Grace Griffith
Encyclopedia
Grace Griffith is a folk
and celtic
singer based in Washington, DC. She has been honored with multiple Wammie awards
by the Washington Area Music Association
. In 1998, she was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease
.
. At a young age she began singing and accompanying herself on guitar playing in small coffeehouse stages, mentored by her sister Maura. Grace’s parents encouraged her to follow a practical career. Putting her musical hobby to one side she graduated from the University of Maryland
in 1978 with a degree in physical therapy and embarked on a career as a physical therapist. Several years after her college studies she was invited to sing for a local Irish band in Washington DC called “The Hags” and toured the college circuit for two years. Her successor in that band was to become the famed singer-songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter
.
In 1987 Griffith formed a duo called “Hazlewood” with songwriter Susan Graham White. They produced some independent releases and ultimately appeared at the 1991 Philadelphia Folk Festival
.
Returning to her celtic roots Grace formed an East Coast Celtic group called Connemara which she formed with fiddler/arranger Cathy Palmer along with harpist Tracie Brown. They were also joined on the albums by guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Zan McLeod. They released 2 albums, firstly Beyond Horizon in 1993 and Siren Song in 1995.
Other musicians to participate on the projects were harpists Sue Richards, Julia Lane, Carol Thompson and Mary Fitzgerald along with box player Billy McComiskey and Jody Marshall on hammered dulcimer.
In 1993 as a solo artist Griffith released her debut album Every Hue and Shade which came out on her own independent label.
When Blix Street Records
based in California were looking for an artist to succeed Ireland's Mary Black
as their main project in the U.S they signed Griffith on a long term recording contract. They revamped her album Every Hue and Shade which became her label debut called Grace. In 1996 Blix Street also licensed the two Connemara recordings for distribution.
Grace completed 2 further albums with Minstrel Song, released in 2000, and followed by Sands of Time in 2003. Her album My Life
in 2006 drew critical acclaim extending beyond her home base of Washington D.C.
Griffith has been called a singer's singer. One of her keen fans of her singing was the late Eva Cassidy
. When Griffith came to know Eva's work, she encouraged Blix Street to sign her as well, which they did just after the release of her album Grace.
Eva Cassidy was first and foremost a music lover sitting in the front row watching her musical heroes perform in Washington. She was also an avid fan of Grace Griffith who spotted Eva’s face at several of her concerts during the late 80’s and early 90’s. Griffith got to hear about Cassidy’s talents and in 1996 made a drive to Potomac to see the then mystery girl at a small club in Alexandria, VA. By this time the Washington Area Association had awarded Grace more than a dozen “Wammies” including “Best Female Vocalist” and “Best Album”. In September 1996 hearing of Eva Cassidy’s illness she went to visit her. Grace made a telephone call to Bill Straw the President of Blix Street Records explaining the situation and two days later Grace sent a tape of Eva’s Live At Blues Alley
album to him. On that tape was a recording of "Fields of Gold" and the rest is history. The song became Cassidy’s big hit in what has become a phenomenal posthumous career.
At the memorial service for Eva at Greenbelt Park
, Griffith performed a haunting Celtic-tinged version of "Golden Thread"
During the next seven years the Eva Cassidy story unfolded whilst Grace Griffith continued to toil in relative obscurity. In one of life’s ironies in 1998 Griffith was diagnosed with the degenerative neurological condition Parkinson’s disease.
It affected her life profoundly but although her voice was affected she could still sing but she had to give up playing whistle, guitar, and dulcimer and relied on musical friends to support her.
At the World Parkinson’s Congress in February 2006 she performed If I Can’t Dance from her album My Life dedicating it to other fellow Parkinson's Disease sufferers.
In 2006 Grace underwent pioneering surgery at Johns Hopkins University Hospital for the implantation of electrodes for Deep Brain Stimulation
. She benefited from the then experimental procedure and has since become an effective speaker and educator on Parkinson’s. Over a period of time as the batteries ran down, her voice diminished. In March 2010, doctors who were not able to assure her of a positive result, changed and upgrading the batteries and it proved successful. Griffith had more energy and more voice.
