the boys made a CD of Lionhearts, based on the story of Eleanor of Aquitaine, mother to Richard the Lionheart and King John, and wife to Henry II.

Abby Maddy & Rose

Maddy Prior's Girls brought together Maddy, her daughter Rose Kemp, and Abbie Lathe in a stripped-down, acoustic form, with anemphasis on vocal harmony, and a range of material from traditional folk, gospel and blues to contemporary writers and original material from all three. A well-received album Bib & Tuck and two successful tours followed.

When Rose decided to devote more time to her own fast growing career, she was replaced by Claudia Gibson and the CD Under the Covers was made. A daring and unusual album from Maddy, covering the songs of recent songwriters, based around the acapella arrangements the Girls had created.

In 2002 Maddy surprised everyone with the announcement that she was to head a reunited Steeleye Span for another album and tour. Present: the Very Best of Steeleye Span was exactly that, with the band revisiting, and bringing into the present their all-time favourite moments as chosen by their fans via an online poll.

The band's sold-out tour in the run-up to Christmas 2002 showed they were still very much a force to be reckoned with.

In 2004 Steeleye celebrated their 35th anniversary with tours in the Australia and the UK, a headline appearance at Sidmouth International Festival and a new album: They Called Her Babylon, the first release of new material from the band since 2000, and one that does the band's legacy proud.

In 2005 they made a seasonal CD of Christmas and associated material called Winter, and at the end of 2006 toured the UK with another new studio album called Bloody Men

In October, 2006, Maddy went on the road touring a retrospective of her work with Nick and Troy, based mainly around Arthur, involving a webcast and interactive internet activity. A groundbreaking and adventurous undertaking for the Park office Maddy's management and record company.