Rod Picott
Encyclopedia
Rod Picott is a singer-songwriter
whose music incorporates elements of Americana, alt-country, and folk
. He grew up in New Hampshire
, but relocated to Nashville, Tennessee
in 1994. After several years of playing local clubs and supporting such acts as Alison Krauss
, he released his first album in 2001. As of 2008, he has released five studio albums and one live recording.
, but grew up in South Berwick, Maine
, where he played in various local bands. After a period living in Boulder, Colorado
, where he busked and studied the art of songwriting, Picott moved to Nashville, Tennessee
in 1994, where he spent a number of years playing local clubs. He began to make a name for himself as a songwriter, which grew when he co-wrote a song on Fred Eaglesmith
's album 50 Odd Dollars.
In 1998 he signed a deal with the management company operated by Denise Stiff
, who also managed Alison Krauss
. He initially worked as the driver of Krauss's merchandise truck, but was called upon to fill in when an opening act was needed, which led to a series of support slots with Krauss.
Picott finally released his own debut album in 2001. Tiger Tom Dixon's Blues was named after his great-uncle, a boxer during the Great Depression
, and featured his version of "Broke Down", a song he co-wrote with long-time friend Slaid Cleaves
. A year later he released the follow-up disc Stray Dogs. Two years later he released his third disc, Girl from Arkansas. In 2005 he released a live album Travel Log that featured his friend, dobro-player Matt Mauch.
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
whose music incorporates elements of Americana, alt-country, and folk
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....
. He grew up in New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, but relocated to Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
in 1994. After several years of playing local clubs and supporting such acts as Alison Krauss
Alison Krauss
Alison Maria Krauss is an American bluegrass-country singer, songwriter and fiddler. She entered the music industry at an early age, winning local contests by the age of ten and recording for the first time at fourteen. She signed with Rounder Records in 1985 and released her first solo album in...
, he released his first album in 2001. As of 2008, he has released five studio albums and one live recording.
Career
Picott was born in New HampshireNew Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, but grew up in South Berwick, Maine
South Berwick, Maine
South Berwick is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 7,220 at the 2010 census. South Berwick is home to Berwick Academy, a private, co-educational university-preparatory day school founded in 1791...
, where he played in various local bands. After a period living in Boulder, Colorado
Boulder, Colorado
Boulder is the county seat and most populous city of Boulder County and the 11th most populous city in the U.S. state of Colorado. Boulder is located at the base of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of...
, where he busked and studied the art of songwriting, Picott moved to Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
in 1994, where he spent a number of years playing local clubs. He began to make a name for himself as a songwriter, which grew when he co-wrote a song on Fred Eaglesmith
Fred Eaglesmith
Frederick John Elgersma , known by the stage name Fred Eaglesmith, is a Canadian alternative country singer-songwriter, one of nine children raised by a farming family in rural Southern Ontario. As a teenager Eaglesmith hopped a freight train out to Western Canada, and began writing songs and...
's album 50 Odd Dollars.
In 1998 he signed a deal with the management company operated by Denise Stiff
Denise Stiff
Denise Stiff is a manager of contemporary musicians. She is the long-time manager of Alison Krauss and was Gillian Welch's manager. She also served as Executive Music Producer for the 2000 film O Brother, Where Art Thou.-References:...
, who also managed Alison Krauss
Alison Krauss
Alison Maria Krauss is an American bluegrass-country singer, songwriter and fiddler. She entered the music industry at an early age, winning local contests by the age of ten and recording for the first time at fourteen. She signed with Rounder Records in 1985 and released her first solo album in...
. He initially worked as the driver of Krauss's merchandise truck, but was called upon to fill in when an opening act was needed, which led to a series of support slots with Krauss.
Picott finally released his own debut album in 2001. Tiger Tom Dixon's Blues was named after his great-uncle, a boxer during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, and featured his version of "Broke Down", a song he co-wrote with long-time friend Slaid Cleaves
Slaid Cleaves
Slaid Cleaves is a singer-songwriter born in Washington, D.C. and raised in South Berwick, Maine and Round Pond, Maine. An alumnus of Tufts University, where he majored in English and philosophy, Cleaves lives in Austin, Texas....
. A year later he released the follow-up disc Stray Dogs. Two years later he released his third disc, Girl from Arkansas. In 2005 he released a live album Travel Log that featured his friend, dobro-player Matt Mauch.
Albums
- Tiger Tom Dixon's Blues (2001)
- Stray Dogs (2002)
- Girl From Arkansas (2004)
- Travel Log Volume One (2005)
- Summerbirds (2007)
- Sew Your Heart With Wires (2008, with Amanda Shires)
- Tiger Tom Dixon's Blues 10th Year Anniversary Acoustic Edition (2010)
- Welding Burns (2011)