Grace Griffith sang at the opening of the second World Parkinson Congress
(September 28-October 1, 2010) held in Glasgow, Scotland. Accompanied by Mark Cowan on guitar she performed a traditional tune “The Seasons” (Scots Pastoral song) along with “Sailing” which was a hit for Rod Stewart
. Grace also spoke at a Music & Parkinson’s Disease Workshop on the last day of the event.
On September 28, 2010 Blix Street Records released the compilation album Sailing with the intentions that it would elevate this relatively unknown artist to her rightful place among her peers.
For the week commencing September 3, 2011 Grace’s song My Life was added to the BBC Radio 2 B Playlist.
released on August 6, 1996. It was a re-package of her 13 track independent record called Every Hue and Shade. On this 10 track recording it includes a take of the show tune “Summertime” from the George Gershwin opera Porgy and Bess
and a cover of "Turning Away" written by Scottish singer-songwriter Dougie MacLean
which appeared on his album Indigenous in 1999. It also contains a musical version of the W.B.Yeats poem "The Lake Isle of Innisfree"
("My Life"), Jane Siberry ("Bound By The Beauty"), John Martyn
("May You Never") and Richard Farina
("Swallow Song").
her fourth studio release for Blix Street Records
and was again produced by Chris Biondo, Marcy Marxer and Lenny Williams. It consisted of twelve tracks which are all cover interpretations. The title track My Life was written by Iris Dement
and appeared on her 1994 album My Life.
” was written by Bruce Cockburn
and first appeared in 1979. The tenth track “Sailing/Ships Are Sailing” is a combination of a cover of the 1975 number one hit Sailing for Rod Stewart
and "Ships are Sailing
" the popular traditional Irish Reel.
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
and celtic
Celtic music
Celtic music is a term utilised by artists, record companies, music stores and music magazines to describe a broad grouping of musical genres that evolved out of the folk musical traditions of the Celtic people of Western Europe...
singer based in Washington, DC. She has been honored with multiple Wammie awards
Washington Area Music Awards
The Washington Area Music Awards are a music award for Washington, D.C. area performers, issued by the Washington Area Music Association . The awards are issued at an annual awards program....
by the Washington Area Music Association
Washington Area Music Association
The Washington Area Music Association is a regional music industry not-for-profit organization based in Washington, D.C.. WAMA's activity centers around highlighting the area's cultural contribution by assisting regional musicians with becoming recognized on a national scale.The organization...
. In 1998, she was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
.
Biography
Grace Griffith was raised in a family of ten children on a small farm in Southern MarylandSouthern Maryland
Southern Maryland in popular usage is composed of the state's southernmost counties on the "Western Shore" of the Chesapeake Bay. This region includes all of Calvert, Charles and St. Mary's counties and sometimes the southern portions of Anne Arundel and Prince George's counties.- History...
. At a young age she began singing and accompanying herself on guitar playing in small coffeehouse stages, mentored by her sister Maura. Grace’s parents encouraged her to follow a practical career. Putting her musical hobby to one side she graduated from the University of Maryland
University of Maryland
When the term "University of Maryland" is used without any qualification, it generally refers to the University of Maryland, College Park.University of Maryland may refer to the following:...
in 1978 with a degree in physical therapy and embarked on a career as a physical therapist. Several years after her college studies she was invited to sing for a local Irish band in Washington DC called “The Hags” and toured the college circuit for two years. Her successor in that band was to become the famed singer-songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Mary Chapin Carpenter is an American folk and country music artist. Carpenter spent several years singing in Washington, D.C. clubs before signing in the late 1980s with Columbia Records, who marketed her as a country singer...
.
