Natalie Merchant

Natalie Merchant (born October 26, 1963 in Jamestown, New York, USA) is a rock and roll musician.

Related Topics:
October 26 - 1963 - Jamestown - New York - USA - Rock and roll - Musician

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Merchant co-founded and fronted the successful band 10,000 Maniacs in 1981 (see 1981 in music) but left the band in 1993 (see 1993 in music) for a solo career. Her debut solo album Tigerlily (1995) had three top-40 singles, "Carnival", "Jealousy", and "Wonder". In 1997 she first performed "Planctus," a song for voice and piano written for her by Philip Glass. In 1998, Merchant released Ophelia and the following year released Live in Concert.

Related Topics:
10,000 Maniacs - 1981 - 1981 in music - 1993 - 1993 in music - Tigerlily - 1995 - 1997 - Philip Glass - 1998 - Ophelia - Live in Concert

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In 2001, Merchant released her most critically acclaimed album, Motherland, and went on an extensive tour of North America and Europe. She parted ways with Elektra Records in 2003 and released a folk album of traditional songs called The House Carpenter's Daughter on September 16 of that year on Myth America records. Merchant also plays the piano, produces, and writes all of the songs.

Related Topics:
2001 - Motherland - North America - Europe - Elektra Records - 2003 - The House Carpenter's Daughter - September 16 - Piano

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Merchant has collaborated with Billy Bragg a number of times, including the 1998 album Mermaid Avenue. Like Bragg, her work touches on social and political themes and she has been active in raising a number of campaigning issues in both her songs and through the causes to which she lends her name. Her website (in which she is actively involved and contributes) prominently displays a link to The Nation, which gives some indication of her political stance.

Related Topics:
Billy Bragg - 1998 - Mermaid Avenue - The Nation

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In the summer of 2003, Merchant gave birth to a daughter named Lucia.

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