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Maggie Roche (1951–2017), folk singer with the Roches

by Legacy Staff

Maggie Roche, a singer-songwriter in the sister folk trio the Roches, died Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017, of cancer, according to multiple news sources. She was 65.
“Friends, my dear, beautiful sister Maggie passed away today after a long struggle with cancer. She was a private person, too sensitive and shy for this world, but brimming with life, love, and talent,” her sister Suzzy Roche wrote in a Facebook post. “I want to let you know how grateful she was to everyone who listened and understood her through her music and her songs.”
Maggie Roche played guitar and sang low harmonies with her sisters Suzzy and Terre in the folk group the Roches. They were performing in New York City during the early 1970s when singer-songwriter Paul Simon heard them and recruited them as backup singers on his 1973 album, “There Goes Rhymin’ Simon.”

Maggie Roche, a singer-songwriter in the sister folk trio the Roches, died Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017, of cancer, according to multiple news sources. She was 65.

“Friends, my dear, beautiful sister Maggie passed away today after a long struggle with cancer. She was a private person, too sensitive and shy for this world, but brimming with life, love, and talent,” her sister Suzzy Roche wrote in a Facebook post. “I want to let you know how grateful she was to everyone who listened and understood her through her music and her songs.”

Maggie Roche played guitar and sang low harmonies with her sisters Suzzy and Terre in the folk group the Roches. They were performing in New York City during the early 1970s when singer-songwriter Paul Simon heard them and recruited them as backup singers on his 1973 album, “There Goes Rhymin’ Simon.”


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Maggie and Terre Roche released their debut album in 1975. Later, youngest sister Suzzy joined them on the Roches; their debut album as a trio was released in 1979. They would record over a dozen more albums as a trio as well as assorted duos over the years.

They appeared on national television including “Saturday Night Live” and “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.” Although they never became best-sellers, they won over fans with their distinctive blend of vocal harmonies, quirky sense of humor, and witty lyrics.

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