Singer-songwriter Shawn Colvin Grateful for Musical Gift

Singer-songwriter Shawn Colvin is perhaps best known for her Grammy-winning 1997 single "Sunny Came Home." One of the leaders of the so-called “new folk movement” that began in the late 1980s, Colvin, like many female artists of the time, grew out of the somewhat limited “woman with a guitar” school. Deciding to keep her music fresh and original with a more diverse approach, Colvin went against the grain of the genre’s clichéd sentiments and all-too-often formulaic arrangements in favor of a more personal, pop-influenced style.

In an era where female singer-songwriters are more than abundant, Colvin stands out as a singular and enduring talent. She is a gifted storyteller, with lyrics that are both keen and warm-hearted, and she possesses a voice that exudes both tenderness and toughness. In the 25 years since the release of her debut album, Colvin has won three Grammy Awards, released 10 albums, written a critically acclaimed memoir, maintained a non-stop national and international touring schedule, appeared on countless television and radio programs, had her songs featured in major motion pictures, and created an impressive body of work.

 

Originally from Vermillion, South Dakota, Colvin lived in southern Illinois during her high school years, then made quick jumps to Texas and California. She later moved to New York in 1980, remaining there until 1994. From there, she eventually moved back to California before returning to Texas where she now resides.

Growing up, Colvin’s life was always surrounded by music. Her parents listened to show tunes and musicals such as “Porgy and Bess” and “The Sound of Music.” She began singing in the junior choir in church, but initially, it was her parents’ record collection that caught her interest.

“My dad listened to the Kingston Trio and Pete Seeger a lot,” she said. “In fact he played the guitar, and played with some of the other fellows in the neighborhood and taught me my first chords when I was about 10. So it kind of went from there.”

Early on, Colvin was heavily influenced by the music of Bob Dylan, but what really took a hold of her were the singer-songwriters of the late ‘60s and early ’70; artists like Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, and Paul Simon. These legends and many others always personified the honesty in their music that captured Colvin’s imagination.

“I’ve just always been an honest person,” she said. “I can tell when people are faking it, and it’s just always driven me crazy. So I think it’s about having the ability to go to the heart of the matter without flinching. I was certainly schooled in that by the people that I listened to.”

 

As much as her influences were obvious to her, Colvin explored a diverse number of musical styles in her late teens and early twenties, performing country dance, country swing dance, pop, and bluegrass. Colvin struggled at first and was afraid to write songs, but eventually she was able to pull it together.

“It had taken a long time for me to kind of find my voice – I just didn’t know what to do,” she said. “It’s obvious where your roots are, so you just have to write songs. That was a really scary thing for me. So when I turned the corner and was able to begin to write from my heart and in my own voice, that was a big accomplishment for me.”

 

It was only after meeting producer, guitarist, and co-writer John Leventhal that Colvin was inspired to find that voice as a songwriter. She began honing her skill, and was soon signed to Columbia Records. Her first album, “Steady On,” won a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Recording in 1991.

“That record might have been the most gratifying because I was 30 when I made it,” she said. “When that first record came out, that Grammy was really encouraging to say the least.”

In 1996, Colvin released her platinum album “A Few Small Repairs” and in 1997, the success of her single “Sunny Came Home” firmly catapulted her into the mainstream after spending four weeks at the number one spot on the Adult Contemporary chart. The album won the 1998 Grammy Awards for both Song and Record of the Year.

Since 2000, Colvin has collaborated with a variety of artists and has made vocal contributions to songs by James Taylor, Bela Fleck, Edwin McCain and Shawn Mullins. She also collaborated with Sting on the Disney theme song, “One Day She’ll Love Me.”

Over the years, Colvin has shared the stage with such legendary artists as Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Hornsby, Emmylou Harris, John Hiatt, Don Henley, Richard Thompson and Lyle Lovett.

Released in 2012, Colvin’s eighth studio album, “All Fall Down,” was produced by country singer-songwriter, musician and long-time friend Buddy Miller at his home in Nashville. The album features guest appearances by Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, Jakob Dylan, Bill Frisell and Stuart Duncan.

Colvin first met Miller in 1976 when they both moved to Austin. When Miller started a country band, he needed another singer, so he offered Colvin the job. She then moved to New York City and joined the Buddy Miller Band in 1980. Miller eventually left the group, and the name was changed to the Shawn Colvin Band.

 

“I’ve known Buddy for a good long time, so it was great to finally collaborate with him on a project,” she said. “We did it in Nashville at his house, and there is just a plethora of amazing musicians in Nashville. It’s always a revolving door policy and it’s very loose. I’m friends with Alison and Emmylou, so it was very casual and very sweet with the players that contributed.”

Also in 2012, Colvin published her book of memoirs, “Diamond in the Rough.” With the same wit, lyricism, and empathy that have characterized her performances and inspired audiences worldwide, Colvin chronicles her struggles and survival from anorexia, clinical depression, alcoholism, motherhood, career crises, and relationships with men.

