

Like its predecessor the album earned strong reviews and spawned the Grammy-nominated single “I Don’t Know Why”. Colvin’s sophomore album, “Fat City”, arrived in 1992, featuring more distinguishable pop sensibilities. The album, with backup vocals provided by Suzanne Vega, was well-received and won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album. With major label backing the singer released her debut album “Steady On” in 1989. After contributing to off-broadway shows including “Diamond Studs” and “Pump Boys and Dinettes”, and featuring in Fast Folk magazine, producer Steve Addabbo enlisted her vocals talents to sing backup to the Suzanne Vega song “Luka”.Ĭolvin subsequently began a fruitful working relationship with John Leventhal, who together produced a live tape, which earned the attention of Columbia Records. By this time Colvin was becoming a recognised and respected folk singer aided by her involvement in the Fast Folk cooperative of Greenwich Village. In 1980 Colvin moved to New York City and became a member of the Buddy Miller Band, which after Buddy Miller’s departure became, The Shawn Colvin Band.

The singer subsequently joined both the Illinois and Berkeley, California folk circuits before taking a hiatus to allow her strained voice to repair itself. Having been raised in London, Ontario, Canada, and Carbondale, Illinois, U.S., to pursue her music Colvin moved to Austin, Texas and joined the Western swing band the Dixie Diesels. Growing up on a musical diet of the likes of Peter Seeger and the Kingston Trio, Shawn Colvin learned to play the guitar at the age of 10.
