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Emmylou Harris

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129-702: Emmylou Harris (born April 2, 1947) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, bandleader, and activist. She is recognized for having a consistent artistic direction. Harris is considered one of the leading music artists behind the country rock genre in the 1970s and the Americana genre in the 1990s. Her music united both country and rock audiences in live performance settings. Her characteristic voice, musical style and songwriting have been acclaimed by critics and fellow recording artists. Harris developed an interest in folk music in her early years, which led to her performing professionally. After moving to New York City in

258-462: A "solid but [low-key]" gospel project". It was Harris' third album to only reach the Billboard country top 25. In 1987, Harris collaborated with Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt to record the studio album, Trio . The women had been friends for over a decade and had intentions to record an album together for years. Several tracks that had originally been laid down were scrapped and replaced by

387-442: A "spiritual" connection to. "I worshiped her. Still do in a way, because she just changed my whole focus on music," she told Rolling Stone . Harris received further exposure to country music and developed an appreciation for it through her collaborations with Gram Parsons. She told The Columbus Dispatch that she had not taken the genre seriously up to that point because she did not see the artistry of it. Parsons exposed Harris to

516-462: A Grammy for Album of the Year . In 2003, Harris followed up with her next studio release Stumble into Grace . Like its predecessor, the album contained self-penned songs. It also featured harmony vocals from Linda Ronstadt. Allmusic's Mark Deming commented that " Stumble into Grace shows she's still playing at the top of her game" and Billboard called it "a very affecting record". The album reached

645-525: A Ten Cent Town (1978) and Blue Kentucky Girl (1979). By 1980, she had acquired four number-one songs on the US and Canadian country charts: " Together Again ", " Sweet Dreams ", " Two More Bottles of Wine " and " Beneath Still Waters ". Harris had a continued string of commercially and critically successful albums like Roses in the Snow (1980), Evangeline (1981) and Last Date (1982). Her backing group,

774-417: A child but did not enjoy them. During her high school years, the family eventually settled in nearby Woodbridge, Virginia . Harris was a straight-A high school student at Gar-Field Senior High School , a cheerleader and a saxophonist in the marching band. She also won the "Miss Woodbridge" beauty pageant during her teen years. Classmates considered Harris unusual because she was devoted to her studies. Harris

903-474: A cover of " Mister Sandman ", which topped the Canadian country chart, reached the US country top ten and made the US pop top 40. Although the song's album version featured harmony vocals from Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt , Harris harmonized with herself for the single version. Harris also collaborated with Roy Orbison during this time for the 1980 single "That Lovin' You Feeling Again". It would later win

1032-533: A credited influence on Ryan Adams , Mary Chapin Carpenter , Sheryl Crow , Vince Gill , Patty Loveless , Martina McBride , Reba McEntire , Kacey Musgraves , Margo Price , LeAnn Rimes , Pam Tillis , Carrie Underwood and Wilco . In 1999, Harris received the Billboard Century Award, which is given to "the uncommon excellence of one artist's still-unfolding body of work." In 2003, she

1161-464: A crystalline voice, a remarkable gift for phrasing, and a restless creative spirit, few artists had as profound an impact on contemporary music as Emmylou Harris." Marissa R. Moss of The Guardian called her "one of music's most revered voices" and "one of America's finest interpreters of song". Chuck Dauphin of Billboard wrote, "Nobody can deliver a song aching with sadness and loneliness quite like Emmylou Harris. When she pours her heart and soul into

1290-456: A drug and alcohol overdose in a hotel room near Joshua Tree National Park . Parsons's Grievous Angel was released posthumously in 1974, and three more tracks from his sessions with Harris were included on another posthumous Parsons album, Sleepless Nights , in 1976. One more album of recorded material from that period was packaged as Live 1973 but was not released until 1982. Although affected by Gram Parsons' death, Harris continued on as

1419-432: A fascination with classic country music . His passion for the genre was influential on Harris and she soon learned about the country genre. Harris would later credit Parsons for helping her find her artistic direction as well as her passion for authentic country music. In 1973, Harris returned to the recording studio to make Parsons' next album, titled Grievous Angel . Weeks following the album's sessions, Parsons died from

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1548-402: A lyric, you are instantly grabbed emotionally in a way that few artists can." In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Harris at number 79 on its list of the "200 Greatest Singers of All Time", further commenting that she is "arguably the greatest American harmony vocalist of the past half-century". Bufwack and Oermann explained how Harris's music changed the direction of country music decades later. In

1677-422: A middle-aged woman should be doing with her time." In 1998, Harris's third live album, Spyboy , was released. It featured live cuts of songs that Harris had recorded throughout her career. It was recorded with Harris's new backing band, which were also called Spyboy. Also in 1998, Harris appeared on Willie Nelson 's Teatro album, featuring production from Harris then-producer Lanois. In 1999, Asylum issued

1806-740: A month, the collaborative project reached number six on the US country chart and number 73 on the US Billboard 200. Harris parted ways with her record label and management during this period. In 2000, she signed with Nonesuch Records and that year the label released her first solo studio album in five years, called Red Dirt Girl . It was Harris' first disc since The Ballad of Sally Rose that featured mostly self-written recordings. It also featured Bruce Springsteen and Patty Griffin singing background vocals. Time called it "a surprisingly raw and confessional collection" while The Guardian called it "superb". Red Dirt Girl rose to number five on

1935-488: A mural, The Sources of Country Music , by Thomas Hart Benton . It was Benton's final work; as he died in his studio while completing it. For a professional in the country music field, membership in the Country Music Hall of Fame , is the highest honor the genre can bestow. An invitation can be extended to performers, songwriters, broadcasters, musicians, and executives in recognition of their contributions to

2064-553: A new studio collection of country–folk songs. Trio featured Harris, Parton and Ronstadt singing together in harmony and often featured one of the women singing lead vocals. Trio became a commercial success and is the best-selling disc of Harris' career. Following its March 1987 release, Trio reached number one on the US country chart, number six on the US all-genre list, number 12 in Australia and number four in Canada. Spawned from

