Cris Williamson
Encyclopedia
Cris Williamson is an American
feminist singer-songwriter
, who achieved fame as a recording artist, and who was a pioneer as a visible lesbian
political activist, during a time when few who were not connected to the Lesbian community were aware of Gay and Lesbian
issues. Williamson's music and insight has served as a catalyst for change in the creation of women-owned record companies in the 1970s. Using her musical talents, networking with other lesbian artists of musical quality, and her willingness to represent those who did not yet feel safe in speaking for themselves, Williamson is remembered by many in the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender
(GLBT) community for her contributions, both artistically, and politically, and continues to be a role model
for a younger generation hoping to address concerns and obtain recognition for achievements specific to people who have historically been ignored.
, although her family moved to Colorado
and Wyoming
when she was still young. Her musical idol at the time was Judy Collins
, and Williamson developed a musical style and sound that was similar to that of Collins. She released her first album, The Artistry of Cris Williamson in 1964, when she was sixteen. She became a local musical sensation in Sheridan, Wyoming
, releasing two following LP
s afterward. Williamson graduated from the University of Denver
. She supported herself initially as a schoolteacher, however, during the same time, collaborated with other women who were also singer-songwriters and performing artists, and began to network with Holly Near
, Meg Christian
, and Margie Adam
; all musicians who became women artists of stature, forming an entirely new genre
of music, primarily about and for women.
in 1973, Williamson suggested that a record label aimed at gay women would be a good idea. The independent
label Olivia Records
was founded the next day. Olivia Records released Williamson's The Changer and the Changed (1975), which became one of the best-selling independent releases of all time.
Williamson went on to record more than a dozen more albums with Olivia Records, then after its demise formed her own label, Wolf Moon Records. This helped to set the pace for other recording artists who found it difficult to work with the major record labels.
In 1982, she collaborated with Estonian artist/author Viido Polikarpus on a bizarre science fiction/fantasy fable lp and book (with Polikarpos' art work) entitled "Lumiere" and released on Pacific Cascade Records.
and lover
, Tret Fure
. Williamson and Fure ended their 20-year relationship in 2000, and each now records as a solo artist.
Williamson has worked as a session musician
both to support herself and to lend assistance to other fellow artists. She has collaborated with other women's music
artists, including Meg Christian
and Teresa Trull
. She has friends in many corners; one longtime friend is musician Bonnie Raitt
, who has played on some of her albums.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
feminist singer-songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, who achieved fame as a recording artist, and who was a pioneer as a visible lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
political activist, during a time when few who were not connected to the Lesbian community were aware of Gay and Lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
issues. Williamson's music and insight has served as a catalyst for change in the creation of women-owned record companies in the 1970s. Using her musical talents, networking with other lesbian artists of musical quality, and her willingness to represent those who did not yet feel safe in speaking for themselves, Williamson is remembered by many in the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender
Transgender
Transgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles....
(GLBT) community for her contributions, both artistically, and politically, and continues to be a role model
Role model
The term role model generally means any "person who serves as an example, whose behaviour is emulated by others".The term first appeared in Robert K. Merton's socialization research of medical students...
for a younger generation hoping to address concerns and obtain recognition for achievements specific to people who have historically been ignored.
Early years
Williamson was born in 1947 in Deadwood, South DakotaDeadwood, South Dakota
Deadwood is a city in South Dakota, United States, and the county seat of Lawrence County. It is named for the dead trees found in its gulch. The population was 1,270 according to a 2010 census...
, although her family moved to Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
and Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
when she was still young. Her musical idol at the time was Judy Collins
Judy Collins
Judith Marjorie "Judy" Collins is an American singer and songwriter, known for her eclectic tastes in the material she records ; and for her social activism. She is an alumna of the University of Colorado.-Musical career:Collins was born and raised in Seattle, Washington...
, and Williamson developed a musical style and sound that was similar to that of Collins. She released her first album, The Artistry of Cris Williamson in 1964, when she was sixteen. She became a local musical sensation in Sheridan, Wyoming
Sheridan, Wyoming
Sheridan is a city in Sheridan County, Wyoming, United States. The 2010 census put the population at 17,444 and a Micropolitan Statistical Area of 29,116...
, releasing two following LP
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
s afterward. Williamson graduated from the University of Denver
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
. She supported herself initially as a schoolteacher, however, during the same time, collaborated with other women who were also singer-songwriters and performing artists, and began to network with Holly Near
Holly Near
Holly Near is an American singer-songwriter, actress, teacher, and activist for social change.-Early years:...
, Meg Christian
Meg Christian
Meg Christian is an American folk singer associated with the Women's music movement.-Biography:She graduated from the University of North Carolina and moved to Washington, D.C. in 1969, where she performed in nightclubs and began writing material from an explicitly political and feminist perspective...
, and Margie Adam
Margie Adam
Margie Adam is an American musician and composer. Adam is one of the pioneers of the Women's Music movement.- Early life and education:...
