Emmylou Harris

Alternative Country, Singer/Songwriter

Aesthetically, Emmylou Harris' work straddles the fence somewhere between Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash. Other folks she could be compared to are June Carter, Lucinda Williams, Gillian Welch, Patsy Cline, and Townes Van Zandt.

Since 1999, Emmylou Harris has been organizing benefit concerts to raise money for the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation's effort to provide aide to innocent victims of wars around the world.

Janis Ian wrote a song about Emmylou ("Boots Like Emmylou's"), which I think spells that out. Other artists include Mary Chapin Carpenter and Gillian Welch.

Pieces of The Sky (Reprise, 1975). Quarter Moon in a Ten Cent Town (Warner, 1978). Blue Kentucky Girl (Warner, 1979). Angel Band (Warner, 1987). Trio - with Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt (Warner, 1987).

"With the Constitution they set something in motion that is a pretty extraordinary document and a recipe for the way you would want people to live."

Emmylou Harris was born in April, 1947 in Birmingham, Alabama. After graduating high school as the valedictorian, she received a scholarship for drama to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

While in North Carolina, she began to seriously study music, and was influenced heavily by Joan Baez and Bob Dylan. She released her first record Gliding Bird in 1969. Soon afterward, she moved back with her parents in Washington, D.C.

Three years later, she was introduced to Gram Parsons by her friend Chris Hillman (formerly of the Byrds). Emmylou began touring and recording as a backup singer for Parsons until his death in 1973.

Her next solo release was in 1976 with Elite Hotel, and for the next several years, she was able to enjoy crossover success as her Country music records were appreciated by Rock fans as well.

Since then, Emmylou has released 24 more recordings, and has become one of the most revered and prolific artists in what has come to be known as Alternative Country.
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