2193-494: A new, 140,000-square-foot (13,000 m ) facility in the heart of downtown Nashville 's arts and entertainment district in May 2001. In 2014, the museum unveiled a $ 100 million expansion, doubling its size to 350,000 square feet of galleries, archival storage, education classrooms, retail stores, and special event space. In the museum's core exhibition, Sing Me Back Home: A Journey Through Country Music, visitors are immersed in

2322-581: A part in the development of Southern rock . Rock and roll has usually been seen as a combination of rhythm and blues and country music, a fusion particularly evident in 1950s rockabilly . There has also been cross-pollination throughout the history of both genres; however, the term "country-rock" is used generally to refer to the wave of rock musicians of the late 1960s and early 1970s who began recording rock songs with country themes, vocal styles, and additional instrumentation, most characteristically pedal steel guitars . John Einarson states that, "[f]rom

2451-629: A plane ticket to Los Angeles, California where she recorded harmony vocals for his debut album GP in September-October, 1972. After its release, the album failed to become successful and find a mainstream audience. Harris also toured as a member of Parsons's band (the Grevious Angels) in 1973, and performed vocal harmonies and duets with him. Through recording and touring, the pair found an instant musical connection. Parsons had become known for his fusion of country rock and had

2580-466: A single by Epic Records that year. In 2011, Nonesuch Records released Harris' fourth self-composed album Hard Bargain . The project was produced by Nashville's Jay Joyce . Similar to her previous albums, its songs reflected themes about southern culture. Among its tracks was a song about the life of Emmett Till , a teenage boy murdered in the American south during the 1950s. Hard Bargain reached

2709-565: A small library was begun in a loft above one of the museum's galleries. Early in the 1970s, the basement of the museum building was partially complete, and library expansion began, embracing not only recordings, but also books and periodicals, sheet music and songbooks, photographs, business documents, and other materials. At the outset, CMA staff had run the museum, but by 1972, the museum (already governed by its own independent board of directors) acquired its own small staff. Building expansion took place in 1974, 1977, and 1984 to store and display

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2838-873: A solo artist. She decided to carry on the country rock legacy left by Parsons for her own career. "Once I started singing country music with Gram there was no turning back for me," she recounted. Harris formed her own band and got a weekly job performing at the Red Fox Inn in Bethesda, Maryland . Meanwhile, Parsons’ former A&R representative at Warner Bros. Records (Mary Martin) attempted to launch Harris's own career. She contacted Canadian-based producer Brian Ahern , who had recent success working alongside Anne Murray . Impressed by her, Ahern agreed to produce Harris. The pair would later marry in 1977 and Harris then signed with Warner Bros.– Reprise . Ahern produced Harris's next several albums beginning with 1975's Pieces of

2967-501: A solo performer, primarily in one known as "The Corner". In 1967, Harris dropped out of the University of North Carolina. She then enrolled at Boston University but would soon drop out as well. She ultimately chose to pursue a career as a folk singer full-time. Harris briefly moved to Virginia Beach , where she worked as a waitress and as a folk singer. She then left for New York City 's Greenwich Village neighborhood where there

3096-487: A successful recording career over four decades by maintaining a steadfast allegiance to roots styles in the face of rampant technological change and media image manipulation." David DiMartio found that her 1970s albums merged rock with classic country in a way that helped Harris receive fans young and old. Buzz McClain of The Washington Post said that Harris' albums helped "define" the country rock music style. Authors Mary A. Bufwack and Robert K. Oermann concluded that Harris

3225-797: A sure and satisfying sense of balance" and USA Today named the project one of its "Albums of the Week" in February 2013. Old Yellow Moon reached number four on the US country chart, number 29 on the US all-genre chart, number six in Norway and number 42 in the UK. It later won a Grammy award. It was followed in 2015 by the pair's second album, The Traveling Kind and was a tribute to songwriters like Kris Kristofferson and Roger Miller . Rolling Stone awarded it three stars out of five and four out of five stars from American Songwriter . The Traveling Kind reached

3354-405: A tribute concert entitled The Life & Songs of Emmylou Harris , which was later released as both a DVD and a live CD. The concert featured several of Harris's closest friends and collaborators, including Rodney Crowell,  Alison Krauss , and  Lucinda Williams . Harris also performed at the concert which included her singing "Boulder to Birmingham" with other artists that were part of

3483-592: A variety of perspectives and motivations, these musicians either played country with a rock & roll attitude, or added a country feel to rock, or folk, or bluegrass. There was no formula". The term country-rock had rarely been heard until the critic Richard Goldstein used it the June   6, 1968 issue of The Village Voice . In his piece, titled "Country Rock: Can Y'All Dig It?", Goldstein counted several artists as moving towards country-friendly material – including Moby Grape , Stone Poneys , Buffy Sainte-Marie ,

3612-407: A waitress and bookstore cashier. Along with her husband and daughter, Harris lived at a nearby YWCA . Harris got her first manager and signed with Jubilee Records in 1969. The label released her debut studio album, Gliding Bird , in 1970. The disc featured several recordings penned by Harris herself, along with one penned by her first husband, Tom Slocum. Unlike her later recordings, Gliding Bird

3741-465: A willingness to be a part of the landscape, in a way. I've been very lucky in that all (my) collaborations have been real musical and very satisfying and inspiring." Writers have characterized Harris's singing voice as that of a soprano , and she is described as being both "delicate" and "crystalline". Stephen Holden of The New York Times wrote, "Emmylou Harris's voice is an alloy of crystal and steel, and this mixture of delicacy and resilience lends her

3870-524: Is also credited with influencing the neotraditional country sub-genre that was established in the 1980s and 1990s. The Continuum Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World wrote, "Harris would carry the torch into the following decades as a revered country music traditionalist who respected and drew inspiration from the west coast pioneers." Writer David DiCaire called Harris one of American music's most well-remembered voices. Jason Ankeny wrote, "Blessed with

3999-616: Is also found on the Rotunda's walls. The large steel beams supporting the Conservatory's glass ceiling and walls conjure up images of rural railroad bridges. In another transportation metaphor, the cascading water along the Grand Staircase calls to mind the mighty rivers that have inspired so much of our nation's music and have physically connected musicians in various regions of the nations. Musical symbolism continues within

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4128-524: Is one of the world's largest museums and research centers dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of American vernacular music . Chartered in 1964, the museum has amassed one of the world's most extensive musical collections. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is the world's largest repository of country music artifacts. Early in the 1960s, as the Country Music Association 's (CMA) campaign to publicize country music

