Tracy Chapman was born on March 30, 1964. She is an American singer and songwriter. The songs that made her famous include Fast Car, Talkin ” bout a Revolution, Baby Can I Hold You, Crossroads, Give Me One Reason and Telling Stories.
Tracy was born in Ohio and raised by her mother who later became aware of her son’s musical talent. At the age of three, her mother bought her a ukulele.
At the age of eight, she began playing guitar and writing songs. She was inspired to play guitar because she watched the HEE HAW series. She attended Epistocal High School and received the A Better Chance program, a program designed for minority students. Then he graduated from Tufts University and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and African Studies.
Now, she lives in San Francisco. Besides music, she is also called a musician who cares about social and political life. She was asked to participate in fundraising events. A song in 1988 titled Talkin ” Bout A Revolution voiced about injustice, Fast Car about poverty.
Not only through lyrics, she also participated in the celebration of the 70th anniversary of Nelson Mandela, where in the event the money collected later will be donated to the Anti-Apartis Movement in South Africa. In 2004, she also took part in AIDSLifeCycle activities.
CAREER
During college, Tracy had often demonstrated singing skills and played guitar in cafes and clubs. Until one day, Brian Koppelman, heard Tracy in action and introduced him to his father, Charles Koppelman, owner of SBK Records. Then, in 1986, she signed a contract with SBK.
In 1987, Charles helped Tracy get a contract with Elektra Records. A year later she released her first album, TRACY CHAPMAN. The album received a lot of criticism but she started to make a tour. The Fast Fast single was welcomed in the United States when he performed the song on the 70th anniversary of Nelson Mandela which was aired on television.
Her album got platinum several times, he also won Grammy Awards for three categories. The next album, CROSSROADS was released a year later. Not as successful as her first album, but still gets platinum.
In 1992, she released the album MATTERS OF THE HEART. NEW BEGINNING in 1995, got a good response and sold more than 3 million copies throughout the United States. Five years later, her fifth album, TELLING STORIES, reached Europe and was again successful. In 2003, he toured Europe and the United States while promoting her sixth album, LET IT RAIN.
In 2005, again she toured for her sixth album WHERE YOU LIVE. The tour was extended to 2006. Her last album, OUR BRIGHT FUTURE was released in 2008. She again toured in several cities in Europe and North America along with Joe Gore on guitar, Patrick Warren on keyboard and Dawn Richardson on percussion.