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Emmylou Harris is truly a modern innovator. For over 30 years, Emmylou has flowed effortlessly between genres achieving popularity in pop, folk, country and now alternative. The common bridge is an exquisite vocal style and a gift for discovering the heart of a song.
Born in Birmingham, Alabama on April 2, 1947, the daughter of Walter and Eugenia Harris grew up near Washington, D.C. As a college student in the late 60's, she sang with a local folk duo and eventually moved to Greenwich Village. She played the clubs on the local folk scene occasionally sharing the stage with Jerry Jeff Walker and David Bromberg.
Discovered in 1971 by Chris Hillman, Hillman brought Gram Parsons to hear her sing in a small club in the Washington D.C. area. In 1972, she answered the call from Gram to join him in Los Angeles to work on his first solo album, "GP." After Gram died in 1973, Emmylou went back to the D.C. area and formed a country band, playing with them until her 1975 major label debut, Pieces of the Sky, when she formed the first version of the legendary Hot Band. Over the years the Hot Band included world class players such as Albert Lee, Rodney Crowell and Hank DeVito.
Emmylou has been called by Billboard Magazine a "truly venturesome, genre-transcending pathfinder." Throughout her career, she has been admired for her talent as an artist and song connoisseur, but it was with her 2000 album, Red Dirt Girl, for which Ms. Harris was awarded her tenth (out of eleven total to date) Grammy, that she revealed she is also a gifted songwriter. Continuing the trend with her September 2003 album, Stumble Into Grace, Emmylou wrote ten of the album's eleven tracks. Though Emmylou is the most admired and influential woman in contemporary country music, her scope extends far beyond it. She has recorded with such diverse artists as Ryan Adams, Beck, Elvis Costello, Johnny Cash, Lucinda Williams, Bob Dylan, Tammy Wynette, Neil Young, The Chieftains, Lyle Lovett, Roy Orbison, The Band, Willie Nelson and George Jones.
A longtime social activist, Harris has lent her voice to many causes. She is active in cultural preservation issues, notably the Country Music Foundation and the Grand Ole Opry. As an animal rights activist and the owner of several dogs and cats, Emmylou also supports PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and the Humane Society. Since 1997 she has been the most visible spokesperson for the Campaign for a Landmine Free World, drawing public attention and notable musical artists to the cause.
For more biographical information, Bill DeYoung's Goldmine article will take you up to Wrecking Ball. There's also the most recent Nonesuch biography.
For the song list (and songwriters) for any album, please see Kaoru Kusakai's page
Back to the beginning
To date, 8 of her albums have gone gold, as well as "Trio".
Back to the beginning
Television/radio/other events:
August news
Emmylou is now fostering three dogs for the Nashville Humane Association.
Movies - Food movie marathon - "Babette's Feast" and "Mostly Martha" (available on tape and DVD)
July news
Emmylou's Picks for the Month
Music - Emmylou's listening to Jon Randall's upcoming cd. The record is produced by George Massenburg and Jon Randall. Of the twelve tracks on the record, Jon Randall wrote or co-wrote eleven. It will be released on Epic Records.She's also been listening to John Starling's new stuff.
Books - Grant and Twain : The Story of a Friendship That Changed America by Mark Perry
Movies - Saddest Music in the World (recommended only for people who are adventurous)
Recording Studio news
Kate and Anna McGarrigle will be working up 2 or 3 songs with Emmylou for the re-mastered, re-released "Light of the Stable."
Other news
Emmylou has recently dicovered the joys of bicycle riding. She has also had 3 dog runs built so she can foster dogs for the Nashville Humane Association.
Emmylou worked on the updated A&E; Johnny Cash Biography which will air in November.
May/June news
Emmylou's Picks for the Month
Music- Emmylou recently discovered Ginny Hawker and the album "Letters From My Father". Ginny also has a "lovely record with Hazel Dickens" and another one coming out soon with her husband, Tracy Schwartz.
Books - Currently reading: Founding Brothers - The Revolutionary Generation by Joseph J. Ellis
Recently read -
Recording Studio news
Emmylou three songs with Elvis Costello (picture) including "The Scarlet Tide" recently on the Cold Mountain soundtrack sung by Allison Kraus. Emmylou warmed up the night before by singing on Buddy Miller's upcoming record. Both records are due out September 21.
Emmylou sang on three songs with Bright Eyes and is pictured in the photo gallery with Connor Oberst. She also sang on "Wild Wolf Calling Me" for the upcoming Tony Joe White album "The Heroines" due out in September. (Also featured on the album are Lucinda Williams, Shelby Lynne, Jessi Colter, and Tony Joe's daughter Michelle.)
Other news
Emmylou can be heard doing PSA's in the western USA for the Wilderness Act.
She'll be honored by Academy of Achievement on June 12.
On May 27, 2004 The Discovery Fund For Eye Research is launching its 4th annual "Seeing the Stars," celebrity charity eyewear and memorabilia auction on eBay. Emmylou Harris has generously donated a pair of glasses for auction to benefit the Discovery Fund's medical research and patient education programs for Macular Degeneration, Keratoconus, Diabetic Retinopathy and Ocular Herpes.
March news -
March 27 - Emmylou will be performing "The Tennessee Waltz" at the state capital in Nashville TN
She'll be appearing in a print ad for Klipsch Speakers in their magazine - date of publication unknown at this time
May 3 - Emmylou is receiving the ASCAP Humanitarian Award in NYC at the Lighthouse
While Emmylou won't have her band with her, you can expect her harmonies Telluride this year.
Sometime in August (dates and locations have not be set) Emmylou, Buddy Miller, Patty Griffin, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings will be touring together in some sort of format (also not set yet)
February 8, 2004 - The Grammy's - The late singer/songwriter Warren Zevon will be honored in a segment that will feature Jackson Browne, eleven-time GRAMMY winner Emmylou Harris, The Eagles' Timothy B. Schmit, actor/recording artist Billy Bob Thornton, two-time GRAMMY-winner Dwight Yoakam, and Jorge Calderon.
January 9, 2004 - Crossroads with Dave Matthews, Cmt 9pm EST
Magazines
Emmylou Newsgroup Online Stuff
Magazines, Books, etc.
Emmylou, Patty Griffin, Buddy Miller, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings will join one another for a unique tour beginning in August in Atlanta, Georgia. Dubbing the tour "Sweet Harmony Traveling Revue," the set will be varied, featuring ensemble performances, solo numbers and, at times, instrument swapping. "Sweet Harmony Traveling Revue" will visit 14 cities on its three-week run, including New York's Central Park on August 18, and will wrap up August 29 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
With Buddy Miller and Patty Griffin
With Buddy Miller
Recent Appearances
With Dave Matthews and friends
Want to hear Emmylou on the radio but don't know where to find her ? Here's a list of online radio stations that have testified that they play her.
Back to the beginning
Photo Credit: Most of the pictures are contributed by fans. If you have pictures you would like to be considered for the site, please e-mail them to kate@emmylou.net
Any inaccuracies on the page are courtesy of me. That said,
I
would like to thank Cimarron (Joe Takacs) for his generosity in sharing information from EOL. It has certainly kept the page timely.
I'd also like to thank Neville Bond for the exhaustive discography he created. The musical friends section would not be nearly as complete without it.
This site is updated and added to
frequently.If you have any suggestions or pictures or whatever, please contact me at kate@emmylou.net.
Tour dates
same band, no Steve
For more appearances and reviews, go to the archives.
On the Radio
Online radio programs
Emmylou Harris