4257-604: Is usually considered some of their finest work; John Fogerty , who left Creedence Clearwater Revival behind for the country sounds of the Blue Ridge Rangers (1972); Mike Nesmith , who had experimented with country sounds while with the Monkees , formed the First National Band ; and Neil Young who moved in and out of the genre throughout his career. One of the few acts to successfully move from

4386-466: The Americana music genre. Although ignored by country radio, Wrecking Ball reached number 94 on the US albums chart, number 58 in Canada number 46 in the UK and received the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album . Jason Ankeny of AllMusic called it "a hypnotic, staggeringly beautiful work", while Allison Hussey of Pitchfork called it "a staggering work that defied expectations for what

4515-722: The Billboard country songs chart and topped the Canadian RPM country chart. It was followed by 1975's Elite Hotel . It was her first to top the Billboard country chart while also climbing into Billboard 200 top 25. The disc's covers of Buck Owens 's " Together Again " and Don Gibson 's " Sweet Dreams " topped the Billboard country chart. Harris formed a new backing group for the project called The Hot Band. The group featured James Burton , Glen D. Hardin (both members of Elvis Presley 's TCB Band ) and Rodney Crowell . Harris' albums received critical and commercial success. Adam Sweeting of The Guardian found Pieces of

4644-522: The alternative country sub genre. Writers have also categorized her music as progressive country and outlaw country . Her association with other genres authors to consider her a forerunner for the Americana style, a genre centered on roots music. Rolling Stone has since given the moniker of the "Godmother of Americana". Harris's musicianship has also been discussed and spoken about. She often sought out other musicians to enhance and develop her musical style. This started with Harris' first backing group

4773-497: The "queen of country-rock", creating a highly successful pop-oriented brand of the genre. Pure Prairie League , formed in Ohio in 1970 by Craig Fuller , had both critical and commercial success with five straight Top 40 LP releases, including Bustin' Out (1972), acclaimed by AllMusic critic Richard Foss as "an album that is unequaled in country-rock", and Two Lane Highway , described by Rolling Stone as "a worthy companion to

4902-498: The 1960s, she recorded a folk album and performed regionally. She was discovered by Gram Parsons , who influenced her country rock direction. Following his 1973 death, Harris obtained her own recording contract from Reprise – Warner Bros. Her second album, Pieces of the Sky (1975), found both critical acclaim and commercial success. Follow-up 1970s albums further elevated Harris's career, such as Elite Hotel (1976), Quarter Moon in

5031-598: The 21st century. Japan even took influence in the 70s with country rock mainly in the kayokyoku genre. Artists such as Takuro Yoshida , Lily and Saori Minami have often dabbled with country rock in their music. Country rock has survived as a cult force in Texas, where acts including the Flatlanders , Joe Ely , Butch Hancock , Jimmie Dale Gilmore , and California-based Richard Brooker have collaborated and recorded. Other performers have produced occasional recordings in

5160-823: The Byrds , the Flying Burrito Brothers , The International Submarine Band and others, reaching its greatest popularity in the 1970s with artists such as Emmylou Harris , the Eagles , New Riders of the Purple Sage , Linda Ronstadt , Little Feat , Poco , Charlie Daniels Band , and Pure Prairie League . Country rock also influenced artists in other genres, including The Band , the Grateful Dead , Creedence Clearwater Revival , The Rolling Stones , and George Harrison 's solo work, as well as playing

5289-665: The Byrds into the genre, among them the Beau Brummels and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band . A number of performers also enjoyed a renaissance by adopting country sounds, including: the Beatles, who re-explored elements of country in songs such as "Rocky Raccoon" and "Don't Pass Me By" from their 1968 self-titled double album (often referred to as the "White Album"), and "Octopus's Garden" from Abbey Road (1969); The Everly Brothers , whose Roots album (1968)

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5418-555: The Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award. In 2015, Harris and Evelyn Glennie received Sweden's Polar Music Prize . Along with Tina Turner , she was then presented the 2018 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award . Swedish folk duo First Aid Kit released the song " Emmylou " in 2012 as a tribute to Harris. They performed the song when she received the Polar Music Prize in 2015. In 2016, Harris was honored with

5547-753: The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization and does not participate in the election. Bas-relief portraits (similar to that in the Baseball Hall of Fame in New York) cast in bronze honoring each Hall of Fame member were originally displayed at the Tennessee State Museum in downtown Nashville until the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum opened its own building in April 1967; in this barn-roofed facility at

5676-516: The Country Rock sound as the frontman for his Stone Canyon Band and recorded the 1966 album "Bright Lights & Country Music" and the 1967 album "Country Fever". Bassist Randy Meisner joined briefly in 1970 after leaving Poco and before joining Eagles . In 1966, as many rock artists moved increasingly towards expansive and experimental psychedelia , Bob Dylan spearheaded the back-to-basics roots revival when he went to Nashville to record

5805-475: The Flying Burrito Brothers at this time, he was establishing a solo career and mentioned to the Burritos and friends that he was looking for a harmony singer. A conversation about her at a DC nightclub was overheard by the babysitter of Harris's daughter, who passed on her details, and Parsons got in contact the next day. Parsons went to hear Harris and was drawn to her singing ability. One year later, he sent her

5934-514: The Frist Library and Archives, located on museum's third floor. The collection includes: The downtown building was designed by Nashville's Tuck-Hinton Architectural Firm with Seab Tuck as the project architect. When viewed from the air, the building forms a massive bass clef . The point on the sweeping arch of the building suggests the tailfin of a 1959 Cadillac sedan. The building's front windows resemble piano keys. The tower on top of

6063-583: The Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group . Harris also won the Female Vocalist of the Year award from the Country Music Association . Around 1981, Ricky Skaggs left the Hot Band and was replaced by Barry Tashian . Drummer John Ware also left Harris' backing group, which prompted her to reform the Hot Band with new members. Her next studio album, Cimarron (1981) was cut with

