Emmylou Harris’ body of work stretches far and wide — gracefully slipping through folk, country, bluegrass, pop and rock in a way few have been able to accomplish with such ease. Throughout her long career, she’s fearlessly experimented with producers, songwriters and artists that have repeatedly pushed her to new creative heights.
As a young struggling performer in the early ’70s, Harris was introduced to country rocker Gram Parsons: she sang on his debut G.P., and joined his band for his second effort, Grievous Angel, recorded shortly before his fatal overdose. While their professional relationship was brief, it had a monumental impact on the direction of her life. Shortly after the release of her major-label debut, the delightfully eclectic Pieces Of The Sky, Harris began working with Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt, who would become lifelong collaborators. (Their Trio album, released in 1987, is among her best-selling.)
Early on, Harris collaborated with Bob Dylan and the Band, and championed young songwriter Rodney Crowell (who joined her Hot Band, and contributed to her Grammy-winning Elite Hotel), and bluegrass prodigy Ricky Skaggs. She’s seamlessly covered material by and partnered with a diverse range of artists including the Louvin Brothers, the Carter Family, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, Mark Knopfler and Elvis Costello.
In the ’90s, Harris reinvented herself yet again: she took a leap of faith by pairing with producer Daniel Lanois for 1995’s Wrecking Ball — and found herself atop the Americana music charts and with another Grammy. She then toured as part of the Lilith Fair, and joined forces with younger artists including Conor Oberst, Ryan Adams, the Dixie Chicks, Gillian Welch, Shawn Colvin, Patty Griffin and Lucinda Williams. Her latest, All I Intended To Be, features a little help from her friends Parton, Vince Gill and the McGarrigle sisters.
Provenance: Birmingham, Alabama
Latest Release: All I Intended To Be (2008)
© 2008 Nigel Music Media LLC. Used by permission.