Hazel Jane Dickens (June 1, 1935 – April 22, 2011) was a female American bluegrass singer, songwriter, double bassist and guitarist. She was the eighth child of an eleven-child mining family in West Virginia. Her music is characterized not only by her high, lonesome singing style, but also by her provocative pro-union, feminist songs.
Dickens was born in Mercer County, West Virginia. She met Mike Seeger, younger half-brother of Pete Seeger and founding member of the New Lost City Ramblers and became active in the Baltimore-Washington area bluegrass and folk music scene during the 1960s. During this time she also established a collaborative relationship with Mike Seeger’s wife, Alice Gerrard, and as "Hazel & Alice" recorded two albums for the Folkways label: Who’s That Knocking (And Other Bluegrass Country Music) (1965) and Won’t You Come & Sing for Me (1973). Dickens and Gerrard were bluegrass bandleaders at a time when the vast majority of bluegrass bands were led by men.
Hazel Dickens Cause of Death
Hazel Dickens died in Washington, DC, of complications from pneumonia.
Hazel Dickens was 75 years old at the time of her death
Hazel Dickens – A Few Old Memories