6192-488: The Hot Band helped establish a musical foundation for her concerts and albums. Her 1980s albums spawned the top ten singles " Wayfaring Stranger ", " Born to Run " and " Last Date ". The 1985 album The Ballad of Sally Rose was among Harris's first self-written projects. The album (along with its follow-ups) failed to sustain the commercial momentum of previous albums. Harris then collaborated with Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt on Trio (1987). The platinum-selling album

6321-414: The Hot Band, which was formed when her first record label needed studio musicians for her recordings. "We gotta put the chick singer together with a hot band," Harris recalled someone at her record company saying. From then on, Harris collaborated with her backing musicians to help enhance her style and performances onstage. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum explained how her backing bands influenced

6450-660: The International Submarine Band and Bob Dylan – but he expected the Byrds ' forthcoming album, Sweetheart of the Rodeo , to represent the new genre. Before the Byrds' album was released in August   1968, Goldstein considered the Band 's debut album, Music From Big Pink , as the "first major album" of the country-rock movement when he reviewed it for The New York Times on August   4. Key to

6579-600: The Maryland suburb of Clarksville , near Washington, D.C. . Harris then obtained a hostessing job in Columbia, Maryland . At the same time, Harris developed a following performing at clubs in Washington, D.C. and its surrounding suburbs. Yet, she was unconvinced she could make it as a music artist. "At that point, I'd retired forever from the music business," she recalled. Among the clubs Harris worked during this period

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6708-650: The Mid-South—wood, concrete, steel, and stone—were used in the building's construction as a reminder of the music's strong roots in the lives of working Americans. Georgia yellow pine adorns the floors of the Conservatory and is also found in the Hall of Fame Rotunda the Ford Theater. Crab Orchard Stone from the East Tennessee mountains lend a homey, rustic touch to the Conservatory's "front porch" atmosphere and

6837-734: The Natives' country rock cover of John Lennon's " Tight A$ " was included on the Lennon Bermuda album. A revival of country music blended with rock features in the 2020s was titled "ronky tonk" in the music press, with acts such as Zach Bryan , Jackson Dean , and Bailey Zimmerman identified by Billboard . Jelly Roll is another crossover artist that blends a unique fashion of country and rock, sometimes with hip hop influences. Country Music Hall of Fame The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee ,

6966-561: The Old Guys with two American members, drummer Andy Newmark and acoustic guitarist Bob Rafkin . Rafkin had written "Lazy Waters" for The Byrds from the 1971 album Farther Along , and Andy Newmark had played on the 1973 Gene Parsons album Kindling . Canadian country rock band Blue Rodeo has found considerable success in Canada, selling multi-platinum albums throughout the 1980s and 1990s, and continues to receive frequent radio airplay on Canadian radio stations. Later in 2013 Rocky and

7095-648: The Rolling Stones "High and Dry" (1966), as well as Buffalo Springfield 's "Go and Say Goodbye" (1966) and "Kind Woman" (1968). According to The Encyclopedia of Country Music , the Beatles' "I Don't Want to Spoil the Party", their cover of the Buck Owens country hit " Act Naturally " and their 1965 album Rubber Soul can all be seen "with hindsight" as examples of country rock. Former TV teen idol and rockabilly recording artist Ricky Nelson pioneered

7224-423: The Rolling Stones , and George Harrison 's solo work. It also played a part in the development of Southern rock , which, although largely derived from blues rock , had a distinct southern lilt, and it paved the way for parts of the alternative country movement. The genre declined in popularity in the late-1970s, but some established artists, including Neil Young, have continued to record country-tinged rock into

7353-424: The Rotunda that extends down the Hall of Fame is a replica of the distinctive diamond-shaped WSM radio tower, which was originally built in 1932 just south of Nashville and is still in operation. The Rotunda itself is replete with symbolic architectural elements. For example, the exterior of this cylindrical structure can be viewed variously as a drum kit, a rural water tower, or grain silo. The four disc tiers of

7482-622: The Rotunda's roof evoke the evolution of recording technology—the 78, the vinyl LP, the 45, and the CD. Stone bars on the Rotunda's outside wall symbolize the notes of the Carter Family's classic song " Will the Circle Be Unbroken ", while the title of the song rings the interior of the structure. The Hall of Fame member's plaques housed within the Rotunda are reminiscent of notes on a musical staff. Solid, earthy materials native to

7611-617: The Ryman Auditorium and several months following the album, the venue was refurbished. Harris was also president of the Country Music Foundation in the early 1990s and became an official member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1992. Harris also departed from Warner–Reprise during this period and signed a new contract with Asylum Records . In 1993, the label released the studio project Cowgirl's Prayer . It

7740-616: The Sky . It featured covers of songs by The Beatles and Merle Haggard , along with originals like Harris' " Boulder to Birmingham ", which reflected her emotions surrounding Parsons's death. The disc was a commercial success, reaching number seven on the American Billboard country LP 's chart and number 45 on the Billboard 200 all-genre chart . Its second single, " If I Could Only Win Your Love " reached number four on

7869-639: The Sky to have "many brilliant songs". Grant Alden of No Depression concluded that when both LP's are played 'front to back' it makes for "an astonishing, almost blemish-free collection". Elite Hotel also brought Harris the Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance . Additionally, both LPs were certified gold in the United States for selling over half a million copies each. Harris's next several studio collections included both traditional country cover tunes and new material. In 1976, Warner Bros. issued her fourth album, Luxury Liner , which

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7998-526: The Snow . Harris gave birth to a second daughter during this period and briefly stopped touring. Shortly beforehand, the Christmas -themed Light of the Stable (1979) was released and was followed by Evangeline (1981). The latter was a studio collection compiled from songs that were "left off" former albums. Evangeline certified gold in sales and reached number five on the US country chart. It spawned

8127-523: The US country albums chart, number 54 on the US all-genre chart, number three on the Canadian country albums chart and number 29 on the Canadian all-genre chart. Its single "I Don't Wanna Talk About It Now" was Harris' first to make the US Adult Alternative Airplay chart. Red Dirt Girl won Harris another Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk album. Harris also contributed to the soundtrack of O Brother, Where Art Thou? , which won

