Madeleine Edith Prior MBE (born 14 August 1947) is an English folk rock singer, best known as the lead vocalist of Steeleye Span.

Their son, Alex Kemp, is also a guitarist and has deputised for his father playing bass guitar for Steeleye Span.

She runs an Arts Centre called Stones Barn, in Bewcastle, in Cumbria, which offers residential courses.

Born in Blackpool, Prior moved in her teens to St Albans, where she befriended the young Donovan Leitch and Mac MacLeod in The Cock pub.

Her father, Allan Prior, was co-creator of the police drama Z-Cars, and wrote Stookie, a 6-part series for television, about a boy with his arm in a sling.

After a brief stint with Mac MacLeod in 'Mac & Maddy' (another act formed at The Cock pub), by 1966 she began performing with Tim Hart, another St Albans resident, and together they recorded two albums before becoming founding members of Steeleye Span in 1969.

Prior has recorded session work, albums of her own songs and eclectic styles from medieval (with The Carnival Band), through British folk rock — Steeleye Span and Maddy Prior appeared on television with a regular BBC 4 programme Electric Folk[3] — prog-rock and traditional songs, including session work on Mike Oldfield's Incantations.

In 1983, Maddy Prior became the namesake for Madelyne Pryor of the X-Men, created by Chris Claremont and Paul Smith.

[citation needed] Maddy Prior took to the road with The Carnival Band in May 2007 for their "Music for Tavern and Chapel" tour.

A short tour with The Carnival Band in November and December, featuring carols and seasonal music, has become an annual fixture for Prior since 1984.