The Silkie, an English folk music group, were formed in October 1963 at Hull University. The original line-up consisted of Sylvia Tatler (vocals), Mike Ramsden (guitar and vocals), Ivor Aylesbury (guitar and vocals), and Kevin Cunningham (double bass). Their first recording was a flexi disc created for the Hull University Rag Week in 1964, featuring "John Henry", "All My Sorrows", and "Blood Red River". Early in their career, The Silkie were known for performing folk-spun covers of songs, particularly compositions by Bob Dylan. In June 1965, they released their first single, "Blood Red River", however, their breakthrough came with a cover version of "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away", produced by John Lennon and featuring contributions from Paul McCartney and George Harrison, which peaked at number 28 in the UK Singles Chart and number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1965. The group released their debut album, The Silkie Sing the Songs of Bob Dylan, later that year. Despite subsequent singles "Keys to My Soul" and "Born to Be with You" in 1966, none made a significant chart impact. The original line-up disbanded in autumn 1966 when Ivor Aylesbury and Kevin Cunningham left the group. Mike Ramsden and Sylvia Tatler continued as a duo for another 35 years before their deaths in 2004 and 2018, respectively.
