Image: courtesy of Google free pics; information sources: Wikipedia and other internet biographies.
Many thanks to Jesse James Doty for his subject introduction and also his contribution.
Song titles have been used for the poetic purpose of the biography and may not necessarily relate to the context of the songs or the period. They may also be slightly amended or shortened to accommodate the meter.
Dates in brackets refer to original release of singles/albums.
Thank you for your kind understanding.

Stanza 1: Spider Web (1995)
Born in 1962 in Anchorage, Kentucky and raised a Roman Catholic, she distanced herself from that religion after telling her parents she wanted to become a priest, only to discover that her gender denied her this ambition. She subsequently set her sights on acting.

Stanza 2: Ladder (1997)
She moved to NYC in the late 80s to study filmmaking at New York University. In character with her independent drive, she raised the fees by singing in local clubs, immersing herself in the live music scene and forming a band.

Stanza 3: Relish (1995 debut studio album)
Billie Holiday, otherwise known as Lady Day was an African-American jazz singer with a career spanning over 30 years.
Walt Whitman, American poet, essayist and journalist (1819-1892).

Stanza 4: One of Us (1995, written by Eric Bazilian of The Hooters)
This song was her debut single and became a hit around the world. It deals with belief in the various aspects of an anthropomorphic God, inviting the listener to consider the divine within the mundane. "A simple, direct statement of faith, honest and unadorned..."
By this time, she had invested her amassed funds into her own record label Womanly Hips Records.

Stanza 5: Flyaway (1996); Dreamin' about the Day (1996).
As an adult, she regards herself as sceptical of large-scale, organised religion and regards herself as a "spiritual person," directly influenced by Buddhism and Christianity.

Stanza 6: Righteous Love (2000 2nd studio album); Nobody Owns You (2023)

Stanza 7: Fingerprints (1996) Trouble and Strife (2020 10th studio album)
She has a special connection with Brooklyn, most notably the neighbourhood of Boerum Hill where the influence of culture, history and society is to be found extensively in her songwriting. She has a long history of political activism, in particular with Planned Federation of Parenthood of America as well as Rock the Vote. She has also supported the following charities: The Michael J Fox Foundation, War Child, V-Day, Playing for Change Foundation.

Stanza 8: Broken Wings (2012 CD track listing)
She continues to perform, record and produce albums as well as tour and headline events. She lives with her daughter (born in 2004) and partner in Brooklyn, New York.

You need to login or register to write reviews. It's quick! We only ask four questions to new members.