8256-538: The US country albums top five, the US all-genre top 20, the Canadian top 20, the UK top 30 and the Norwegian top 15. Ken Tucker of NPR called Hard Bargain both "invigorating" and "inviting". Steven Rosen of American Songwriter found Harris' songwriting on the album to occasionally "stumble" but also do well in "addressing personal sadness". Harris agreed to contribute to the soundtrack of Nick Cave 's 2012 film Lawless . She recorded three songs that appeared on

8385-515: The US country chart and was followed by the top-five single " I'm Movin' On ". Both albums received mixed reviews, with Grant Alden of No Depression finding that Cimarron and Last Date are no "monumental artistic statement" but occasionally "have their moments". William Ruhlmann of AllMusic gave Last Date 2.5 stars, explaining that Harris failed to create original styles and arrangements that previously set her apart. Harris' final album under Brian Ahern's production (the pair would then divorce)

8514-499: The US country top ten and made the top 20 in both Norway and Sweden. During this period, Harris also toured frequently alongside Elvis Costello and recorded the song " The Scarlet Tide " (the original version of the song was featured in the soundtrack of Cold Mountain ). In 2005, Harris recorded the song " A Love That Will Never Grow Old ", which appeared in the LGBT film Brokeback Mountain . Harris and Mark Knopfler (formerly of

8643-556: The album Blonde on Blonde , playing with notable local musicians like Charlie McCoy . This, and the subsequent more clearly country-influenced albums, John Wesley Harding (1967) and Nashville Skyline (1969), have been seen as creating the genre of country folk , a route pursued by a number of, largely acoustic, folk musicians. Dylan's lead was also followed by the Byrds, who were joined by Gram Parsons in 1968. Parsons had mixed country with rock , blues and folk to create what he called "Cosmic American Music". Earlier in

8772-502: The all-genre chart. Spawned from the disc was the single " This Is Us ", which reached number five on the US Adult Alternative Airplay chart and number 17 in Norway. The Washington Post called the album "a smart marriage of strengths and weaknesses" and AllMusic found it to be a "lush and earthy collaboration". In 2008, a solo album titled All I Intended to Be was released. It featured Brian Ahern producing

8901-507: The annual exhibition, American Currents: State of Music , which chronicles country music's most recent past. In addition to the galleries, the museum has the 776-seat CMA Theater, the Taylor Swift Education Center, and multi-purpose event rental spaces. Other historic properties of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum include one of the country's oldest letterpress print shop Hatch Show Print (located inside

9030-416: The aura of an idealized frontier woman." Jason Ankeny of AllMusic wrote, "Blessed with a crystalline voice, a remarkable gift for phrasing, and a restless creative spirit, few artists had as profound an impact on contemporary music as Emmylou Harris." Harris herself explained that her voice sounds unique because it is rooted in folk styles: "I didn't have a style or a voice of my own. And in singing country, I

9159-473: The band Dire Straits ) spent seven years writing and recording songs, which would make up their collaborative studio effort, All the Roadrunning . Some of the songs on the collection were originally for a different Knofler project but were instead used for All the Roadrunning . In 2006, it became a top 20 disc on the US album chart but reached the top ten in the UK and Sweden. In Norway, the album topped

9288-525: The country and rock genres, Harris helped to unite rural country audiences and metropolitan rock audiences together in one setting. Jason Ankeny of AllMusic wrote, "She traveled a singular artistic path, proudly carrying the torch of "cosmic American music" passed down by her mentor, Gram Parsons, which made a profound mark on both country and rock." Mary A. Bufwack and Robert K. Oermann wrote, "She showed Nashville that country music could succeed uncompromised, with dignity intact. She made country music hip." Harris

9417-555: The country side towards rock were the bluegrass band the Dillards . Doug Dillard left the band to form the group Dillard & Clark with ex- Byrds member Gene Clark and Bernie Leadon . The greatest commercial success for country rock came in the 1970s, with the Doobie Brothers mixing in elements of R&B, Emmylou Harris (the former singer with Parsons) becoming a star on country radio, and Linda Ronstadt ,

9546-489: The development of country music. The hall of fame honor was created in 1961 by the Country Music Association (CMA); the first inductees were Hank Williams , Jimmie Rodgers , and Fred Rose . Roy Acuff , the first living artist to join the Hall of Fame, was elected in 1962. The most recent inductees (class of 2024) are John Anderson , James Burton , and Toby Keith . Over the Hall of Fame's history,

9675-478: The disc were the North American top ten country songs " To Know Him Is to Love Him ", " Telling Me Lies ", " Those Memories of You " and " Wildflowers ". In 1989, Warner Bros. released the solo album Bluebird . It included material penned by songwriters Kate McGarrigle and Anna McGarrigle , and two songs penned by Harris herself. Considered a country rock effort by Rolling Stone the album peaked in

9804-603: The disc's "sense of familiarity". Its single "After the Gold Rush" brought the three artists the Best Country Collaboration with Vocals accolade from the Grammys. Meanwhile, Harris and Ronstadt had been wanting to make their own collaborative album together. After years of discussion and planning, the pair released Western Wall: The Tucson Sessions . The album was also released on Asylum in 1999. Within

9933-468: The early part of my career, first as a songwriter and then as a member of the band and then as kind of my soul brother, musically, was really important to getting my footing as a performing artist," Harris commented. Writers, editors and historians have largely identified Harris with the country rock musical style. Harris took the sound of California folk rock and embedded it with traditional country. Author Frank Hoffman wrote, "Emmylou Harris has maintained

10062-574: The effort of CMA Executive Director Jo Walker-Meador to build the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, which opened on April 1, 1967. The original building was a barn-shaped structure located at the head of Music Row , erected on the site of a small Nashville city park. This hall of fame was modeled after the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York . At this point, artifacts began to be displayed and

10191-523: The genre, Goldstein wrote, was that the album had country music's "twang and   ... tenacity", but it also "[made] you want to move" like rock music. Country influences can be heard on rock records through the 1960s, including the Beatles ' 1964 recordings " I'll Cry Instead ", " Baby's in Black ", " I Don't Want to Spoil the Party ", and their 1965 recording " I've Just Seen A Face ", the Byrds' 1965 cover version of Porter Wagoner 's "Satisfied Mind", or

