Emmylou Harris Prepares for European, North American Tour : June 01, 2011

Following a quick jaunt in Europe, the legendary Emmylou Harris will be returning for a summer tour of North America in support of her newly released album “Hard Bargai [...]

emmylou harris Biography

Emmylou Harris, the American musician and singer-songwriter, was born in Birmingham, Alabama on April 2, 1947. In addition to working as a bandleader and solo artist, Harris is also a highly sought-after duet partner and backing vocalist. She has worked with a number of artists, including Neil Young, Rodney Crowell, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Guy Clark, Mark Knopfler, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Gram Parsons.

Harris recorded “Gliding Bird,” her first album, in 1969 while living in New York after leaving college. She was introduced to Gram Parsons and in 1973 toured with him and worked on “Grevious Angel,” a studio album. The set was released in 1974 posthumously, after Parson’s accidental death in September 1973 due to an overdose of alcohol and drugs. Parsons introduced Harris to country music and left a lasting effect on her own musical identity.

Harris signed with Reprise Records in 1975 and released “Pieces of the Sky,” her debut album with a major label. The album was certified Gold as were her next six studio albums. All the songs on the 1985 concept album “The Ballad of Sally Rose” were written or co-written by Harris. In 1987 the collaborative album with Linda Ronstadt and Dolly Parton, “Trio,” was released. The set went Platinum in the U.S. and their followup “Trio 2” released in 1999 was certified Gold. Harris' 1995 album “Wrecking Ball” won widespread critical acclaim, including the Best Contemporary Folk Recording Grammy award. The latest release from Emmylou Harris, “Hard Bargain,” was released in 2011 and is one of Harris' highest charting albums ever. Harris has released 26 studio albums, 11 compilation albums, 3 live albums, 70 singles and sold over 5.5 million records.