Natalie Merchant
Musician Natalie Merchant has demonstrated throughout her career that political and social activism can be successfully incorporated into songs that appeal to millions without being heavy-handed or obtuse. Born in 1963 in Jamestown, New York, Natalie grew up in a family where all forms of music were listened to and enjoyed. In 1981 she found success as the lead singer for the alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs, named after after the horror movie Two Thousand Maniacs! The smart, unconventional lyrics of the group helped define Natalie's profile as she struck out on her own in 1993 as a solo artist. Her debut album Tigerlily (1995) broke into the Top 40, cementing her reputation as an experimental artist with a wide audience. Since then, she has collaborated with other fellow musical explorers, including Philip Glass, Michael Stipe, and David Byrne. In 1998, she worked with Billy Bragg and Wilco on bringing previously-unheard songs by Woody Guthrie to life on the album Mermaid Avenue. Woody Guthrie is more than a musical inspiration to Natalie Merchant: she carries forward Woody's tradition of political and social activism, working with groups such as Amnesty International on a range of causes. And in one more regard, Natalie displays her independence: eschewing the traditional embrace of a major label, her folk album The House Carpenter's Daughter was released in 2003 on her own label, Myth America Records.
