The Roches

The Roches are an American folk group from Park Ridge, New Jersey, made up of sisters Maggie Roche, Terre Roche and Suzzy Roche. They form in 1973 and remain active, working in different combinations over the years as a trio and at times as duos. Their music sits across contemporary folk, folk, folk pop, rock and Christmas music, and they are known for close three-part harmonies, offbeat lyrics and a dry, comedic stage manner.

Origins and early work

The group begins with Maggie and Terre Roche, the eldest two sisters, who leave school in the late 1960s to tour as a duo. Maggie writes most of the early material, with Terre contributing some songs. Their break comes when Paul Simon brings them in as backing singers on There Goes Rhymin' Simon. He also helps on their only duo album, Seductive Reasoning, released with appearances by The Oak Ridge Boys. Suzzy Roche then joins to complete the trio.

At this stage the sisters work in Greenwich Village, including bartending at Gerde's Folk City, and use those experiences in later songs such as “Face Down at Folk City”, which appears on Another World. They meet a number of later collaborators through that scene.

Recording as a trio

The Roches release their first trio album, The Roches, in 1979, produced by Robert Fripp. By then Suzzy has also started writing songs, while Terre is writing more regularly. Maggie's “The Married Men” from the album becomes better known through a later version by Phoebe Snow, and the group appears on Saturday Night Live in 1979 after that song is performed by Snow and Linda Ronstadt. Their television appearances also include The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, where they perform “Mr. Sellack” in 1985.

During the 1980s the group continues to record for a small audience and with modest sales. Albums from this period include Nurds, Keep On Doing, Another World, No Trespassing and Speak. Their arrangement of Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus”, included on Keep On Doing, is well regarded in a cappella circles.

Christmas, children’s songs and later releases

In 1990 they return to seasonal material with We Three Kings, a 24-track Christmas album that includes Terre's a cappella “Star of Wonder”. They follow this with A Dove, then Will You Be My Friend?, an album of children’s songs that includes a song by their brother David and young backing vocals, including contributions from Suzzy’s daughter Lucy Wainwright Roche. After a tour interrupted by their father’s death, they release Can We Go Home Now, their last original trio album until 2007.

In 1997 the sisters put the group on long-term hold, though they continue with solo projects and occasional joint work. Terre teaches guitar workshops and records a solo album. Suzzy acts on stage and in films, and releases solo albums as well as albums with Maggie. Maggie records and performs with her sisters until her death in 2017.

Collaborations, family and related projects

The Roches often perform with guitars and keyboards, sometimes joined by other musicians. Their songs are usually written by the sisters, alone or in combinations, and they also record arrangements of songs by other New York folk artists, along with a few well-known covers. Brother David Roche is also a singer-songwriter and often supports the group on record. Maggie’s son, Felix McTeigue, records three albums, including one with his group Filo. Suzzy’s daughter Lucy Wainwright Roche contributes vocals to Roches and McTeigue recordings and releases her own EPs and albums, while also touring with other artists.

After a holiday tour at the end of 2005, the three sisters, joined by brother Dave, play further shows in the US and Canada in 2006 and 2007. They then release Moonswept in 2007, their last studio album, and later make only occasional appearances, mainly in and around New York City.

Voice and style

Within the trio, Maggie sings in a low contralto range, Terre provides the highest soprano line, and Suzzy sings the middle part. This vocal balance, along with the group’s close harmonies and humorous delivery, is central to their sound.