Colvin has always loved performing, and the longevity of her career is something she is so grateful for. “Music is my soul – it’s the healing force,” she said. “I was given a gift, and I’m extremely fortunate that I can make a living at it. I’m 59 years old and I’ve been doing this for nearly 30 years, and I’m so grateful that people still want to buy a ticket and come to see me play.”

Country Singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash Revisits Roots of Father and Childhood with “The River & the Thread”

The music and spirit of the American South will make an impression on the State College area as country music star Rosanne Cash will perform at Penn State’s Eisenhower Auditorium April 9. The beloved singer-songwriter has recorded 15 albums over an amazing career that has lasted nearly four decades, winning the hearts of fans nationwide.

Now, the 59 year-old from Memphis, Tennessee has captured the attention of both fans and music critics with a record that revisits some of the most important places in Cash’s family history, including those of her legendary father, Johnny Cash. Released in 2014, the critically-acclaimed “The River & the Thread” includes 11 original songs by Cash and her long-time collaborator, and husband, John Leventhal.

 

“The River & the Thread” evokes the American South’s rich, historic landscape – physically, but also musically, and in turn emotionally as well. The songs portray a multigenerational cast of characters – from a Civil War soldier off to fight in Virginia, to a New Deal-era farmer in Arkansas, to a present-day couple in Alabama. The album's unique sound, which draws from country, blues, gospel, and rock, reflects the soulful blend of music that traces its history to the region. 

In February, the album won Cash three Grammy Awards, sweeping the categories it was nominated for: “Best Americana Album,” “Best American Roots Song,” “Best American Roots Performance” for the song “A Feather’s Not a Bird.”  

A legendary artist in her own right, Cash recently spoke with the Centre Daily Times about her new album, her family’s roots, and her other endeavors as well.

CDT: You’re making your Center for the Performing Arts debut here at Penn State. What can audiences expect to hear in concert?

Cash: I am performing all of “The River and The Thread,” and choosing songs from my older catalog to add to the show. I always perform “Seven Year Ache.” I went years without performing “Blue Moon with Heartache” and now I’m performing it again. I do some songs from “The List,” because people want to hear them. The other songs – I switch up.

CDT: What artists left an early impression on you and influenced your music, whether listening to the radio or seeing live performances?

Cash: When I was young I studied lyrics by Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson, Mickey Newbury, Joni Mitchell, Guy Clark, Rodney Crowell and, of course, my dad. In my 20s, I put myself around great songwriters and listened to them talk about their principles, work ethic, mechanics of songwriting, and their love for the form, and it was tremendously inspiring.

CDT: Throughout your career you’ve collaborated with a number of other country legends, including Rodney Crowell, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, and Kris Kristofferson, and rock artists like Bruce Springsteen and Elvis Costello. Do you have a favorite memory from those experiences, and is there anyone you would like to work with that you haven’t?

Cash: For this record we wanted all the guests to be from the South or connected to the South, given the theme of the record. Most of the guests were already friends – Kris Kristofferson is like my older brother. Of course we also tried to match artists with the right song. John Paul White’s haunting voice was just perfect for “Etta’s Tune.”

CDT: With a recording career that has lasted nearly four decades you have achieved many accolades, including 21 top forty country singles, eleven of which reached number one, multiple Grammy Awards and nominations, and gold records. What has been the most satisfying for you and what do you think is the defining element to your career?

Cash: I don’t look at it that way. I feel very satisfied with this record and excited about doing good work. But it’s just as important to keep working, keep learning and keep things new to myself.

CDT: Aside from being a musician and songwriter you have also added the status of author to your impressive resume, writing short stories and penning two books, including your autobiography “Composed: A Memoir” in 2010. What has that process been like for you as compared to songwriting?

Cash: It’s all from the same pool. Writing prose is, I admit, more taxing, but it lets me expand on themes, let go of rhyme, find subtler ‘melodies’, and use language in a different way. I do think I’ve become a better lyricist by writing prose. But I don’t separate the two. I’m a writer, period.

CDT: Released in 2014, your recent album “The River & the Thread” is a collaboration with your husband John Leventhal, who produced, arranged and played guitar on the record. It’s a collection of songs that take a journey through the American South and visit your father’s childhood home in Dyess, Arkansas, as well as your own early childhood home in Memphis, Tennessee. How did it feel to go back to your roots and revisit those very special places in your family’s history? 

Cash: Going down south so many times in the last few years for various reasons opened my eyes – and heart – to the understanding that home and geography and connection to the people in your past are very big concepts, not just a string of facts. These were life-changing experiences. And they felt deeply familiar and resonant. I realized I carried a bit of Memphis with me all the time. Both my parents are Southerners, and my musical connections also tie me there. But I've never considered myself southern because I grew up in a very different ‘South’ – Southern California. 

CDT: As a musician, what has recording music and performing for an audience done for you personally and professionally? What goals do you still hope to achieve?

Cash: This has been a great year for me. I feel I wrote my best songs, made my best record, and it has been received in a way that has been deeply satisfying. The shows have been special for me. On a personal front, my daughter Carrie got married this past year and it was one of the greatest days of my life! Looking ahead, I am collaborating on writing with different people, singing as a guest on some records, and I wrote a piece for National Geographic about the Sunken Lands, which should be out later this year.