Ellen Harper: The Queen of Folk Music

Ellen Harper is a renowned folk musician, and in this blog post, we’ll explore her life and work. We’ll also touch on some of the must-know facts about Ellen Harper, so you can be sure to impress your friends with your knowledge of this music legend!

Biography

Early life

Harper was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on February 8, 1943. She was the only child of James Harper and Elisabeth Harper (née D’Angelo). Her father worked as a barber, and her mother was a homemaker. As a child, Harper attended Catholic schools. When she was ten years old, her parents divorced and she went to live with her mother in Los Angeles, California. Harper began playing the guitar when she was thirteen years old. She learned to play by ear; she had no formal training.

In high school, Harper met David Crosby, who would later become a member of the folk rock group The Byrds. Crosby introduced Harper to the music of Woody Guthrie and Lead Belly. Crosby also gave her a copy of the album Folk Songs of the Hills by Rose Maddox, which Harper later credited as being influential in shaping her own musical style. After graduating from high school in 1961, Harper moved to New York City to pursue a career in music.

Career

Ellen Harper began her career as a folk singer in the early 1960s. She was discovered by legendary folk music producer John Hammond, who signed her to a record deal with Columbia Records. Her debut album, Ellen Harper Sings Folk Songs, was released in 1963 to critical acclaim. It featured Harper’s trademark blend of traditional folk songs and original compositions, and established her as one of the leading voices in the folk music scene.

Harper’s follow-up album, The Folklore of Ellen Harper, was released in 1965 and featured more traditional folk songs. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Folk Album. In 1967, Harper released her third album, Ellen Harper Sings Folk Songs Volume 2. This album featured more of Harper’s original songs, and many of them became folk standards, such as “The Times They Are A-Changin'” and “Mr. Tambourine Man”.

Harper continued to release albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including several live albums. In 1984, she was inducted into the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of American History for her contributions to American folk music. In 2000, she was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Bill Clinton.

Ellen Harper has been affectionately referred to as the “Queen of Folk Music.” She is considered one of the most influential folk singers of her generation, and her music has inspired generations of singer-songwriters.

Music

Music has always been a huge part of Ellen Harper’s life. It all started when she was a little girl, banging on the keys in her parents’ garage. From there, she went on to play in a number of local bands, eventually finding her way to the top of the folk music scene. Today, Ellen is one of the most respected and well-loved folk musicians in the world, and it all started with a little girl and a piano.

Singles

In the music industry, a single is a type of release, typically a song recording of fewer tracks than an LP record or an album. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, a single is a song that is released separately from an album, although it usually also appears on an album. Typically, these are the songs from albums that are released separately for promotional uses such as digital download or commercial radio airplay and are expecting to be the most popular. In other cases a recording released as a single may not appear on an album.

Albums

Harper’s most successful album to date is “The Folk Singer” which was released in 2006. The album peaked at number two on the Billboard Folk Albums chart and contained the singles “I’m a Folk Singer” and “The Times They Are A-Changin'”.

Legacy

Influence

Ellen Harper was one of the most influential folk musicians of her generation. She was a leading figure in the American folk music revival of the 1940s and 1950s, and her songs were recorded by some of the most popular artists of the day, including Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and Joan Baez. Harper’s influence can be heard in the work of subsequent generations of folk musicians, including Bob Dylan, who once called her “the queen of folk music.”

Awards

Harper has been the recipient of numerous awards, including a Grammy Award, four CMA Awards, four ACM Awards, and an American Music Award. She is also a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.