Tift Merritt

Last updated

Tift Merritt
TiftMerritt.jpg
Merritt on stage in Silk Hope, NC in 2007.
Background information
Birth nameCatherine Tift Merritt [1]
Born (1975-01-08) January 8, 1975 (age 49) [2]
Houston, Texas
Origin Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • songwriter
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • keyboards
  • piano
  • harmonica
Years active1998–present
Labels
Website tiftmerritt.com

Catherine Tift Merritt (born January 8, 1975) is an American singer-songwriter and musician. She has released seven studio albums, two for Lost Highway Records, two for Fantasy Records, and three for Yep Roc Records.

Contents

Early life and education

Merritt was born in Houston and grew up in Raleigh. [2] She credits her father's eclectic taste in music as a major influence. [3] At the age of 20, Merritt enrolled at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to study creative writing. [4]

Career

Merritt joined a band called the Carbines and played small clubs in the cities of Chapel Hill and Raleigh. [5] In 1998, the band released a 7-inch single, "Jukejoint Girl," and in 1999 the album The Two Dollar Pistols with Tift Merritt on Yep Roc Records. [6]

In 2000, Merritt won the MerleFest's Chris Austin Songwriting Contest [7] and in 2002 released her debut album, Bramble Rose . The record landed on the top ten lists for both Time and The New Yorker , and was called the best debut of the year by the Associated Press . [8] While touring to promote Bramble Rose, Merritt opened for fellow North Carolinian Ryan Adams, who had helped her secure her first management and record contracts. [9]

Her follow-up release, 2004's Tambourine , was produced by George Drakoulias and featured backing by Benmont Tench, Mike Campbell, Neal Casal and Don Heffington.[ citation needed ] The album was nominated for a best country album Grammy Award in 2004. [10] She was nominated for Americana Music Association: Album of the Year, Artist of the Year, and Song of the Year in 2005 [11] Merritt's performance on Austin City Limits was released as a DVD on New West Records. [12] A sold-out concert at the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh, North Carolina, was released under the title Home Is Loud that same year. [13]

Another Country

Released on Fantasy Records in 2008, Another Country featured guitarist Charlie Sexton. Merritt wrote the album in a Paris apartment. [14] [15] Paste magazine gave the album a four-star review. [16] The song "Broken" was nominated for an Americana Music Award for Song of the Year. [17] [18] [19] While touring England, Merritt recorded the album Buckingham Solo, which was released on Fantasy Records in April 2009.[ citation needed ]

Merritt on stage in Seattle in 2010 Tift Merritt cs.jpg
Merritt on stage in Seattle in 2010

Her EP, Please Break the Silence of the Middle of the Night, was released later in 2008.[ citation needed ]

Merritt has been the opening act for Joan Baez, [20] Kris Kristofferson, [21] and sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" for then-Senator Barack Obama at his last campaign rally. [22]

See You on the Moon

Merritt's album, See You on the Moon, was released in June 2010 on Fantasy Records. [23] [24]

Traveling Alone, Merritt's first album on Yep Roc Records, was released in October 2012.[ citation needed ]

Reception

Merrit's sound has been described as "sonic short stories and poignant performances." [25] She has been compared to artists like Joni Mitchell [26] and Emmylou Harris. [27]

A review in The New Yorker praised her [27] and The Wall Street Journal included her in a weekend feature on singer-songwriters, describing her as "in the tradition of Joni Mitchell, James Taylor and Leonard Cohen". [26]

Personal life

In 2009, Merritt married Zeke Hutchins. [28] They separated in late 2013. [29] In 2016, she and Eric Heywood had a daughter named Jean. [30]

Discography

Studio albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positionsSales
US Country
[31]
US
[32]
US Heat
[33]
US Indie
[34]
US Folk
[35]
Bramble Rose 47
Tambourine
  • Release date: August 24, 2004
  • Label: Lost Highway Records
21
Another Country 1561
See You on the Moon
  • Release date: June 1, 2010
  • Label: Fantasy Records
67
Traveling Alone104612
Night (with Simone Dinnerstein)
Traveling Companion (Traveling Alone expanded version)
  • Release date: October 2013
  • Label: Yep Roc Records
Stitch of the World
  • Release date: January 27, 2017
  • Label: Yep Roc Records
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Live albums

TitleAlbum details
Home Is Loud
  • Release date: 2005
  • Label: RCAM
Buckingham Solo
  • Release date: June 23, 2009
  • Label: Vella Recordings
Love Soldiers On (Concert at the Historic Playmakers Theatre)

Extended plays

TitleAlbum details
The Two Dollar Pistols with Tift Merritt
Please Break the Silence of the
Middle of the Night
  • Release date: September 16, 2008
  • Label: Fantasy Records
Sweet Spot
  • Release date: January 24, 2012
  • Label: Yep Roc

Singles

YearSinglePeak positionsAlbum
US AAA
[37]
US Country
[38]
2002"Neighborhood" [39] Bramble Rose
2004"Good Hearted Man"60Tambourine
"Stray Paper" [40]
2008"Broken"28Another Country
2010"Mixtape" [41] See You on the Moon
2012"To Myself" [42] Traveling Alone
2016"Dusty Old Man" [43] Stitch of the World
2017"Proclamation Bones" [44]
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Music videos

YearVideoDirector
2002"Virginia, No One Can Warn You"Douglas Avery [45]
2004"Good Hearted Man" Philip Andelman [46]
2008"Broken"Martyn Atkins [47]
2010"Engine to Turn"John Hulme [48]
2013"Only in Songs / Night and Dreams"

