Maggie Roche | Singer-songwriter, 65

Maggie Roche, 65, the folk-rock singer-songwriter who since the mid-1970s had performed and recorded as a trio and in pairs with her two sisters, has died of cancer, according to a statement posted online Saturday by her sister and bandmate Suzzy Roche.

Growing up in Park Ridge, N.J., Ms. Roche, the eldest, formed a duo with middle sister Terre, and while touring, they caught the attention of Paul Simon, who brought them in as backup singers for his 1973 album, There Goes Rhymin' Simon.

In 1975, they released an album of their own. Shortly after that, youngest sister, Suzzy, joined to form The Roches. The voices of this threesome blended majestically, with Maggie's rich contralto balanced by Terre's soprano and Suzzy filling in the mid-range.

They played Greenwich Village folk venues and, in 1979, released the well-received The Roches, the first of their dozen albums as a trio, and were booked on Saturday Night Live.

Their final studio album, Moonswept, was released in 2007. Ms. Roche also recorded albums as a duo with sister Suzzy.

The sisters were never a big draw or huge sellers. But their unique sound and sensibility, plus their endearing quirkiness, was cherished by a devoted following over the decades.

The statement from Suzzy Roche, who, with Terre, survives her, describes their "dear, beautiful sister Maggie" as "a private person, too sensitive and shy for this world, but brimming with life, love and talent. A brilliant songwriter, with a distinct unique perspective, all heart and soul." - AP