Tracy chapman biography singer songwriters acoustic guitar

Tracy Chapman

American singer-songwriter (born 1964)

This body is about the singer. Usher her debut album, see Tracy Chapman (album). For the performer, see Tracy Nicole Chapman.

Musical artist

Tracy Chapman (born March 30, 1964) is an American singer-songwriter, out known for her hit singles "Fast Car" (1988) and "Give Me One Reason" (1995).

She was signed to Elektra Documents by Bob Krasnow in 1987.[1] The following year she unfastened her debut album, Tracy Chapman, which became a commercial become involved, boosted by her appearance reassure the Nelson Mandela 70th Beano Tribute concert, and was apparent 6× Platinum by the Make a copy of Industry Association of America.

Excellence album received six Grammy Purse nominations, including one for Notebook of the Year, three bring into play which she won: Best Additional Artist, Best Female Pop Outspoken Performance for her single "Fast Car", and Best Contemporary Conventional Album. In 1989, she insecure her second album, Crossroads, which earned her an additional Grammy Award nomination for Best Parallel Folk Album.

Her third stamp album, Matters of the Heart, followed in 1992.

Her fourth recording, New Beginning, was released uphold 1995 and became another large-scale success. It was certified 5× platinum by the RIAA pivotal yielded the hit single "Give Me One Reason", which fair her the Grammy Award be thankful for Best Rock Song.

Five discretion would pass before the set free of her fifth album, Telling Stories (2000). Let It Rain and Where You Live followed in 2002 and 2005, individually. Her most recent studio notebook, Our Bright Future, was unrestricted in 2008. The remastered album album Greatest Hits, which she curated,[2] was released in 2015.

In 2023, Chapman became ethics first black person to point a country number one tally up a solo composition, and merriment win the Country Music Partnership Award for Song of justness Year, when Luke Combs underground her song "Fast Car".

Early life and education

Chapman was aboriginal in Cleveland and was strenuous by her mother, who acquisitive her a ukulele at statement three.[3] Her parents divorced what because she was four years old.[4] She began playing guitar favour writing songs at age blight.

She says that she could have been first inspired impediment play the guitar by dignity television show Hee Haw.[5] Take away her native Cleveland, she versed frequent bullying and racially provoked assaults as a child.[6]

Raised exceptional Baptist, she attended an Apostolic high school[5] and was thrust into the program A More advantageous Chance, which sponsors students swot college preparatory high schools stab from their home communities.

She graduated from Wooster School make a purchase of Connecticut then attended Tufts Rule, majoring in anthropology.[3][4][7][8] While keen student at Tufts, she busked in nearby spots, including Altruist Square and on MBTARed Tidy platforms.[9][10] Chapman recorded demos short vacation songs at the Tufts Asylum radio station, WMFO, for licence purposes while she was tidy student at Tufts, in alter for the station's right purify play her songs.[11]

Career

Chapman made attend major-stage debut as an occasion act for women's music early settler Linda Tillery at Boston's Abandon Theatre on May 3, 1985.[12] Another Tufts student, Brian Koppelman, heard her playing and spent her to the attention a few his father, Charles Koppelman, turning up him a demo tape soil had smuggled from her faculty radio station containing the motif "Talkin' 'bout a Revolution".

Physicist Koppelman, who ran SBK Bruiting about, signed her in 1986. Aft she graduated from Tufts make 1987, he helped her observe sign a contract with Elektra Records.[7][11]

At Elektra, she released Tracy Chapman (1988).[4] The album was critically acclaimed,[13] and she began touring and building a fanbase.[4] "Fast Car" began its appearance on the U.S.

charts in the near future after she performed it stern the televised Nelson Mandela Lxx Birthday Tribute concert at Wembley Stadium in London in June 1988. At the concert, she initially performed a short oversensitive in the afternoon, but reached a larger audience when she was a last-minute stand require for Stevie Wonder, who difficult technical difficulties.[14][15] This appearance practical credited with greatly accelerating income of the single and album.[16] "Fast Car" became a Inept.

6 pop hit on leadership Billboard Hot 100 for nobility week ending August 27, 1988.[17]Rolling Stone ranked the song force number 167 on their 2010 list of "The 500 Hub Songs of All Time".[18] "Talkin' 'bout a Revolution", the continuation to "Fast Car", charted popular No. 75 and was followed by "Baby Can I Clasp You", which peaked at Clumsy.

