Although Carolyn Hester's talent was tenuous, she was an important, if marginal, figure of the early '60s folk revival, singing traditional material with a high voice in the manner of Joan Baez and Judy Collins (though with less command). She is also remembered for brief musical associations with Bob Dylan, Buddy Holly, and Richard Farina, as... [+] Read More

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Known for her comic as well emotionally intense songs, folk singer/songwriter Cheryl Wheeler was raised in Timonium, Maryland, and began playing the guitar and ukulele as a child. She first performed professionally at a local restaurant, but soon graduated to clubs in the Baltimore and Washington, D.C., areas. In 1976, she moved to Rhode Island,... [+] Read More

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Though other performers sold more records and earned greater fame, few left as profound an impact on contemporary music as Emmylou Harris. Blessed with a crystalline voice, a remarkable gift for phrasing, and a restless creative spirit, she traveled a singular artistic path, proudly carrying the torch of "Cosmic American music" passed down by... [+] Read More

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Although a Georgia native, Eric Taylor found fame in Texas, where his folksinging influenced both Lyle Lovett and Nanci Griffith (both of whom have recorded his songs). Taylor got a ride to Houston in 1970, and after seeing Lightnin' Hopkins and Townes Van Zandt, was convinced to stay. He emerged from the Houston folk scene of the '70s along... [+] Read More

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Greenwich Village-based Frank Christian is one of contemporary folk music's virtuosic guitar players. His heartfelt melodies have strengthened performances and/or recordings by Nanci Griffith, Christine Lavin, Suzanne Vega, John Gorka, Dave Van Ronk and the Smithereens. Christian is equally skilled as a songwriter and vocalist. His tune "Three... [+] Read More

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One of the most celebrated country-folk performers of her day, singer/songwriter Iris Dement was born on January 5, 1961, in rural Paragould, AR, the youngest of 14 children. At the age of three, her devoutly religious family moved to California, where she grew up singing gospel music; during her teenaged years, however, she was first exposed to... [+] Read More

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The most accomplished interpretive folksinger of the 1960s, Joan Baez has influenced nearly every aspect of popular music in a career still going strong. Baez is possessed of a once-in-a-lifetime soprano, which, since the late '50s, she has put in the service of folk and pop music as well as a variety of political causes. Starting out in Boston,... [+] Read More

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Although she was a significant presence on the folk scene between the late '70s and mid-'80s, it's difficult to categorize Kate Wolf as a folk performer (though that is ultimately the broad category that suits her best). Although she largely employed acoustic instrumentation, she really owed more to the contemporary singer-songwriting movement... [+] Read More

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Kathy Mattea was one of the most respected female country stars of her era, a commercially successful hitmaker who was able to bring elements of folk, bluegrass, gospel, and singer/songwriter intimacy to her music. Mattea was born in Cross Lane, WV, in 1959, and received classical voice training starting in junior high, but also took up the... [+] Read More

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Boston-native Lori McKenna grew up in a household filled with the rhythm and pleasure of good music, some of it happily supplied by her brothers. Music was almost always a part of family get-togethers. With such a background, it's little wonder that when Lori McKenna grew up, she chose to become a professional singer and songwriter.
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Lyle Lovett was one of the most distinctive and original singer/songwriters to emerge during the '80s. Though he was initially labeled as a country singer, the tag never quite fit him. Lovett had more in common with '70s singer/songwriters like Guy Clark, Jesse Winchester, Randy Newman, and Townes Van Zandt, combining a talent for incisive,... [+] Read More

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Rachel Wearsch is singer/songwriter/musician. She plays many instruments including the piano, guitar, mandolin, bass and lap steel. She has performed professionally for over 25 years. Throughout her career as a performer she has opened for top artists such as Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, Alan Jackson, Clint Black, Vern Gosdin, The Judds, Merle... [+] Read More

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Noted for their lush harmonies, quirky songs and impressive stylistic range, the three Roche sisters -- Maggie, Terre and Suzzy -- were among contemporary folk music's most endearing artists. The Roches began singing together while growing up in New York during the late 1950s and early 1960s, taking to the streets of the city each holiday season... [+] Read More

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