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I bought 7 of Judy's early albums the other day, including what I think are all the ones where she introduces LC songs.

I really love her rendition of Dress Rehearsal Rag- I think it's better than LC's own. Some of the others she doesn't do as much with. But you can see what an influence she was on him in the early years, as a classically trained pianist who switched to the guitar in order to be more 'of the people'. Not unlike his own shift from high quality poetry to popular song.

Does anyone else think Judy was an influence? Or had he made that decision already before he met her?

It's pretty clear that Judy played a significant role in Leonard's transition to singer/performing artist at least in terms of encouragement , exposure , and confidence building, though it would i'm sure have happened without her
It's always worth seeing judy collins live if you have a chance .I saw her last year and her ' performing powers' are little diminished
from her ' heyday'

Leonard and judy singing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVJImYNGqwk

Leonard talking about judy collins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwt8PVrM5KY

Judy Collins more recently
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nL_KNes0RUU

Thanks- I will look out for her if she comes over in this direction. On your Diamonds and Rust clip, Judy sounds, amazingly, not that different after all these years- but her voice and Joan Baez' sure as heck don't blend.

New album of duets includes a new version of 'Hallelujah'
Title
Strangers again
released Sept 18th 2015