Tracy Chapman
Biography and Discography

Listen To "Change"
From "Where You Live"
Release September 13, 2005

by Brittany Lauren Lee and Mark R. Elsis

Renowned African American singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman was born on March 30, 1964. Chapman came from humble beginnings, raised in a working class neighborhood in Cleveland, Ohio. At an early age, Chapman had already found her calling as a musician. She began by writing poetry, and then at the age of eight she received her first guitar as a gift from her mother. Chapman quickly progressed with the guitar and also learned to play the ukulele and the piano. Her initial interest in poetry developed into a talent for writing her own music. This driven young lady also excelled academically, winning an academic scholarship to attend a private high school in Connecticut followed by a minority placement scholarship which she decided to put towards attending Tufts University in Massachusetts. At Tufts, Chapman studied anthropology and African studies.

It was during her time at college that Tracy Chapman's interest in folk rock and singer-songwriters was forged. Chapman became a regular performer at local Boston coffeehouses, and it wasn't long before her talents were discovered. After hearing a set of demo tapes Chapman had recorded at the local college radio station, an impressed classmate, Brian Koppelman, recommended her to his father Charles, Koppelman, who was head of SBK Publishing. Chapman signed with SBK in 1986 and through them secured a management contract with Elliot Roberts, who was well-known for his work with Neil Young and Joni Mitchell. With the help of both Roberts and Koppelman, Chapman signed with Elektra Records in 1987.

In 1988 Tracy Chapman released her self-titled debut album to shocking commercial and critical success. The album created an instant fan base for the emerging star and is also considered to have had a lasting effect on the music industry. Chapman was one of the only artists at the time to work from the confessional singer/songwriter style. She combined the '70's folk foundation with simple melodies and meaningful lyrics, and her immediate success with the style ushered in an entirely new era of singer/songwriters that continued well into the '90s. Furthermore, Chapman's album became a part of the budding movement towards political correctness, joining 10,000 Maniacs and R.E.M. in spreading liberal politics. The liberal views expressed in her album were tremendously influential across college campuses in the later '80s. She became known as a supported of civil liberties and minority rights, as well as gender equality and sexual freedom.

Tracy Chapman begin touring and gaining an even larger following. Within just a few months of the release of her debut album, Chapman performed in the internationally televised concert for Nelson Mandela's 70th birthday. The concert, called Freedomfest, was created by Amnesty International, an organization Chapman continued to support throughout her career. Her performance was enthusiastically greeted with thunderous applause. Her landmark single "Fast Car" begin to climb the charts, peaking at number six, and introducing her to a throng of fans in the pop world. Sales of the album soared along with the single, and by the end of the year over ten million copies sold, making it multi-platinum. The following year, Chapman's record won three Grammy's, including the coveted Best New Artist.

For her follow-up album, Tracy Chapman released Crossroads (1989). The album, which was far more political than her debut and contained darker lyrics, did not reach the level of success as her first. It did, however, garner praise from critics and still went multi-platinum, peaking at number nine on the charts.

Tracy Chapman went into relative seclusion following the release of Crossroads, but did continue to perform at charity concerts. Chapman reemerged three years later in 1992 with her third album Matters of the Heart. This album was met with mixed reviews and weak sales, causing Chapman to fall out of cult status, though she did maintain a large dedicated fan base.

Three years after Matters of the Heart, Chapman shocked industry watchers with her tremendously successful fourth album New Beginnings (1995). The album sold over three million copies in the U.S. alone, restoring Chapman's commercial success. From the album, the bluesy single "Give Me One Reason" became the first hit single, and the album quickly climbed into the Top Ten by the end of the year. For this single, Tracy Chapman won her fourth Grammy for Best Rock Song. Also, on New Beginnings is one of the most beautiful environmental songs ever written "The Rape Of The World".

Chapman had made a quiet but strong comeback, but rather than put out another new album right away, she went on a four year sabbatical, but continued to give live performances. She joined the legendary Lilith Tour and again showing her support for human rights by performing at the Amnesty International Human Rights Tour, the Bob Marley One Love Tribute in Jamaica, and the Beastie Boys Tibetan Freedom Festival in Chicago. Chapman's amazing live performances won her much acclaim. In July of 1999, Chapman was ranked number 54 on VH1's "The Top 100 Greatest Women of Rock 'N Roll' television program.

In 2000, Tracy Chapman once again returned to the music scene with the release of her fifth album Telling Stories. This album had more of a rock feel, veering away from the folk sound her songs traditionally imbued. From this emotionally stirring album, the single "Telling Stories" was a relative hit and played heavily on European airwaves.

In October of 2002, Chapman released her sixth album Let It Rain. The album peaked at number 25 on the Billboard chart, and received great reviews for its classically rich Chapman vocals and brooding lyrics. To promote the album, Chapman began touring in early 2003. Her first stop was France, and from there she made her way throughout Europe. In June she began a two month United States tour. In 2004, right before the Presidential elections, Chapman briefly toured again to benefit DrivingVotes.org. The tour was dubbed "Western Swing: An Evening with Tracy Chapman" and its aim was to encourage all Americans to have their voice heard in the upcoming election.

Chapman will release her seventh studio album, Where You Live, on September 13, 2005. Where You Live contains her insightful new hit single "Change" along with ten other original tracks. It is rumored Tracy will begin a world tour to promote the album in 2006. Tracy Chapman continues to endure as one of our generation's most gripping singer-songwriters, creating compelling songs with social relevance and emotional reverberation.

Tracy, Sting and Bruce

Ten More Tracy Chapman Biographies:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tracy_Chapman

http://tinyurl.com/dj6gc

http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/chapman_tracy/bio.jhtml

http://tinyurl.com/b4vjy

http://tinyurl.com/ca8bp

http://music.yahoo.com/ar-300572-bio--Tracy-Chapman

http://tinyurl.com/7zhjl

http://tinyurl.com/ax7zf

http://www.about-tracy-chapman.net/biography.htm

http://tinyurl.com/cw87n (Google Biographies)

"Tracy Chapman is my favorite female singer-songwriter."
Mark R. Elsis


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