Shawn Colvin

Shawn Colvin (born January 10, 1956 in Vermillion, South Dakota) is an American musician.

Childhood and early career

Colvin's formative years were spent in the town of Carbondale, Illinois. She learned to play guitar at the age of 10. Her first public concert was at age 15 at the University of Illinois campus. Colvin cites Joni Mitchell as a primary influence on her music, and her initial performances closely mirrored Mitchell's inflections and guitar tunings.

Career

Colvin began working in the music scene in earnest in the late 1970's, first in Austin, Texas and then nationally. She met music partner John Leventhal during this time; Leventhal would go on to be Colvin's producer on several albums.

Colvin's first several albums were met with critical acclaim, but did not sell in substantial numbers. After several albums of original work, Colvin released "Cover Girl", a collection of cover songs, but the work was a departure for her and was not well received.

Colvin experienced breakthrough success with A Few Small Repairs in 1995. The single "Sunny Came Home" reached the US Top Ten, and won Grammy Awards for Song and Record of the Year. She has released several subsequent albums that were nominated for Grammys, and has also released a greatest-hits album and a collection of Christmas music.

A new album from Colvin is slated for release in September 2006.

She was the guest vocal artist on the Lisa Loeb single Falling in Love as well as appearing at various Lilith Fair music festivals. She also has been featured on the popular live music show Austin City Limits and played at the 2003 Austin City Limits Music Festival. She also appeared in a tribute to her idol Joni Mitchell in 2001 that was broadcast on the cable network TNT.

Personal life

Colvin lives with her daughter, Caledonia, in Austin, Texas, and still participates in the Austin music scene. Colvin is single.

She supports liberal causes and has played benefit concerts for candidates of the Democratic Party.

Awards and acclaim

Grammy Awards
- 1991: Best Contemporary Folk Album - Steady On
- 1998: Record of the Year - "Sunny Came Home"
- 1998: Song of the Year - "Sunny Came Home"

Grammy Nominations
- 1994: Best Contemporary Folk Recording - Fat City
- 1994: Best Female Pop Vocal Performance - "I Don't Know Why"
- 1995: Best Contemporary Folk Album - Cover Girl
- 1997: Best Pop Album - A Few Small Repairs
- 1997: Best Female Pop Vocal Performance - "Get Out Of This House"
- 1998: Best Female Pop Vocal Performance - "Sunny Came Home"

New York Music Award
- 1989: Best Debut Female Vocalist

Discography

These Four Walls - Nonesuch, 2006
Polaroids: A Greatest Hits Collection - Columbia, 2004
Whole New You - Columbia, 2001
Live '88 - Plump, 1998
Holiday Songs And Lullabies - Columbia, 1998
A Few Small Repairs - Columbia, 1996
Cover Girl - Columbia, 1994
Every Little Thing (He) Does Is.. - Columbia, 1994
I Don't Know Why - Columbia, 1993
Fat City - Columbia, 1992
Steady On - Columbia, 1989

Singles

Year	Title	Chart positions				Album
Year	Title	US Hot 100	US Modern Rock	US Mainstream Rock	UK	Album
1990	"Steady On"	-	#23	-	-	Steady On
1997	"Sunny Came Home"	#7	-	-	#29	A Few Small Repairs

References

RockOntheNet.com, http://www.rockonthenet.com/artists-c/shawncolvin_main.htm
Launch.com, http://launch.yahoo.com/artist/default.asp?artistID=1005640
ShawnColvin.com, http://www.shawncolvin.com/
Shawn Colvin bio, http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/colvin_shawn/bio.jhtml
Shawn Colvin Internet Movie Database Entry