In 1987 Griffith formed a duo called “Hazlewood” with songwriter Susan Graham White. They produced some independent releases and ultimately appeared at the 1991 Philadelphia Folk Festival
Philadelphia Folk Festival
The Philadelphia Folk Festival is an annual folk music festival near Schwenksville, Pennsylvania in the vicinity of Philadelphia. Begun in 1962, the four-day festival is sponsored by the non-profit Philadelphia Folksong Society. The event hosts contemporary and traditional artists in genres...
.
Returning to her celtic roots Grace formed an East Coast Celtic group called Connemara which she formed with fiddler/arranger Cathy Palmer along with harpist Tracie Brown. They were also joined on the albums by guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Zan McLeod. They released 2 albums, firstly Beyond Horizon in 1993 and Siren Song in 1995.
Other musicians to participate on the projects were harpists Sue Richards, Julia Lane, Carol Thompson and Mary Fitzgerald along with box player Billy McComiskey and Jody Marshall on hammered dulcimer.
In 1993 as a solo artist Griffith released her debut album Every Hue and Shade which came out on her own independent label.
When Blix Street Records
Blix Street Records
Blix Street Records is a United States-based record label located in Gig Harbor, Washington, overseen by president Bill Straw. Blix Street features a diverse group of Instrumental, Vocal, and Celtic albums. Among the more famous artists who have recorded with Blix Street Records are Eva Cassidy,...
based in California were looking for an artist to succeed Ireland's Mary Black
Mary Black
Mary Black is an Irish singer. She is well known as an interpreter of both folk and contemporary material which has made her a major recording artist in her native Ireland, and in many other parts of the world....
as their main project in the U.S they signed Griffith on a long term recording contract. They revamped her album Every Hue and Shade which became her label debut called Grace. In 1996 Blix Street also licensed the two Connemara recordings for distribution.
Grace completed 2 further albums with Minstrel Song, released in 2000, and followed by Sands of Time in 2003. Her album My Life
My Life (Grace Griffith album)
My Life is the fourth studio release for American artist Grace Griffith. The album was released March 14, 2006 on Blix Street Records and was produced by Chris Biondo, Marcy Marxer and Lenny Williams who were long-time associates of Griffith who were the production team behind her previous album...
in 2006 drew critical acclaim extending beyond her home base of Washington D.C.
Griffith has been called a singer's singer. One of her keen fans of her singing was the late Eva Cassidy
Eva Cassidy
Eva Marie Cassidy was an American vocalist known for her interpretations of jazz, blues, folk, gospel, country and pop classics. In 1992 she released her first album, The Other Side, a set of duets with go-go musician Chuck Brown, followed by a live solo album, Live at Blues Alley in 1996...
. When Griffith came to know Eva's work, she encouraged Blix Street to sign her as well, which they did just after the release of her album Grace.
Eva Cassidy was first and foremost a music lover sitting in the front row watching her musical heroes perform in Washington. She was also an avid fan of Grace Griffith who spotted Eva’s face at several of her concerts during the late 80’s and early 90’s. Griffith got to hear about Cassidy’s talents and in 1996 made a drive to Potomac to see the then mystery girl at a small club in Alexandria, VA. By this time the Washington Area Association had awarded Grace more than a dozen “Wammies” including “Best Female Vocalist” and “Best Album”. In September 1996 hearing of Eva Cassidy’s illness she went to visit her. Grace made a telephone call to Bill Straw the President of Blix Street Records explaining the situation and two days later Grace sent a tape of Eva’s Live At Blues Alley
Live at Blues Alley
Live at Blues Alley is an album by American singer Eva Cassidy, originally self released in May, 1996. This live album was recorded at the Blues Alley in January, 1996...
album to him. On that tape was a recording of "Fields of Gold" and the rest is history. The song became Cassidy’s big hit in what has become a phenomenal posthumous career.
"All the colors of the rainbow, all life's palette of beauty and sadness and sweet passion and eternity -- it was all there in that voice that came from that heart and those hands" said Griffith in interview when talking about Eva.
