The so-called ‘star-makers’ of the music industry are generally thought to be the svengali figures – the managers, agents and record producers who wheel, deal, move and shake in the shadows of their protégés.

But consider for a moment the influence of an interpretive vocalist like Judy Collins, whose 60s recordings were filled with songs by Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen, often long before they were recorded by the writers themselves.

Time was, that having a song recorded by Judy Collins was a major stepping stone along the road to success and guaranteed in those days to reach more people than any amount of press or radio advertising.

Born in Seattle, Judy initially studied classical piano before her love of traditional folk song and the music of contemporary artists such as Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger led her to take up the guitar.

Moving to New York, Judy began busking and playing the acoustic clubs of Greenwich Village, the epicentre of the folk revival, where she rubbed shoulders with Dylan, Judy Henske, Tom Paxton and Phil Ochs.

Elektra Records boss Jac Holzman promptly signed the 22-year-old to his label and her first album ‘A Maid of Constant Sorrow’ was released in 1961.

Now, almost 50 years, more than 40 albums and several Grammy nominations later, Judy is about to release a new album called Paradise.

“The new album has the Joan Baez track ‘Diamonds and Rust’ which she also sings with me, a new song from Jimmy Webb, a duet with Stephen Stills and lots of other goodies," says the now 71 year-old.

"At Croydon I’ll be singing some of the new record and certainly Over the Rainbow, but there’s lots to work with – 50 years of material gives you a lot of leeway.”

I asked Judy how she developed her reputation for unearthing great songs by up and coming songwriters?

“Oh it’s luck, mainly” she laughed.

“And maybe being in the right place at the right time.

"My producer Mark and I did a lot of hunting and looking for songs, but often it would just happen.

"I mean, Al Kooper called me in the middle of the night to tell me about Joni Mitchell’s Both Sides Now and my friend Mary Martin, who was with Warner Brothers and also worked for Albert Grossman, she was the one who told me about Leonard Cohen.

"Mary was a good friend of his but she didn’t know anybody else that she thought would even like his songs!"

As well as her American contemporaries, Judy somehow uncovered songs by British writers, particularly her fine version of Who Knows Where the Time Goes by Fairport’s Sandy Denny.

“Yes, I don’t know exactly who sent it to us, but Sandy can only have been 20 or 21 years old when she wrote that song," she says.

"It’s uncanny but the minute I heard it I thought, I absolutely have to sing that song.

"The A & R department at Elektra was OK for finding songs and Jac would certainly keep his eye open for possible material.

"So it was a group effort, but also very synchronistic.

"For example, I already knew Amazing Grace and when I sang it at a gathering of friends my producer happened to be there, heard it and said you’ve got to record that.

"It was Stephen Still’s idea to record Ian Tyson’s Someday Soon, then, with Send In The Clowns, another friend of mine got the cast album through Elektra, called me up and said you’d better listen to this song.

"So every once in a while something really good would come through.”

Prior to a promotion night at The Half Moon in Putney for her own label Wildflower records, Judy is warming up for her concert at the Ashcroft Theatre with her first ever appearance at the Glastonbury festival.

"Yes, that’ll make the third big festival that I’ve done in England.

"I was at the Isle of Wight last year and Cambridge Folk festival the year before that, so finally I will have hit the major festivals, which is something I’ve always wanted to do but not been able to until recently.

"I think I’ll have a wonderful time in the UK, I’m really looking forward to it.”

Judy Collins, Fairfield Halls, Park Lane, June 29, 7.45pm, £21.50. Call 020 8688 9291 or visit fairfield.co.uk.

Judy Collins' Wildflower Records Showcase featuring Judy Collins, Kenny White, Will Kevans and Sadie Jemmett, The Half Moon, Lower Richmond Road, Jund 30, 8pm, £10. Call 020 8780 9383 or visit halfmoon.co.uk.