Emma Nijs
Emma, John’s eldest daughter, was singing nearly as soon as she was talking, and spending weekends at folk festivals nearly as soon as she was walking.
At the age of eight she won a local Methodist singing competition. Interestingly, while the other competitors were singing hymns, Emma was singing The Darkest hour is just before dawn by Ralph Stanley, which dad John had learned from an Emmylou Harris album.
Emma continued to join John for occasional support spots and charity gigs, and by her late teens younger sister Helen had started joining in as well.
Through Sixth Form and University, Emma was involved in musical theatre productions, working in the same group as Beverley Knight. She still travelled to see her favourite folk acts and, of course, Christine Collister was top of the list.
In 1996, Emma joined Desperate Men full time, adding harmony vocals to John’s lead. After adding all of her harmonies to the Third Light album she was delighted when producer Phil Beer described them as ‘umbilical’.
Emma started to front her own songs in the band and Desperate Men’s final album New Tricks includes two such numbers: Blessing In Disguise a classic Gregson and Collister number, and a wonderful song by the Arkansas singer/songwriter Iris DeMent, Easy’s Getting Harder Every Day.
Emma has attracted the following reviews-
"Iris DeMent’s ‘Easy’s Getting Harder Every Day’ is splendidly sung by Emma Richards conveying just the right amount of world weariness."
Folk on Tap
"Emma’s rendition of Clive Gregson’s ‘Blessing In Disguise’ is one of the highpoints of the album."
Dave Kidman - Net Rhythms
"Top marks to Emma Richards for her usual relaxed harmony vocals and a captivating rendering of Iris DeMents classic Easy’s Getting Harder Every Day, which demands repeated listening."
Gary Copeland
Express and Star
Reviewing New Tricks
"Extra points are scored for Emma Richards’ superb vocal harmonies."
Rock ‘N’ Reel Magazine