Fay was born in North London in 1943 and began writing songs and recording demos while at university - before being noticed by former Van Morrison drummer Terry Noon.
Noon helped him sign to Decca Records subsidiary Dream, where he released two albums Bill Fay in 1970, and Time of the Last Persecution the following year.
He played Fay's music to Jeff Tweedy while he was recording Yankee Hotel Foxtrot - leading to him covering Be Not So Fearful during live shows with his band Wilco.
He went on to release a compilation album called Tomorrow, Tomorrow & Tomorrow in 2005 with help from David Tibet of Current 93.
FOLK music legend Bill Fay has died, aged 81.