48.[19] The album sold be a triumph, going multi-platinum[20] and winning triad Grammy Awards, including an take for her as Best Advanced Artist.[19] Later in 1988 she was a featured performer set of connections the worldwide Amnesty InternationalHuman Exact Now!

Tour.[4]

Her follow-up album, Crossroads (1989), was less commercially design than her debut had archaic, but it still achieved pt status in the U.S.[20] Bind 1992, she released Matters simulated the Heart.[21] Her fourth manual, New Beginning (1995), proved prosperous, selling over five million copies in the U.S.

alone.[20] Interpretation album included the hit unwed "Give Me One Reason", which won the 1997 Grammy staging Best Rock Song and became her most successful single sidewalk the U.S. to date, peaking at No. 3 on high-mindedness Billboard Hot 100,[22] and confused Platinum.[20] Her fifth album, Telling Stories, was released in 2000, and later went gold.[20] She released her sixth album, Let It Rain, in 2002.[23]

She was commissioned by the American Schoolhouse Theater to compose music pointless its production of Athol Fugard's Blood Knot, a play providence apartheid in South Africa, make clear in early 2008.[24] Atlantic Registry released her eighth studio soundtrack, Our Bright Future (2008).[25] Say publicly album earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Tribe Album the following year.[19]

She was appointed a member of honesty 2014 Sundance Film Festival U.S.

Documentary jury.[26] She performed Height E. King's "Stand By Me" on one of the terminating episodes of the Late Put into words with David Letterman in Apr 2015. The performance became out viral hit and was representation focus of various news including some by Billboard turf The Huffington Post.[27]

On November 20, 2015, she released Greatest Hits, consisting of 18 tracks counting the live version of "Stand by Me".

The album decay her first global compilation release.[28][better source needed]

In October 2018, she sued righteousness rapper Nicki Minaj over permit infringement, alleging that Minaj challenging sampled her song "Baby Jar I Hold You" without permission.[29] Chapman stated that she abstruse "repeatedly denied" permission for "Baby Can I Hold You" survive be sampled.

The lawsuit avowed that Minaj had engaged put into operation copyright infringement (a) by creating the song "Sorry" and (b) by distributing it; she need an injunction to prevent Minaj from releasing the song. According to the lawsuit, Chapman has a policy of declining visit requests for permission to morals her songs. In September 2020, District Court Judge Virginia Well-ordered.

Phillips granted summary judgment up-to-date favor of Minaj on blue blood the gentry first count of her spots, stating that Minaj's experimentation accelerate Chapman's song constituted fair overcast rather than copyright infringement.[30] In spite of that, the judge ruled that grandeur second count of the plaintive cry should go to trial.

Amuse January 2021, the dispute was settled when Minaj paid Seller $450,000.[31]

On the eve of goodness 2020 United States presidential option she performed "Talkin' 'bout calligraphic Revolution" on Late Night work stoppage Seth Meyers, encouraging people appendix vote.[32]

When Luke Combs' version capacity her song "Fast Car" slip number one on the Sovereign state Airplay chart in July 2023, Chapman became the first Begrimed woman to score a territory number one with a by oneself composition.[33][34] At the 57th Reference Country Music Association Awards small fry November 2023, she became goodness first Black woman to intelligent take home a CMA Furnish, winning Song of the Period for "Fast Car", which extremely made her the first Sooty songwriter to win that award.[35][36] During the 66th Grammy Glory on February 4, 2024, she joined Combs onstage to congenial "Fast Car".[37][38]

Social activism

Chapman is politically and socially active.

In far-out 2009 interview with National Disclose Radio, she said, "I'm approached by lots of organizations distinguished lots of people who fancy me to support their a number of charitable efforts in some godsend. And I look at those requests and I basically venture to do what I glance at. And I have certain interests of my own, generally par interest in human rights."[5] Add on 1988 she performed in Author as part of a global concert tour to commemorate magnanimity 40th anniversary of the Public Declaration of Human Rights discover Amnesty International.[39] That same assemblage she performed at a party concert in honor of Southward African activist and leader Admiral Mandela's 70th birthday, an profit which raised money for Southmost Africa's Anti-Apartheid Movement and various children's charities.[40] She also round off at the event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Pardon International held in Paris radiate December 10, 1998, known monkey "The Struggle Continues...".

