Susan Werner

Susan Werner
Background information
Genres Folk, jazz, gospel
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, musician, songwriter
Instruments vocals, guitar, piano, stompbox, harmonica
Years active 1993–present
Labels Susan Werner, Private Music/BMG, Velvel Records, Koch Records, Sleeve Dog Records
Associated acts Keb Mo
Rodney Crowell
Gail Ann Dorsey
Trina Hamlin
Website www.susanwerner.com

Susan Werner is an American singer-songwriter. Much of Werner's work has been in the contemporary folk genre.

Career

Werner was raised on a farm near Manchester, Iowa. She became interested in music at a young age and went on to receive a bachelor's degree in voice at the University of Iowa. In 1987, she moved to Philadelphia, and soon earned a master's degree in voice at Temple University. Werner initially wanted a career in opera, but after seeing a Nanci Griffith performance became inspired and began composing songs of her own on acoustic guitar.[1]

Performing around Philadelphia, Boston, and New York City, Susan began making a name for herself in the folk scene of the early 1990s. She recorded five albums from 1993 to 2001, and eventually moved to Chicago. Her first five albums were all in the folk genre, but Werner's sixth album, I Can't Be New (2004), was a substantial departure, with original material in the vein of Tin Pan Alley, cabaret, and early jazz torch songs.[2]

Werner's seventh album, The Gospel Truth, was released in March 2007 and addresses themes of religion, faith, social responsibility, as well as religion from an agnostic's point of view.[3] Her eighth album, Live at Club Passim is collection of original songs (gospel, jazz & folk) recorded with her band: Colleen Sexton, Trina Hamlin & bassist Greg Holt. For her ninth album, Classics, she performs pop music from the 1960s and 1970s accompanied by chamber instruments.

In 2010, Tom Jones recorded Susan's song "Did Trouble Me" for his album "Praise and Blame".[4]

Her tenth album, entitled "Kicking the Beehive," was released in March 2011. Produced by Rodney Crowell, it features guest appearances from Vince Gill, Keb' Mo and Paul Franklin.[5][6] Her most recent album, Hayseed, a concept album about "farms, farmers, and the people who love them" was released in the summer of 2013.[7]

Werner branched out to write the music and lyrics for a musical based on the film Bull Durham, which premiered in Atlanta's Alliance Theatre on September 3, 2014.[8]

In 2017 Werner released "An American In Havana," featuring songs written during two trips to Cuba in 2015 and 2016. [9]

Discography

References

  1. ↑ Susan Werner Biography
  2. ↑ Susan Werner: Giving New Songs an Old Vibe Archived November 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
  3. ↑ Interview With Susan Werner: Susan Werner Talks About The Gospel Truth
  4. ↑ Tom Jones has recorded Susan's Werners classic song 'Did Trouble Me'
  5. ↑ New Susan Werner CD Set For Release Archived November 24, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ↑ Kicking the Beehive page on SusanWerner.com Archived May 25, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ↑ "Susan Werner". Susan Werner. Retrieved 2013-04-26.
  8. ↑ "Bull Durham Musical Eyes Broadway Run". May 12, 2014. Retrieved 2014-09-30.
  9. ↑ {{cite web|url=http://www.susanwerner.com/music
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