Elaine "Lal" Waterson was an English folk singer and songwriter. She sang with, among others, The Watersons, The Waterdaughters and Blue Murder. She was born in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire. In 1998, she died suddenly in Robin Hood's Bay, of cancer diagnosed only ten days before. "Lal Waterson's voice was stark but captivating, her songs lyrically ambitious and melodically powerful."
Lal Waterson was the sister of Norma Waterson and Mike Waterson, the aunt of Eliza Carthy and the sister-in-law of Martin Carthy. She was married to George Knight and had two children, Oliver Knight and Maria Gilhooley, with both of whom she recorded albums.