Claire Lynch

Bluegrass, singer-songwriter, Americana

Claire Lynch is one of the most beloved women singers in contemporary bluegrass, putting her in a league of highly championed artists like Alison Krauss, Rhonda Vincent, and more genre-defying folks like Lyle Lovett, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Emmylou Harris. Fans of Bill Monroe's music would be well-advised to pick up a few of her albums. Because of her progressive approach to traditional music, she'd also probably be of interest to fans of bluegrass genre-benders like Sam Bush and the members of now-defunct Nickel Creek.

Claire Lynch - guitar, vocals
Mark Schatz - upright bass
Bryan McDowell - fiddle
Matthew Wingate - guitar

Crowd Favorites (Rounder Records, 2007) compare prices

Silver and Gold (Rounder Records, 1997) compare prices

Friends for a Lifetime (Rounder, 1998) compare prices

"Kennesaw Line" (from Crowd Favorites)
"Great Day in the Mornin' (from Watcha Gonna Do)
"Savannah" (from Lovelight)

Born in Kingston, NY, Claire Lynch moved with her family to Huntsville, AL, when she was about 12 years old. It was around that time that she developed a love for and affiliation with the burgeoning Alabama country and bluegrass music scene. She eventually joined a band called Hickory Wind, which became famous as the Front Porch String Band.

That group released their debut in 1981 then quickly disbanded for about a decade. During that time, Lynch worked as a songwriter and musician, selling tunes to the likes of Kathy Mattea, Patty Loveless, and numerous others. When the band got back together in 1991, Claire joined them as their vocalist yet again, spinning off the success of their '91 album to try her hand at a solo career. Exploring her options as a solo artist, she released her solo debut two years later (1993) and made such a splash with country audiences that her next two albums earned Grammy nominations.

Throughout the 1990s, Lynch enjoyed considerable success in the country and bluegrass music scenes, earning numerous awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association and other organizations. Then, in 2000, she decided to walk away from it all.

Her hiatus didn't last very long, though. She started contributing backing vocals to Dolly Parton and then joined Parton's touring band when she hit the road behind her bluegrass album. After that tour, she took to the world of session vocalist again for the first time since her solo career began, lending backing vocals to artists across the folk and Americana spectrum.

According to her official bio, "She graced albums by other artists with her background vocals including Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Pam Tillis, Alison Brown, Patty Loveless, Kathy Mattea and Ralph Stanley. Today, the impressive list of other guest appearances continues including spots on albums by Donna the Buffalo, Sara Watkins, the Gibson Brothers, Jonathan Edwards and Jesse Winchester."

By 2005, she had fully decided to return to the music world, and started a band of her own - the Claire Lynch Band. The disc they recorded together was widely well-received among bluegrass and folk audiences, earning Lynch more IBMA nominations and awards including Female Vocalist of the Year in 2010.

In total, as of the writing of this bio, Lynch has recorded nine album, including two discs with the Front Porch String Band. Her most recent recording, Whatcha Gonna Do was nominated for the IBMA's Song of the Year for "My Florida Sunshine" and was produced by Claire herself. In addition to her own recordings, her songs have been recorded by April Verch, the Whites, Pierce Pettis, Cherryholmes, Patty Loveless, and others. She's taught songwriting at the RockyGrass Academy, Boston Bluegrass Union, and elsewhere. She started her own publishing company - Thrill Hill - through which she has published a number of her own compositions. For a full listing of her songwriting credits, tour dates, and other information, visit ClaireLynch.com.