Eliza Gilkyson has lived the life of a gypsy, traveling the roads of the world and picking up an endless array of sounds and scents that have enriched and informed her music. During the course of her long career, she's moved between genres ranging from pop to roots rock to new age, but most recently her illuminated, politically aware lyrics are ensconced in the warmth of acoustic folk music.
Gilkyson was raised in the wilds of Los Angeles, the daughter of the late Terry Gilkyson, an acclaimed folk songwriter and performer who worked and wrote for artists including the Weavers and Dean Martin. While working for Disney studios, he was nominated for an Oscar for his tune "Bare Necessities" from The Jungle Book. As a child, Eliza and her brother sang on many of their father's demos and film soundtrack recordings.
After a series of under-the-radar albums that allowed her to grow into her sound, Gilkyson garnered well-due attention after she moved to Europe and worked with Swiss harpist Andreas Vollenweider, co-composing and singing on his Eolian Minstrel. Her return to the U.S. produced a series of impressive solo releases including Hard Times In Babylon and Lost And Found. Land Of Milk And Honey inspired a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Folk Recording.
Her most recent effort, Beautiful World, is a mostly upbeat mix of Americana, folk and rock that sprung from a monthly community forum on art, politics and culture she held with University of Texas professor Robert Jensen and Presbyterian minister Jim Rigby. The album features her regular band (which includes her son Cisco Ryder), as well as the talents of her brother Tony Gilkyson (of the band X).
Provenance: Hollywood, California
Latest Release: Beautiful World (2008)
© 2008 Nigel Music Media LLC. Used by permission.
Eliza Gilkyson