10320-474: The genre, including Elvis Costello 's Almost Blue (1981) and the Robert Plant and Alison Krauss collaboration Raising Sand , which was one of the most commercially successful albums of 2007. Kid Rock , who broke through into mainstream success with a rap rock sound, gradually developed a country rock sound. In 2013, British country rock band Rocky and the Natives released Let's Hear It for

10449-441: The genre. The Byrds continued in the same vein, but Parsons left before the album was released to join another ex-Byrds member Chris Hillman in forming the Flying Burrito Brothers . The Byrds hired guitarist Clarence White and drummer Gene Parsons , both from the country band Nashville West . The Flying Burrito Brothers recorded the albums The Gilded Palace of Sin (1969) and Burrito Deluxe (1970), which helped establish

10578-430: The guitar, sing and follow along with the radio. Harris' early folk influences included Ian & Sylvia , Peter, Paul and Mary , Buffy Sainte-Marie , Judy Collins , and Bob Dylan . Harris was also influenced by Pete Seeger . At age 16, she wrote him a letter wondering if her life was too privileged to be singing about the story lines in folk songs. Another significant influence was Joan Baez , whom she recalled having

10707-560: The head of Music Row, the bronze plaques formed a special exhibit. Through a licensing agreement with the CMA, the Museum exhibits the bronze plaques commemorating membership in a space and fashion befitting the honor. The museum's collections document country music from its folk roots through today. Artifacts and archival materials not on exhibit are housed in the museum's 46,000 square foot secure, climate-controlled collections storage rooms and in

10836-474: The history and sounds of country music. The story is revealed through artifacts, photographs, text panels, recorded sound, vintage video, and interactive touchscreens. Sing Me Back Home is enhanced by rotating limited-engagement exhibits. The ACM Gallery and the Dinah and Fred Gretsch Family Gallery features artifacts from today's country stars and a series of technology-enhanced activities. The ACM Gallery houses

10965-493: The hit "Let Your Love Flow"(1976). In 1979, the Southern rock Charlie Daniels Band moved to a more country direction, released a song with strong bluegrass influence, " The Devil Went Down to Georgia ", and the song crossed over and became a hit on the pop chart. Outside its handful of stars, country rock's greatest significance was on artists in other genres, including the Band, Grateful Dead , Creedence Clearwater Revival ,

11094-456: The internationally successful All the Roadrunning (2006). She then collaborated with Rodney Crowell on the critically acclaimed Old Yellow Moon (2013) and The Traveling Kind (2015). She also became involved in activism during this time, including starting her own dog rescue called Bonaparte's Retreat. Harris has been estimated to have sold over 15 million records worldwide. She has also earned 13 Grammy Awards , placed 27 singles into

11223-490: The likes of the Byrds' Sweetheart of the Rodeo and other gems of the genre". Former Poco and Buffalo Springfield member Jim Messina joined Kenny Loggins in a very successful duo, while former members of Ronstadt's backing band went on to form the Eagles (two members of which were from the Flying Burrito Brothers and Poco), who emerged as one of the most successful rock acts of all time, producing albums that included Desperado (1973) and Hotel California (1976). However,

11352-465: The material. Around 1991, Harris dissolved the Hot Band and formed a new backing group called the Nash Ramblers. The group included Sam Bush playing fiddle , Al Perkins playing banjo and guitar, and Jon Randall performing various instruments. Harris then intended to record a live album of material she had never performed before. It was suggested by music executive Bonnie Garner to record

11481-438: The museum offers an aggressive schedule of educational and family programs. The museum also operates CMF Records, a Grammy -winning re-issue label ( The Complete Hank Williams and Night Train to Nashville: Music City Rhythm & Blues, 1945–1970) ; and CMF Press, a publishing imprint that has released books in cooperation with Vanderbilt University Press and other major trade publishing houses. The Hall of Fame Rotunda features

11610-478: The museum's growing collection of costumes, films, historic cars, musical instruments , and other artifacts. An education department was created to conduct ongoing programs with Middle Tennessee schools; an oral history program was begun; and a publications department was launched to handle books, as well as the Journal of Country Music. To become more accessible, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum moved to

11739-485: The museum) and Historic RCA Studio B (located on Music Row), Nashville's oldest surviving recording studio, where recordings by Country Music Hall of Fame members Elvis Presley , Dolly Parton , Waylon Jennings , and many others were made. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has developed multiple platforms to make its collection accessible to a wider audience. From weekly instrument demonstrations to its flagship songwriting program for schools, Words & Music ,

11868-525: The music of the Louvin Brothers , Bill Monroe and George Jones . Their songs became a significant influence on her. "These were deep, emotionally troubling songs, but he opened my ears to the beauty of it, the simplicity of the poetry," she explained. Harris hired Rodney Crowell to join her band when she became a solo act. His traditional Texan country background was said by Harris to influence her country music artistry. "I think that his presence in

11997-470: The new Hot Band. It made the US country albums top ten and the US all-genre top 50. It spawned the US and Canadian top ten country songs " Born to Run " and " Tennessee Rose ". A duet with Don Williams called " If I Needed You " topped the Canadian country chart. In 1982, Harris and the Hot Band recorded her first live album , titled Last Date . Its lead single was a vocal version of Floyd Cramer 's instrumental original song " Last Date ". The single topped

12126-517: The number of new members inducted each year has varied from one to twelve (no nominee was inducted in 1963, no candidate having received sufficient votes). Election to the Country Music Hall of Fame is solely the prerogative of the CMA. New members, elected annually by a panel of industry executives chosen by the CMA, are inducted formally during the Medallion Ceremony, part of the annual reunion of Country Music Hall of Fame members hosted by

12255-594: The principal country rock influence in the Eagles came from Bernie Leadon , formerly of the Flying Burrito Brothers, and the Eagles are perceived as shifting towards hard rock after he left the band in late 1975. The Ozark Mountain Daredevils had hit singles "If You Wanna Get To Heaven" (1974) and "Jackie Blue" (1975), the latter of which peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1975. The Bellamy Brothers had

12384-489: The program. Country rock Country rock is a music genre that fuses rock and country . It was developed by rock musicians who began to record country-flavored records in the late 1960s and early 1970s. These musicians recorded rock records using country themes, vocal styles, and additional instrumentation, most characteristically pedal steel guitars . Country rock began with artists like Buffalo Springfield , Michael Nesmith , Bob Dylan , Nitty Gritty Dirt Band ,

