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Emmylou HarrisAmerican country singer, songwriter
Date of Birth: 02.04.1947
Country:  USA |
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Biography of Emmylou Harris
Early Life and Musical BeginningsEmmylou Harris is an American country singer, songwriter, and musician. She was born on April 2, 1947, in Birmingham, Alabama. Her father was a military serviceman who spent 10 months as a prisoner of war in Korea. Harris grew up in North Carolina and Woodbridge, Virginia, where she attended Gar-Field Senior High School. She began studying music at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro, focusing on guitar and performing songs by artists such as Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, and Joan Baez.
Rise to Fame
Harris moved to New York City, where she worked as a waitress and performed folk songs in Greenwich Village coffeehouses. In 1969, she married poet-songwriter Tom Slocum, but the couple soon divorced. Harris's daughter, Hallie, lived with her grandparents in a Maryland suburb of Washington D.C.
In 1971, Harris joined forces with musicians Jerry Mullins and Tom Guidera to form a musical trio. During one of their performances in 1971, former Byrds member Chris Hillman heard Harris's vocals and recommended her to the band Parsons, who were in need of a vocalist. Harris joined the group and embarked on a tour with them and "The Fallen Angels". In 1973, Parsons and Harris recorded the studio album "Grievous Angel", but tragically, both musicians died from substance abuse on September 19, 1973. The album was released posthumously in 1974.
Solo Career and Success
After the death of Parsons, Harris relocated to Washington D.C. and formed the electronic group "The Angel Band". She was invited to Los Angeles by her friend Linda Ronstadt to perform at music gatherings. Harris was introduced to Canadian producer Brian Ahern by Warner Brothers A&R representative Mary Martin. In 1975, Harris signed with Reprise Records and released her first solo album, "Pieces of the Sky". Warner Bros. Records offered her a contract to continue recording but only as part of a "hot" band. This led to the formation of "The Hot Band" with guitarist James Burton and pianist Glen Hardin, among others.
In December 1975, Harris's album "Elite Hotel" was released and became a chart-topping success. In 1976, she won a Grammy Award for "Best Country Vocal Performance, Female" for her album "Elite Hotel". Her subsequent albums, including "Luxury Liner" (1977) and "Quarter Moon in a Ten Cent Town" (1978), achieved commercial success and critical acclaim. In 1979, Harris became a mother for the second time when her daughter, Meghan, was born. That same year, her album "Blue Kentucky Girl" earned her another Grammy Award.
Later Career
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Harris continued to release albums and her songs reached the top of various charts. In 1987, she collaborated with Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt on the album "Trio", which became a massive success and won a Grammy Award for "Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal". Harris also released solo albums such as "Angel Band" (1987) and "Red Dirt Girl" (2000), which earned her critical acclaim and Grammy Awards.
In 2003, Harris released "Stumble into Grace", followed by the album "All the Roadrunning" in 2006, a collaboration with Mark Knopfler. Harris continued to tour and release new music, including the album "All I Intended to Be" in 2008.
Emmylou Harris's talent as a vocalist and her contributions to the country music genre have solidified her status as a legendary artist. Her distinct voice and ability to blend various genres have made her a beloved figure in the music industry.
