Natalie Anne Merchant American professional musician Date of Birth: 26.10.1963 Country: USA

1. Biography of Natalie Anne Merchant
2. Early Life and Family
3. Personal Life and Interests
4. Music Career

Biography of Natalie Anne Merchant

Natalie Anne Merchant, born on October 26, 1963, is an American professional musician. She was a member of the alternative band '10,000 Maniacs' from 1981 to 1993 before pursuing a solo career.

Early Life and Family

Natalie was born in Jamestown, New York, to parents Anthony and Ann Merchant. She was the third child out of four in her family. Her father's side of the family is of Sicilian descent, and her mother's side has Irish heritage. Natalie's mother, Ann, had a deep passion for music and instilled a love for it in her children. However, she had a negative view of television, which Natalie and her siblings inherited. It was not until she was older that Natalie began reading newspapers and watching television.

Personal Life and Interests

Natalie is married to Daniel de la Calle and they have a daughter together. Besides her musical talents, she also has a passion for drawing and gardening. Some of her artwork can be seen on her official website. Natalie has been a vegetarian since 1980, although she briefly resumed eating meat during her pregnancy. While she does not consider herself an environmental activist, she takes steps to live in a relatively clean environment.

Music Career

Natalie is best known as the lead vocalist and primary songwriter of the band '10,000 Maniacs.' She joined the band while studying at Jamestown Community College, and they played together until 1993. Shortly after leaving the band, she started her solo career. Her debut album, 'Tigerlily,' was released in 1995 by Elektra Records. During the recording process, Natalie formed valuable connections with musicians like Jennifer Turner, Barry Maguire, and Peter Yanowitz. The album was a commercial success, selling over five million copies and receiving positive reviews. It remains her most successful project to date.

Following 'Tigerlily,' Natalie released her second studio album, 'Ophelia,' in 1998. The music on this album differed greatly from her previous work and was closer to classical symphonic music. In 2000, she embarked on a concert tour with the alternative country group 'Wilco,' delighting her numerous fans with folk music performances across the country.

In 2001, Natalie released 'Motherland,' another commercially successful album, which achieved high positions on major music charts. Her next studio album, 'The House Carpenter's Daughter,' was released in 2003 under her own label, Myth America Records. Currently, this album remains her only project.

In November 2009, it was announced that Natalie had signed a contract with Nonesuch Records and planned to release a new album in 2010.