Anne Bredon

Anne Bredon (born 1931 in Eureka, California), also known as Anne Johanson,Janet Smith, "The 'Babe I'm Gonna Leave You' Story," in "The Gate at the End of the World: A Collection of Songs by Anne Bredon" (Bella Roma Music, 1991), pp. vii-x.] is an American folk singer, best known for composing the song "Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You" while she was a student at UC-Berkeley in the late-1950s.

Bredon majored in art at Humboldt State University and completed her master's degree in mathematics at Berkeley, California.Melissa Tav, [http://www.maderatribune.com/life/lifeview.asp?c=204011 Embracing life one bead at a time] , "Madera Tribune", January 22, 2007.] At Berkeley she appeared on a live folk-music radio show "The Midnight Special" on radio station KPFA in around 1960, on which she sang "Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You".Janet Smith, "The 'Babe I'm Gonna Leave You' Story," in "The Gate at the End of the World: A Collection of Songs by Anne Bredon" (Bella Roma Music, 1991), pp. vii-x.]

A fellow folk singer who guested on "The Midnight Special", Janet Smith, then developed her own version of the song, which she sang at hootenany folk-song events at Oberlin College, one performance of which was attended by Joan Baez.Janet Smith, "The 'Babe I'm Gonna Leave You' Story," in "The Gate at the End of the World: A Collection of Songs by Anne Bredon" (Bella Roma Music, 1991), pp. vii-x.] Baez asked Smith to send her a tape of her songs, including "Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You", which Baez subsequently began performing herself. It became the opening track on Baez's 1963 album "Joan Baez in Concert, Part 1".Janet Smith, "The 'Babe I'm Gonna Leave You' Story," in "The Gate at the End of the World: A Collection of Songs by Anne Bredon" (Bella Roma Music, 1991), pp. vii-x.]

When this album was in production, Vanguard Records contacted Smith to determine the authorship of the song. Because Smith was unable to track down Bredon prior to the release of Baez's album, the song was credited as "Traditional, arr. Baez" on "Joan Baez in Concert, Part 1".Janet Smith, "The 'Babe I'm Gonna Leave You' Story," in "The Gate at the End of the World: A Collection of Songs by Anne Bredon" (Bella Roma Music, 1991), pp. vii-x.] Anne Bredon was properly credited, however, in the "Joan Baez Song Book", which was published in 1964.Janet Smith, "The 'Babe I'm Gonna Leave You' Story," in "The Gate at the End of the World: A Collection of Songs by Anne Bredon" (Bella Roma Music, 1991), pp. vii-x.]

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.Dave Lewis (1994), "The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin", Omnibus Press, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9]

Bredon married and moved to New Jersey, where she and her husband Glen raised their four children.Melissa Tav, [http://www.maderatribune.com/life/lifeview.asp?c=204011 Embracing life one bead at a time] , "Madera Tribune", January 22, 2007.] She presently resides in Trail's End in North Fork, California, where she designs and sells beaded jewelery. [http://www.galwest.com/jewelry/anne_bredon/index.htm Williams Gallery West] ] Melissa Tav, [http://www.maderatribune.com/life/lifeview.asp?c=204011 Embracing life one bead at a time] , "Madera Tribune", January 22, 2007.]

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