; all musicians who became women artists of stature, forming an entirely new genre
Genre
Genre , Greek: genos, γένος) is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art or culture, e.g. music, and in general, any type of discourse, whether written or spoken, audial or visual, based on some set of stylistic criteria. Genres are formed by conventions that change over time...
of music, primarily about and for women.
Olivia Records
During a radio interview in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
in 1973, Williamson suggested that a record label aimed at gay women would be a good idea. The independent
Indie (music)
In music, independent music, often shortened to indie music or "indie" is a term used to describe independence from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, and an autonomous, Do-It-Yourself approach to recording and publishing....
label Olivia Records
Olivia Records
Olivia Records was a collective founded in 1973 to record and market women's music. Olivia, named after the heroine of a pulp novel by Dorothy Bussy who fell in love with her headmistress at French boarding school, was the brainchild of ten lesbian-feminists living in Washington, DC who wanted to...
was founded the next day. Olivia Records released Williamson's The Changer and the Changed (1975), which became one of the best-selling independent releases of all time.
- "The Changer and the Changed was to women's music what Michael JacksonMichael JacksonMichael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
's ThrillerThriller (album)Thriller is the sixth studio album by American recording artist Michael Jackson. It was released on November 30, 1982, by Epic Records as the follow-up to Jackson's critically and commercially successful 1979 album Off the Wall...
was to the music industry in general in the mid-'80s, an album that sold far beyond the perceived size of the market, more than 100,000 copies in its first year of release. Eventually, it reportedly sold more than 500,000 copies, which would make it a gold album, although it has not been certified as such by the RIAA. (That does not disprove the sales estimate, however. Albums are not certified automatically; a record company must request certification and pay for an audit.)"
Williamson went on to record more than a dozen more albums with Olivia Records, then after its demise formed her own label, Wolf Moon Records. This helped to set the pace for other recording artists who found it difficult to work with the major record labels.
In 1982, she collaborated with Estonian artist/author Viido Polikarpus on a bizarre science fiction/fantasy fable lp and book (with Polikarpos' art work) entitled "Lumiere" and released on Pacific Cascade Records.
Personal life
Williamson recorded two albums with her long-time producerRecord producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and lover
Sexual partner
Sexual partners are people who engage in sexual activity together. The sexual partners can be of any gender or sexual orientation. The sexual partners may be in a committed relationship, either on an exclusive basis or not, or engage in the sexual activity on a casual basis...
, Tret Fure
Tret Fure
Tret Fure is an American singer-songwriter, prominent in the women's music scene.Fure started her career as a backing vocalist on rock albums by Spencer Davis and Little Feat, and released her self-titled solo debut album in 1973 on MCA Records...
. Williamson and Fure ended their 20-year relationship in 2000, and each now records as a solo artist.
Williamson has worked as a session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
both to support herself and to lend assistance to other fellow artists. She has collaborated with other women's music
Women's music
Women's music is the music by women, for women, and about women . The genre emerged as a musical expression of the second-wave feminist movement as well as the labor, civil rights, and peace movements...
artists, including Meg Christian
Meg Christian
Meg Christian is an American folk singer associated with the Women's music movement.-Biography:She graduated from the University of North Carolina and moved to Washington, D.C. in 1969, where she performed in nightclubs and began writing material from an explicitly political and feminist perspective...
and Teresa Trull
Teresa Trull
Teresa Trull is an American female singer from Durham, North Carolina.Trull sang in churches as a child, and played in rock & roll groups in the early 1970s on the East Coast. Her debut album, The Ways a Woman Can Be, in 1977, and has recorded two albums with Barbara Higbie...
. She has friends in many corners; one longtime friend is musician Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter and a renowned slide guitar player. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of acclaimed roots-influenced albums which incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country, but she is perhaps best known for her more commercially...
, who has played on some of her albums.
Political activism and charity work
Williamson has been a lesbian feminist and a promoter of women owned music companies. She has recently become involved in a new project with Bonnie Raitt.Discography
- 1964 The Artistry of Cris Williamson
- 1965 A Step at a Time
- 1965 The World Around Cris Williamson
- 1971 Cris Williamson
- 1975 The Changer and the Changed: A Record of the Times
- 1978 Live Dream
- 1980 Strange Paradise
- 1982 Blue Rider
- 1982 Lumière
- 1983 Meg/Cris at Carnegie Hall
- 1985 Prairie Fire
- 1985 Snow Angel
- 1987 Wolf Moon
- 1989 Country Blessed
- 1990 The Best of Cris Williamson
- 1991 Live in Concert: Circle of Friends
- 1994 Postcards from Paradise
- 1997 Between the Covers
- 1999 Radio Quiet
- 2001 Ashes
- 2003 Cris & Holly
- 2003 Replay
- 2005 The Essential Cris Williamson
- 2005 Real Deal
- 2005 The Changer and the Changed: A Record of the Times [30th *Anniversary Enhanced]
- 2007 Fringe
- 2008 Winter Hearts