Background
Dalton was born Karen J. Cariker in Enid, Oklahoma.
composer musician singer songwriter
Dalton was born Karen J. Cariker in Enid, Oklahoma.
She was associated with the early 1960s Greenwich Village folk music scene, particularly with Fred Neil, the Holy Modal Rounders, and Bob Dylan. Her bluesy, world-weary voice is often compared to jazz singer Billie Holiday, though Dalton said Bessie Smith was a greater influence. She sang blues, folk, country, popular, Motown—making over each song in her own style.
She played the twelve string guitar and a long neck banjo.
Dalton"s first album, lieutenant"s So Hard to Tell Who"s Going to Love You the Best (Capitol, 1969), was re-released by Koch Records on Civil Defense in 1996. Dalton"s second album,, was recorded at Bearsville Studios and originally released by Woodstock Festival promoter Michael Language"s label, Just Sunshine Records.
The album was produced and arranged by Harvey Brooks, who played bass on lieutenant Piano player Richard Bell guested on In My Own Time.
Its liner notes were written by Fred Neil and its cover photos were taken by Elliott Landy.
Both Dalton"s albums were re-released in November 2006: lieutenant"s So Hard To Tell Who"s Going To Love You The Best, on the French Megaphone-Music label, included a bonus Digital Video Disc featuring rare performance footage of Dalton. In My Own Time was re-released on Civil Defense and LP on November 7, 2006 by Light In The Attic Records. Known as "the folk singer"s answer to Billie Holiday" and "Sweet Mother K.D.", Dalton is said to be the subject of the song "Katie"s Been Gone" (composed by Richard Manuel and Robbie Robertson) on the album The Basement Tapes by The Band and Bob Dylan, who wrote of Dalton that "My favorite singer..was Karen Dalton.
Karen had a voice like Billie Holiday and played guitar like Jimmy Reed.
Dalton was closely associated with singer/songwriter Tim Hardin, whose songs she covered. She was among the first to sing his "Reason to Believe".
She died from throat cancer in New York in March 1993, aged 55.