Anne Bredon
Encyclopedia
Anne Bredon is an American
folk singer
, best known for composing the song Babe I'm Gonna Leave You
while she was a student at University of California, Berkeley
in the late 1950s. Bredon is the daughter of renowned physicist Leonard Loeb and granddaughter of renowned physiologist Jacques Loeb
.
Bredon majored in art at Humboldt State University
and completed her master's degree
in mathematics at Berkeley, California. Some time around 1960, while attending Berkeley, Bredon appeared on a live folk-music radio show The Midnight Special on radio station KPFA
, on which she sang Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You.
Janet Smith was another folk singer who developed her own version of the song, performing her rendition on the same radio show some time later. Smith's version of the song came to the attention of Joan Baez
, who used the song on Joan Baez in Concert, Part 1
(1963). The song was initially credited as "Traditional, arr. Baez", but was properly attributed on Baez' 1964 album, Joan Baez Song Book.
When English
rock
band Led Zeppelin
was inspired to cover the song after hearing Baez's version, they credited the song as "Trad., arr. Page". In the 1980s, Bredon was made aware of Led Zeppelin's version of the song. Since 1990 the Led Zeppelin version has been credited to Anne Bredon/Jimmy Page
& Robert Plant
, and Bredon received a substantial back-payment in royalties
.
Bredon married Lee Johannsen in 1951. She divorced in 1959 leaving her first two children, Lenore and Joel, with her ex-husband. Later, she married Glen Bredon, a mathematics professor at the Institute for Advanced Study
in Princeton, New Jersey
. Upon accepting this position Bredon and her husband moved to New Jersey, where they raised their two children Joelle and Aaron. She currently resides in Trail's End in North Fork, California
, where she designs and sells beaded jewelery. Bredon is also a rug weaver and basket weaver, focusing on Navajo
designs. She possesses an extensive knowledge of the complex aspects of harvesting and preparation of grasses and materials used in traditional Native American basket weaving.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
folk singer
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
, best known for composing the song Babe I'm Gonna Leave You
Babe I'm Gonna Leave You
"Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" is a folk song written by Anne Bredon in the late 1950s. It was recorded by Joan Baez and released on her 1962 album Joan Baez in Concert, Part 1, and also by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, who included it on their 1969 debut album Led Zeppelin...
while she was a student at University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
in the late 1950s. Bredon is the daughter of renowned physicist Leonard Loeb and granddaughter of renowned physiologist Jacques Loeb
Jacques Loeb
Jacques Loeb was a German-born American physiologist and biologist.-Biography:...
.
Bredon majored in art at Humboldt State University
Humboldt State University
Humboldt State University is the northernmost campus of the California State University system, located in Arcata within Humboldt County, California, USA. The main campus, nestled at the edge of a coast redwood forest, is situated on Preston hill overlooking Arcata and with commanding views of...
and completed her master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in mathematics at Berkeley, California. Some time around 1960, while attending Berkeley, Bredon appeared on a live folk-music radio show The Midnight Special on radio station KPFA
KPFA
KPFA is a listener-funded progressive talk radio and music radio station located in Berkeley, California, broadcasting to the San Francisco Bay Area. KPFA airs public news, public affairs, talk, and music programming. The station signed on-the-air April 15 1949, as the first Pacifica Station...
, on which she sang Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You.
Janet Smith was another folk singer who developed her own version of the song, performing her rendition on the same radio show some time later. Smith's version of the song came to the attention of Joan Baez
Joan Baez
Joan Chandos Baez is an American folk singer, songwriter, musician and a prominent activist in the fields of human rights, peace and environmental justice....
, who used the song on Joan Baez in Concert, Part 1
Joan Baez in Concert
Joan Baez in Concert, Part 1 is a live album taken from Joan Baez's 1962 concert tours. It peaked at #10 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart.-History:...
(1963). The song was initially credited as "Traditional, arr. Baez", but was properly attributed on Baez' 1964 album, Joan Baez Song Book.
When English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
was inspired to cover the song after hearing Baez's version, they credited the song as "Trad., arr. Page". In the 1980s, Bredon was made aware of Led Zeppelin's version of the song. Since 1990 the Led Zeppelin version has been credited to Anne Bredon/Jimmy Page
Jimmy Page
James Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
& Robert Plant
Robert Plant
Robert Anthony Plant, CBE is an English singer and songwriter best known as the vocalist and lyricist of the iconic rock band Led Zeppelin. He has also had a successful solo career...
, and Bredon received a substantial back-payment in royalties
Royalties
Royalties are usage-based payments made by one party to another for the right to ongoing use of an asset, sometimes an intellectual property...
.
Bredon married Lee Johannsen in 1951. She divorced in 1959 leaving her first two children, Lenore and Joel, with her ex-husband. Later, she married Glen Bredon, a mathematics professor at the Institute for Advanced Study
Institute for Advanced Study
The Institute for Advanced Study, located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States, is an independent postgraduate center for theoretical research and intellectual inquiry. It was founded in 1930 by Abraham Flexner...
in Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
. Upon accepting this position Bredon and her husband moved to New Jersey, where they raised their two children Joelle and Aaron. She currently resides in Trail's End in North Fork, California
North Fork, California
North Fork is an unincorporated community in Madera County, California. It is located east of Raymond, at an elevation of 2638 feet .It is miles south east of Bass Lake and from Oakhurst. North Fork is also home of the Mono Indian Museum and the starting point of the Sierra scenic byway...
, where she designs and sells beaded jewelery. Bredon is also a rug weaver and basket weaver, focusing on Navajo
Navajo
Navajo or Navaho may refer to:* Navajo people* Navajo Nation, the governmental entity of the Navajo people* Navajo language, spoken by the Navajo people-Places in the United States:* Navajo, San Diego, California* Navajo, New Mexico...
designs. She possesses an extensive knowledge of the complex aspects of harvesting and preparation of grasses and materials used in traditional Native American basket weaving.