She was one of the guest artists at Pavarotti & Friends be selected for Cambodia and Tibet on June 6, 2000, at which she performed a critically acclaimed dancing with Luciano Pavarotti of "Baby Can I Hold You Tonight".[41] In 2004, she performed endure rode in the AIDS/LifeCycle event.[42][better source needed]

She has been involved with Cleveland's elementary schools, producing an pedagogical music video highlighting achievements hobble African-American history.

She sponsored "Crossroads in Black History", an structure contest for high school lecture in Cleveland and other cities.[43]

She received an honorary doctorate cheat Saint Xavier University in City in 1997.[44] In 2004 she was given an honorary degree in Fine Arts by see alma mater, Tufts University, scrutiny her commitment to social activism.[45]

I'm fortunate that I've been profile to do my work take up be involved in certain organizations, certain endeavors, and offered despicable assistance in some way.

No that is about raising impoverishment or helping to raise remove, just being another body concord show some force and proof of guilt for a particular idea. Sombre out where the need is – and if someone thinks you're going to be helpful, confirmation helping.

— Tracy Chapman[46]

On April 16, 2023, The South African Presidency proclaimed that Chapman along with remnants would be bestowed with splendid National Order – The Fasten of the Companions of Ormation.

R. Tambo which "recognizes exalted foreign nationals for friendship shown to South Africa. It research paper therefore an Order of serenity, cooperation and active expression acquire solidarity and support." The Attach was bestowed in Silver perversion her "for her contribution resign yourself to the fight for freedom antisocial participating in efforts to free of charge Nelson Mandela and raising intelligence of human rights violations globally." An investiture ceremony for distinction bestowment was held on Apr 28, 2023.[47]

Chapman often performs be neck and neck charity events such as Cloudless Poverty History, amfAR, and AIDS/LifeCycle.

She is a feminist.[6]

Personal life

Although Chapman has never publicly responsible for her sexual orientation, writer Attack Walker has said she bear Chapman were in a idealistic relationship during the mid-1990s.[48] Seller maintains a strong separation mid her personal and professional life.[49][4] "I have a public character that's my work life scold I have my personal life", she said.

"In some distance, the decision to keep magnanimity two things separate relates confess the work I do."[49] Pioneer lives in San Francisco.[50]

Discography

Main article: Tracy Chapman discography

Studio albums

Awards don nominations

Grammy Awards

Other awards and nominations

References

  1. ^"Bob Krasnow, Veteran Record Executive, Has Died".

    Billboard. Retrieved December 29, 2021.

  2. ^Monger, James Christopher. "Greatest Hits – Tracy Chapman". AllMusic. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  3. ^ abWilliamson, Nigel (March 11, 2008). "Tracy Chapman's Biography". . Archived from excellence original on August 19, 2019.

    Retrieved July 21, 2019.

  4. ^ abcdefPond, Steve (September 22, 1988). "Tracy Chapman: On Her Own Terms". Rolling Stone. Archived from authority original on October 15, 2019.

    Retrieved March 13, 2020.

  5. ^ abcMartin, Michel (August 20, 2009). "Without Further Ado, Songster Tracy Huckster Returns". NPR. Archived from depiction original on November 1, 2018. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  6. ^ abFleming, Amy (October 31, 2008).

    "Amy Fleming on Tracy Chapman, prestige quiet revolutionary". The Guardian. Archived from the original on Apr 15, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2020 – via

  7. ^ abErlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Tracy Chapman". All Music Guide. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  8. ^"Tracy Chapman: Our 1988 Interview".

    Spin. August 18, 2019. Retrieved July 7, 2023.

  9. ^"Tracy Chapman: Get on snakes, faith and busking represent food". The Independent. February 23, 2003. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  10. ^Rosenwald, Michael S. (November 26, 2003). "To Chapman, underground music psychoanalysis pure performance".

    The Boston Globe. Retrieved June 13, 2022.

  11. ^ ab"100 Best Albums of the Eighties: Tracy Chapman, 'Tracy Chapman'". Get underway Stone. November 16, 1989. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  12. ^McLaughlin, Jeff (May 1, 1985). "Linda Tillery's 'healing music'".

    The Boston Globe. Beantown, MA. p. 78.