12513-574: The project. Contributors included Vince Gill and Dolly Parton . Harris then toured in support of the album with an ensemble she dubbed the Red Dirt Boys. It reached the top five of the US country albums chart, the top 25 of the Billboard 200 and the top ten on the Swedish all-genre chart. In 2010, Harris re-recorded her song "Boulder to Birmingham" with the rock group the Fray and was issued as

12642-533: The respectability and parameters of the genre, before Parsons departed to pursue a solo career. Country rock was a particularly popular style in the California music scene of the late 1960s, and was adopted by bands including Hearts and Flowers, Poco (formed by Richie Furay and Jim Messina , formerly of the Buffalo Springfield) and New Riders of the Purple Sage . Some folk-rockers followed

12771-401: The second collaborative album by Harris, Parton and Ronstadt titled Trio II . Although the project was completed in 1994, it took five years to be released. Trio II rose to the number four position on the North American country album charts certified gold in the United States. Time called the disc "an angelic encounter", while The Washington Post found it was "not worth the wait" due to

12900-599: The set at the Ryman Auditorium (the former site of the Grand Ole Opry , which was becoming increasingly dilapidated). In spring 1991, Harris and the Nash Ramblers recorded the live project over three nights with only 200 guests in attendance. The live disc was released in 1992 and was titled At the Ryman and was met with critical acclaim. Writers have since speculated the project brought renewed interest to

13029-474: The soundtrack. The Montreal Gazette described Harris' vocal performance on Lawless as "serene". Harris released an album of duets with Rodney Crowell in 2013 called Old Yellow Moon . Although a duet album was discussed for years, the timing never worked out due to their different schedules. The pair re-recorded songs that had previously appeared on their individual albums. Slant Magazine found Old Yellow Moon to balance "retro-country and retro-rock with

13158-430: The top 20 of both the US and Canadian country charts. Its lead single, " Heartbreak Hill ", returned Harris to the top ten as a solo artist and was followed by the top 20 single, " Heaven Only Knows ". Her final studio album with Warner Bros. was released in 1990, titled Brand New Dance . It was categorized as an "uninspired misfire" by Rolling Stone while AllMusic drew similar comparisons to Harris seeming disengaged with

13287-580: The top 25 of the US all-genre chart, the top ten of the Canadian country chart and later certified gold in sales. The albums spawned the number one US and Canadian country singles " Making Believe ", " To Daddy " and " Two More Bottles of Wine ". They also spawned a top ten cover of " You Never Can Tell (C'est La Vie) " and the US top 20 original tune " Easy From Now On ". Harris' record label proposed shifting her career towards country pop crossover stardom . Instead, Harris recorded two traditionally-oriented albums, beginning with 1979's Blue Kentucky Girl . It

13416-611: The top ten of the US country chart , and several of her albums have received gold certifications in the US. She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2008 and was ranked among Rolling Stone ' s list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time in 2022. Harris was born in Birmingham, Alabama , in 1947. She was one of two children born to Walter Rutland Harris and Eugenia Harris. Her older brother (Walter Harris Jr.) enjoyed country music in his youth. Her father

13545-578: The top ten of the US country chart. In 2014, Harris announced a book deal with Blue Rider, a Penguin Books publishing imprint. In 2017, she told The Capital Times that the piece would be a memoir of her life. In 2021, Harris told Clash magazine that she was still writing her memoir. In 2021, Nonesuch Records released the live disc Ramble in Music City: The Lost Concert , which was recorded with The Nash Ramblers in 1990 but

13674-445: The way her musical style shifted as years went by. Harris herself explained that her style of country music embedded more rock influences compared to previous interpretations of the genre. Harris' artistry has also been remembered for her collaborations with various artists. She has made appearances on songs recorded by Ryan Adams , Neil Young , Johnny Cash , Sheryl Crow , and numerous others. "It's likely that on her school report it

13803-424: The year Parsons had released Safe at Home (although the principal recording for the album had taken place in mid-1967) with the International Submarine Band, which made extensive use of pedal steel and is seen by some as the first true country-rock album. The result of Parsons' brief tenure in the Byrds was Sweetheart of the Rodeo (1968), generally considered one of the finest and most influential recordings in

13932-448: The years following her rise to success, Harris was considered a major influence on several country artists during the 1980s and 1990s. Miranda Lambert credited Harris as an artist determined to make her own choices and choose her own direction. Reflecting on her artistic decisions, Trisha Yearwood commented, "I've had to say to myself, well, if I passed Emmylou Harris on the street, would I be able to hold my head up?" Harris has also been

14061-405: Was Clyde's and The Cellar Door . In 1971, she performed the country song " It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels " one evening at The Cellar Door, "almost as a joke", as she knew little about country music at that time. The Flying Burrito Brothers noticed her performing while drinking after a show and thought she had potential. Though singer-songwriter Gram Parsons had left the Byrds and

14190-407: Was Harris' last project produced by Paul Kennerley and the pair divorced shortly afterward. The album made the top 40 of the US country albums chart and the top 20 of the Canadian country albums chart. Despite critical acclaim its singles received limited radio airplay. Two of its singles made the US and Canada country charts, but failed to make positions inside the top 40. By the middle 1990s, Harris

14319-637: Was a Marine Corps officer who served in both World War II and the Korean War . In the latter, he was taken as a Prisoner of War and was reported as missing in action . He was later released. "I never talked to him about his experiences. He wouldn't ever talk about it," she later reflected. The Harris family lived in Birmingham through their daughter's first grade school year. Her father was then transferred to Cherry Point, North Carolina , and later to Quantico, Virginia . Harris took piano lessons as

14448-478: Was a popular folk music scene. In 1969, Harris married her first husband Tom Slocum and soon gave birth to her first child. Harris regularly worked the Greenwich Village music scene and developed friendships with fellow artists Jerry Jeff Walker , Dave Bromberg and Paul Siebel . She worked at several notable Greenwich Village clubs, including The Bitter End . She also supported herself by working as

14577-409: Was a top-ten disc on the North American country charts and received a gold certification. It also won a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. The follow-up was 1980's Roses in the Snow , which was considered to embed bluegrass sounds. Like its predecessor, Roses in the Snow went gold and reached the number two on the country charts in the US and Canada. Harris' new bluegrass sound