At the memorial service for Eva at Greenbelt Park
Greenbelt Park
Greenbelt Park, located in Greenbelt, Maryland, is managed by the United States National Park Service. The forested park lies approximately 10 miles northeast of Washington, D.C., and is situated just within the Capital Beltway . The park land was originally intended to form part of the green...
, Griffith performed a haunting Celtic-tinged version of "Golden Thread"
During the next seven years the Eva Cassidy story unfolded whilst Grace Griffith continued to toil in relative obscurity. In one of life’s ironies in 1998 Griffith was diagnosed with the degenerative neurological condition Parkinson’s disease.
It affected her life profoundly but although her voice was affected she could still sing but she had to give up playing whistle, guitar, and dulcimer and relied on musical friends to support her.
At the World Parkinson’s Congress in February 2006 she performed If I Can’t Dance from her album My Life dedicating it to other fellow Parkinson's Disease sufferers.
In 2006 Grace underwent pioneering surgery at Johns Hopkins University Hospital for the implantation of electrodes for Deep Brain Stimulation
Deep brain stimulation
Deep brain stimulation is a surgical treatment involving the implantation of a medical device called a brain pacemaker, which sends electrical impulses to specific parts of the brain...
. She benefited from the then experimental procedure and has since become an effective speaker and educator on Parkinson’s. Over a period of time as the batteries ran down, her voice diminished. In March 2010, doctors who were not able to assure her of a positive result, changed and upgrading the batteries and it proved successful. Griffith had more energy and more voice.
Grace Griffith sang at the opening of the second World Parkinson Congress
World Parkinson Congress
The World Parkinson Congress, often referred to as the WPC, is a non-religious, non-political, and non-profit making organisation concerned with the health and welfare of people living with Parkinson's disease and their families and caregivers...
(September 28-October 1, 2010) held in Glasgow, Scotland. Accompanied by Mark Cowan on guitar she performed a traditional tune “The Seasons” (Scots Pastoral song) along with “Sailing” which was a hit for Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
. Grace also spoke at a Music & Parkinson’s Disease Workshop on the last day of the event.
On September 28, 2010 Blix Street Records released the compilation album Sailing with the intentions that it would elevate this relatively unknown artist to her rightful place among her peers.
For the week commencing September 3, 2011 Grace’s song My Life was added to the BBC Radio 2 B Playlist.
Grace
Grace Griffith’s debut album with Blix Street RecordsBlix Street Records
Blix Street Records is a United States-based record label located in Gig Harbor, Washington, overseen by president Bill Straw. Blix Street features a diverse group of Instrumental, Vocal, and Celtic albums. Among the more famous artists who have recorded with Blix Street Records are Eva Cassidy,...
released on August 6, 1996. It was a re-package of her 13 track independent record called Every Hue and Shade. On this 10 track recording it includes a take of the show tune “Summertime” from the George Gershwin opera Porgy and Bess
Porgy and Bess
Porgy and Bess is an opera, first performed in 1935, with music by George Gershwin, libretto by DuBose Heyward, and lyrics by Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward. It was based on DuBose Heyward's novel Porgy and subsequent play of the same title, which he co-wrote with his wife Dorothy Heyward...
and a cover of "Turning Away" written by Scottish singer-songwriter Dougie MacLean
Dougie MacLean
Dougie MacLean OBE is a Scottish singer-songwriter, composer and multi-instrumentalist.His career started with a traditional band, The Tannahill Weavers, in 1976. His solo career started in 1981 and since then he has recorded numerous albums...
which appeared on his album Indigenous in 1999. It also contains a musical version of the W.B.Yeats poem "The Lake Isle of Innisfree"
Minstrel Song
In April 24, 2000 Griffith released this 10 track recording on the Blix Street Record label. It was produced by Grammy Award nominee Marcy Marxer. On this album which was a mixture of traditional and contemporary material Griffith interprets songs with arrangements ranging from sparse guitar and cello accompaniment to lush productions. She covers songs by Iris DementIris DeMent
Iris DeMent is an American singer and songwriter. DeMent's musical style encompasses the genres country and folk music.-Early life:...
