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Shawn ColvinAmerican singer, singer-songwriter in the genre of folk music
Date of Birth: 10.01.1956
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Shawn Colvin: A Journey in Folk Music
- Early Life and Influences
- Professional Beginnings
- Breakthrough and Critical Acclaim
- Commercial Success and Grammy Controversy
- Later Career and Legacy
- Personal Life
Shawn Colvin: A Journey in Folk Music
Shawn Colvin, a three-time Grammy Award winner, is an iconic folk singer-songwriter from the United States. Her journey to musical success has been marked by perseverance, passion, and a touch of controversy.
Early Life and Influences
Born and raised in Carbondale, Illinois, Colvin's love for music began at a young age. Inspired by the legendary Joni Mitchell, she started performing at open mics at the age of 15.
Professional Beginnings
In the late 1970s, Colvin embarked on her professional music career with the help of producer John Leventhal. Despite her early efforts, recognition eluded her. Her talent was evident in her background vocals on recordings by Suzanne Vega and Mary Chapin Carpenter, both of whom would later collaborate on her solo albums.
Breakthrough and Critical Acclaim
Colvin's first solo album, "Steady On" (1991), was met with critical acclaim and won her a Grammy Award for Best Folk Album. However, commercial success remained elusive despite follow-up albums like "Fat City" and "Cover Girl."
Commercial Success and Grammy Controversy
In 1996, at the age of forty, Colvin experienced a commercial breakthrough with the platinum-selling album "A Few Small Repairs." The album and its hit single "Sunny Came Home" both won Grammy Awards. The ceremony was marked by a controversial interruption from rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard.
Later Career and Legacy
While subsequent albums failed to match the commercial success of "A Few Small Repairs," Colvin has continued to release critically acclaimed music. She now resides in Austin, Texas, and occasionally performs locally, but has largely retired from major concert tours. Colvin has also made occasional television appearances, including voicing Rachel Jordan in the animated series The Simpsons.
Personal Life
Shawn Colvin's brother, Jeff Colvin, is the former editor-in-chief of Fortune magazine.