14706-449: Was accelerating, CMA leaders determined that a new organization was needed to operate a country music museum and related activities beyond CMA's scope as simply a trade organization. Toward this end, the nonprofit Country Music Foundation (CMF) was chartered by the state of Tennessee in 1964 to collect, preserve, and publicize information and artifacts relating to the history of country music. Through CMF, industry leaders raised money with

14835-662: Was also a critical success that spawned four top ten singles. In 1992, Warner Bros. released the live album At the Ryman . It garnered critical praise and renewed interest in its live venue, the Ryman Auditorium . Harris was inspired to move in a new musical direction with 1995's Wrecking Ball . She then reunited with Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt for Trio II (1999). By the 2000s, Harris had signed with Nonesuch Records and recorded several albums of self-composed material like Red Dirt Girl (2000), All I Intended to Be (2008) and Hard Bargain (2011). She also found collaborative partnerships, such as with Mark Knopfler on

14964-471: Was among many adolescents interested in the American folk music revival of the 1960s. She became fascinated with folk artists of the era such as Joan Baez , Bob Dylan and Buffy Sainte-Marie . Her grandfather gave Harris her first guitar, which she learned to play. In 1965, Harris graduated from Gar-Field (which was desegregated shortly before she left) as the class valedictorian . Her original intention

15093-578: Was credited to the new Hot Band member Ricky Skaggs , who replaced Rodney Crowell. Both albums spawned top ten US and Canadian country singles: " Save the Last Dance for Me ", " Blue Kentucky Girl ", " Wayfaring Stranger ". Additionally, " Beneath Still Waters " went to the number one spot in both countries. Billboard named Blue Kentucky Girl among its April 1979 "Top Album Picks", calling Harris' voice "crystal clear", while Cashbox magazine highlighted Harris's "beautiful, sensitive voice" on Roses in

15222-410: Was described by Rolling Stone as a "roots record" with comparisons drawn to 1980's Roses in the Snow . However, the album proved to be less successful. Both of its singles reached positions outside the top 40 on the North American country charts. Although recorded prior to Thirteen , Angel Band followed on Warner Bros. in 1987 and was an album of gospel material. Rolling Stone described it as

15351-498: Was feeling excluded by country music radio. Asylum Records gave her the musical freedom to record her next album. In 1995, Asylum issued the studio album Wrecking Ball . The disc was produced by Daniel Lanois (known for producing U2 and Peter Gabriel ), who embedded an alternative rock style into its sound and style. According to the Los Angeles Times , its production has been considered influential in establishing

15480-467: Was first shelved. In 2021, Harris told Clash magazine that she was no longer writing songs because she didn't "feel the need" and have the sense of "urgency". However, she continues to perform and play shows. Harris found her first appreciation for music through the folk genre during the American folk revival . During her adolescence, she listened to American University 's WAMU radio station, which played folk music nightly. Harris taught herself to play

15609-469: Was her second number-one US country album. It also was her second to make the top 20 in the United Kingdom and third to certify gold in the US. Jason Ankeny named it "one of her most engaging efforts". Warner Bros. followed it with 1978's Quarter Moon in a Ten Cent Town , which was considered to have "over-careful production", according to Grant Alden. It made the top five of the US country chart,

15738-601: Was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame . Along with the Statler Brothers and Tom T. Hall , Harris was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in 2008. In 2009, Linda Ronstadt and Earl Scruggs were present when Harris received an honorary doctorate from the Berklee College of Music . At the 2012 Academy of Country Music "Honors" ceremony, Harris was presented with

15867-454: Was released by Warner Bros. in 1985. Featuring compositions written by Harris herself, The Ballad of Sally Rose . The record was loosely based on her time with Gram Parsons. Despite reaching the US country top ten the album ultimately resulted in poor record sales and was considered a commercial failure. Yet its embedding of various musical styles was praised by critics. In 1986, Warner Bros. released her next studio album, Thirteen . The disc

15996-507: Was released in 1983, called White Shoes . The disc featured a collection of cover songs. Among its tracks were the singles " Pledging My Love " and " In My Dreams ", both of which reached the US and Canadian country top ten. White Shoes was among her lowest-peaking albums to date on the US country chart, stalling at number 22. Harris then relocated to Nashville, where she collaborated with new producer Paul Kennerly (whom she later married). The pair composed The Ballad of Sally Rose , which

16125-508: Was released under the name "Emmy Lou Harris". Jubilee Records declared bankruptcy shortly after Gliding Bird was released. Harris and her husband then decided to attempt a music career in Nashville, Tennessee . The couple divorced while in Nashville. Harris attempted to support herself and her daughter by working as a waitress. However, she was surviving on food stamps and Medicaid . Ultimately, she went back to live with her parents in

16254-424: Was said of the young Emmylou Harris that 'she plays well with others'," wrote Bernard Zuel of The Sydney Morning Herald . Noah Berlatsky of The Atlantic wrote that Harris' own career "was never precisely solo" because of her emphasis on collaborating with other artists. "Her enthusiasm for finding new artists to work with has been a huge boon for her music," he commented. Harris herself stated, "I think it's just

16383-416: Was singing in a folk voice. I didn't have what you would consider a true country voice like Loretta Lynn , Kitty [Wells] or Tammy [Wynette], or some of the younger singers; Tanya Tucker – great voice. But my voice was always more on the side of folk." Emmylou Harris has striven to follow a consistent music direction in her career that has helped influence modern contemporary music. Through her fusion of

16512-424: Was the "beacon" of the country rock movement during the 1970s and 1980s. As Harris' career progressed, she took more inspiration from the alternative music community. Critics have pointed to 1995's Wrecking Ball as a turning point in her musical style. The album's production was said to embed new aspects of rock that had not been in her music previously. From then on, critics credited Harris with helping to define

16641-555: Was to become an actress and she received a drama scholarship from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro . She began taking classes in the fall of 1965. Harris participated in the school's productions of The Tempest and The Dancing Donkey . She also helped form a folk music duo called the Emerald City. The duo worked a series of gigs in the local area, most of which were coffeehouses . She also played coffeehouses as

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