("My Life"), Jane Siberry ("Bound By The Beauty"), John Martyn
John Martyn
John Martyn, OBE , born Iain David McGeachy, was a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. Over a forty-year career he released twenty studio albums, working with artists such as Eric Clapton and David Gilmour...
("May You Never") and Richard Farina
Richard Fariña
Richard George Fariña was an American writer and folksinger.-Early years and education:Richard Fariña was born in Brooklyn, New York, of Cuban and Irish descent. He grew up in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn and attended Brooklyn Technical High School...
("Swallow Song").
Sands Of Time
Her third album with Blix Street Records Grace Griffith collaborates with former Eva Cassidy producer/band members, Chris Biondo and Lenny Williams along with Grace’s long time friend producer/instrumentalist Marcy Marxer. It is essential a collection of ballads which includes a cover of “Moment of Forever” written by Kris Kristofferson. The album was dedicated to Eva Cassidy.My Life
On March 14, 2006 Griffith released My LifeMy Life (Grace Griffith album)
My Life is the fourth studio release for American artist Grace Griffith. The album was released March 14, 2006 on Blix Street Records and was produced by Chris Biondo, Marcy Marxer and Lenny Williams who were long-time associates of Griffith who were the production team behind her previous album...
her fourth studio release for Blix Street Records
Blix Street Records
Blix Street Records is a United States-based record label located in Gig Harbor, Washington, overseen by president Bill Straw. Blix Street features a diverse group of Instrumental, Vocal, and Celtic albums. Among the more famous artists who have recorded with Blix Street Records are Eva Cassidy,...
and was again produced by Chris Biondo, Marcy Marxer and Lenny Williams. It consisted of twelve tracks which are all cover interpretations. The title track My Life was written by Iris Dement
Iris DeMent
Iris DeMent is an American singer and songwriter. DeMent's musical style encompasses the genres country and folk music.-Early life:...
and appeared on her 1994 album My Life.
Sailing
On September 28, 2010 Blix Street Records released Sailing which is an 11 track compilation package. The opening track "Wondering Where the Lions AreWondering Where the Lions Are
"Wondering Where the Lions Are" is a song by Bruce Cockburn, from his 1979 album Dancing in the Dragon's Jaws. It was Cockburn's only Top 40 hit in the United States, peaking at No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100....
” was written by Bruce Cockburn
Bruce Cockburn
Bruce Douglas Cockburn OC is a Canadian folk/rock guitarist and singer-songwriter. His most recent album was released in March 2011. He has written songs in styles ranging from folk to jazz-influenced rock to rock and roll.-Biography:...
and first appeared in 1979. The tenth track “Sailing/Ships Are Sailing” is a combination of a cover of the 1975 number one hit Sailing for Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
and "Ships are Sailing
Ships are Sailing
Ships are Sailing is a popular traditional Irish Reel in the key E-dorian which has been popularised by artists such as Tony MacMahon and Gaelic Storm...
" the popular traditional Irish Reel.
Quotes
- "Fans of Southern Maryland-bred singer Grace Griffith consider each of her recordings a blessing, and understandably so. After all, it's not often that one encounters a voice as lovely or as affecting as hers“ - Mike Joyce (Washington Post Reviwer)
- “This is Grace Griffith, wait till you hear this song it’s absolutely beautiful. Tell me what you think of it I’ve only just head it, absolutely stunning". - Michael BallMichael Ball (singer)Michael Ashley Ball, born 27 June 1962) is a British actor, singer, and radio and TV presenter who is best known for the song "Love Changes Everything" and musical theatre roles such as Marius in Les Misérables, Alex in Aspects of Love, Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Edna Turnblad...
(Singer, BBC Radio 2 and TV presenter).
External links
- Official site
- Grace Griffith bio at Blix Street Records