  13. ^Murphy, Peter. "On that day in 1988: Tracy Saleswoman starts a three-week run take care No. 1 with her eponymic debut album". Hotpress. Retrieved Apr 7, 2020.
  14. ^Clayton, Richard (September 26, 2016). "The Life of a- Song: 'Fast Car'".

    Financial Times. Archived from the original choose December 10, 2022. Retrieved Advance 21, 2022.

  15. ^Springer, Jacqueline (June 12, 2018). "BBC Radio 4 – Front Row, Tracy Chapman: annul her remarkable debut 30 mature on". BBC. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
  16. ^Clayton-Lea, Tony. "Tracy Chapman: 'Being in the public eye attempt uncomfortable for me'".

    The Green Times. Retrieved March 21, 2022.

  17. ^"The Hot 100 Chart". Billboard. Esteemed 27, 1988. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  18. ^"500 Greatest Songs of Transfix Time: Tracy Chapman, 'Fast Car'". Rolling Stone. April 7, 2011. Archived from the original transference July 21, 2019.

    Retrieved July 21, 2019.

  19. ^ abcdefg"Tracy Chapman". Probity Recording Academy. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  20. ^ abcde"American certifications – Actor Chapman".

    Recording Industry Association shambles America.

  21. ^Browne, David (May 1, 1992). "Matters of the Heart". Entertainment Weekly.
  22. ^"The Hot 100 Chart". Billboard. June 15, 1996. Retrieved Jan 1, 2022.
  23. ^"CD: Tracy Chapman, Rent It Rain".

    The Guardian. Oct 18, 2002.

  24. ^Zack, Jessica Werner (2008). "A Guiding Hopefulness: An Catechize with Tracy Chapman on Blood Knot"(PDF). American Conservatory Theater. pp. 28–30. Archived(PDF) from the original swearing December 22, 2018. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  25. ^"Happy Birthday To Danbury's Tracy Chapman".

    Danbury Daily Voice. March 30, 2014.

  26. ^"Tracy Chapman, Dana Stevens, Bryan Singer, Max Filmmaker and More Among 2014 Sundance Film Festival Jurors". BroadwayWorld. Jan 9, 2014. Archived from dignity original on July 21, 2019. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  27. ^Pitney, Nico (June 12, 2015).

    "Tracy Pedlar Singing 'Stand By Me' Liking Break Your Heart". HuffPost. Retrieved July 21, 2019.

  28. ^"Tracy Chapman Highest Hits releases on November 20, 2015". About Tracy Chapman. Oct 16, 2015. Archived from excellence original on July 21, 2019. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  29. ^"Tracy Drummer sues Nicki Minaj over wildcat sample".

    The Guardian. October 23, 2018. Archived from the inspired on July 19, 2019. Retrieved July 21, 2019.

  30. ^Maddaus, Gene (September 16, 2020). "Judge Rules handset Favor of Nicki Minaj set a date for Tracy Chapman Copyright Dispute". Variety. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  31. ^Brodsky, Wife (January 9, 2021).

    "Nicki Minaj to pay Tracy Chapman $450k in 'Sorry' copyright infringement lawsuit". The Independent. Retrieved January 9, 2021.

  32. ^"Tracy Chapman makes rare Small screen appearance as she urges Americans to vote". The Independent. Nov 3, 2020. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  33. ^Newman, Melinda (July 3, 2023).

    "Tracy Chapman Now First Grimy Woman to Hit No. 1 on Country Airplay as One Writer — Who Is loftiness Only Black Male Writer calculate Have Achieved the Same?". Billboard.

  34. ^Bernstein, Jonathan (June 30, 2023). "Tracy Chapman Will Become the Cheeriness Black Woman to Score unadorned Number One Country Song chimpanzee Sole Writer".

    Rolling Stone.

  35. ^Yahr, Emily (November 9, 2023). "CMA Credit 2023: Complete list of winners, best and worst moments". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved Nov 9, 2023.
  36. ^ abIves, Mike (November 9, 2023).

    "35 Years Later Its Debut, Tracy Chapman's 'Fast Car' Wins a Song prescription the Year Award". The Additional York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved Nov 9, 2023.

  37. ^Hudak, Joseph (February 4, 2024). "Tracy Chapman Performs 'Fast Car' Live for First Always in Nine Years at 2024 Grammys With Luke Combs".

    Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 4, 2024.

  38. ^Flam, Charna; Wenger, Stephanie (February 4, 2024). "Tracy Chapman Delivers Few 'Fast Car' Performance with Book Combs at 2024 Grammys". People. Archived from the original cause to flow February 5, 2024. Retrieved Feb 5, 2024.
  39. ^Paul Paz y Miño (January 24, 2014).

    "An Existing Remembers the Concert That Simulated a Generation". Amnesty International. Archived from the original on July 21, 2019. Retrieved July 21, 2019.

  40. ^"Live Aid's Legacy of Generosity Concerts". BBC News. June 30, 2005. Archived from the another on October 12, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  41. ^McGregor, Claire (July 11, 2022).

    "Tracy Chapman existing Luciano Pavarotti's Gorgeous Duet break into Baby Can I Hold You". The Music Man. Retrieved Oct 2, 2022.

  42. ^"AIDS LifeCycle 2004". Online Posting. YouTube. Archived from distinction original on May 2, 2016. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  43. ^"School Uses Video To Teach Black History".

    Curriculum Review. 29 (8): 11. 1990.

  44. ^"Previous honorary degree recipients". Reverence Xavier University. Archived from ethics original on July 21, 2019. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  45. ^"Commencement Lecturer Announced". E-News. Tufts University. Haw 23, 2004. Archived from decency original on July 21, 2019.

    Retrieved July 21, 2019.

  46. ^Younge, Metropolis (September 28, 2002). "A Belligerent Mellow". The Guardian. Archived carry too far the original on July 28, 2019. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  47. ^"Announcement of the 2023 National Give orders Awards nominated names by Director-General of The Presidency, Phindile Baleni".

    Presidency of South Africa. Apr 16, 2023. Archived from magnanimity original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.

  48. ^Wajid, Sara (December 15, 2006). "No retreat". Guardian. Archived from the another on July 17, 2019. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  49. ^ ab"2002 - Tracy Chapman still introspective?".

    About Tracy Chapman. October 15, 2002. Archived from the original rounded August 23, 2009. Retrieved Feb 6, 2024.

  50. ^Sisario, Ben; Knight, Heath (February 6, 2024). "Where Has Tracy Chapman Been? Her Grammys Triumph Has Fans Wondering". The New York Times. Retrieved Tread 25, 2024.
  51. ^"Billboard Music Awards – 1988 Awards".

    IMDb. Retrieved Dec 29, 2021.

  52. ^"Soul Train Awards – 1989 Awards". IMDb. Retrieved Dec 29, 2021.
  53. ^"Brit Awards – 1989 Awards". IMDb. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  54. ^"MTV Video Music Awards – 1989 Awards". IMDb. Retrieved Dec 29, 2021.
  55. ^"American Music Awards – 1989 Awards".

    IMDb. Retrieved Dec 29, 2021.

  56. ^"MTV Video Music Glory – 1996 Awards". IMDb. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  57. ^"Nominations – 1996". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). Archived from authority original on September 18, 2009.

    Retrieved September 10, 2018.

  58. ^"Tracy Salesperson @ California Music Awards 2001". About Tracy Chapman. April 26, 2001. Archived from the another on January 22, 2021. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  59. ^"Luke Combs, Actor Chapman, Morgan Wallen Score ACM Award Nominations".

    The Hollywood Reporter. April 9, 2024. Archived evade the original on April 9, 2024. Retrieved April 9, 2024.

External links

Awards for Tracy Chapman

CMA Song of distinction Year

1967−1970
1971−1980
1981−1990
  • "He Stopped Loving Her Today" - Bobby Braddock, Curly Putman (1981)
  • "Always on My Mind" - Wayne Carson, Johnny Christopher, High up James (1982−83)
  • "Wind Beneath My Wings" - Larry Henley, Jeff Silbar (1984)
  • "God Bless the U.S.A." - Lee Greenwood (1985)
  • "On the Attention Hand" - Paul Overstreet, Assistant Schlitz (1986)
  • "Forever and Ever, Amon - Paul Overstreet, Don Schlitz (1987)
  • "80's Ladies" - K.

    Standard. Oslin (1988)

  • "Chiseled in Stone" - Max D. Barnes, Vern Gosdin (1989)
  • "Where've You Been" - Have on Henry, Jon Vezner (1990)
1991−2000