Appears on

Awards and nominations

YearAssociationCategoryResult
2004 47th Grammy Awards Country Album of the Year – TambourineNominated
2005 Americana Music Association Album of the Year – TambourineNominated
Artist of the YearNominated
Song of the Year – "Good Hearted Man"Nominated
2008 Americana Music Association Song of the Year – "Broken"Nominated

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kathleen Edwards</span> Canadian singer-songwriter and musician

Kathleen Margaret Edwards is a Canadian singer-songwriter and musician. Her 2002 debut album, Failer, contained the singles "Six O'Clock News" and "Hockey Skates". Her next two albums – Back to Me and Asking for Flowers – both made the Billboard 200 list and reached the top 10 of Billboard's Top Heatseekers chart. In 2012, Edwards' fourth studio album, Voyageur, became Edwards' first album to crack the top 100 and top 40 in the U.S., peaking at #39 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and #2 in Canada. In 2012, Edwards' song "A Soft Place To Land" won the SOCAN Songwriting Prize, an annual competition that honours the best song written and released by 'emerging' songwriters over the past year, as voted by the public. Her musical sound has been compared to Suzanne Vega meets Neil Young.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rodney Crowell</span> American musician

Rodney Crowell is an American musician, known primarily for his work as a singer and songwriter in country music. Crowell has had five number one singles on Hot Country Songs, all from his 1988 album Diamonds & Dirt. He has also written songs and produced for other artists.

"Jambalaya (On the Bayou)" is a song written and recorded by American country music singer Hank Williams that was first released in July 1952. It is Williams' most recorded song. Named for a Creole and Cajun dish, jambalaya, it spawned numerous recordings and has since achieved popularity in several different music genres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caitlin Cary</span> American musician

Caitlin Cary is an alternative country musician and visual artist from Seville, Ohio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yep Roc Records</span> American independent record label

Yep Roc Records is an American independent record label based in Hillsborough, North Carolina, and owned by Redeye Distribution. Since 1997, the label has released albums from North Carolina and international artists, including Fountains of Wayne, Nick Lowe, Paul Weller, Mandolin Orange, Steep Canyon Rangers, Jim Lauderdale, Dave Alvin, Tift Merritt, Chuck Prophet, Robyn Hitchcock, Alejandro Escovedo, Aoife O'Donovan, Chatham County Line, Los Straitjackets, Amy Helm, Gang of Four, The Apples in Stereo, and Ian McLagan.

<i>Emitt Rhodes</i> (album) 1970 studio album by Emitt Rhodes

Emitt Rhodes is the second album by Emitt Rhodes, released in 1970, although it is generally considered to be his debut album, as The American Dream was a contractual obligation, released without Rhodes' input.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neal Casal</span> American musician

Neal Graeme Casal was an American guitarist, singer, songwriter and photographer. First rising to prominence as lead guitar with Rickey Medlocke's Blackfoot from 1988 to 1993, he was also known as a member of Ryan Adams' backing band the Cardinals from 2005 until 2009, with whom he recorded three studio albums. He played in several groups, including the Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Hard Working Americans, Beachwood Sparks, The Skiffle Players, GospelbeacH and Circles Around the Sun– and released twelve albums as a solo artist.

<i>Bramble Rose</i> 2002 studio album by Tift Merritt

Bramble Rose is the debut album by alternative country artist Tift Merritt. It was released on Lost Highway Records in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chatham County Line</span> American bluegrass musical group

Chatham County Line aka "CCL" is an American Americana musical group. Formed in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1999 from members of the band Stillhouse, the band has released ten albums on the Yep Roc label, and have become popular in Europe as well as their native United States.

<i>Another Country</i> (Tift Merritt album) 2008 studio album by Tift Merritt

Another Country is a studio album by singer-songwriter Tift Merritt. It was recorded in the summer of 2007, produced in L.A. by George Drakoulias, and released on February 26, 2008, by Fantasy Records. For her third album, Tift Merritt took hiatus with a piano in Paris and came home with her most personal and powerful songs to date. Merritt has described the writing as a plainspoken look at the distance we all attempt to cross: between two people, between one heart and the rest of the world.

"Danny's Song" is a song written by American singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins, as a gift for his brother Danny for the birth of his son, Colin. It first appeared on an album by Gator Creek and a year later on the album Sittin' In, the debut album by Loggins and Messina. The song is well remembered for both the Loggins and Messina original, as well as for Anne Murray's 1972 top-ten-charting cover.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarah Jarosz</span> American musician

Sarah Ellen Jarosz is an American singer-songwriter from Wimberley, Texas. Her debut studio album, Song Up in Her Head, was released in 2009 and the song "Mansinneedof" was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of Best Country Instrumental Performance. Her second studio album, Follow Me Down, released in 2011, received a Song of the Year nomination from the Americana Music Association's 2012 Honors and Awards. Her third studio album, Build Me Up from Bones, was released on September 24, 2013 through Sugar Hill Records. Build Me Up from Bones was nominated for Best Folk Album at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, and its title track was nominated for Best American Roots Song. In 2016, Jarosz released her fourth studio album, Undercurrent. The album won two Grammy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thad Cockrell</span> American singer-songwriter

Thad Aaron Cockrell is an American singer-songwriter. He has released five solo albums, along with a collaborative album with Caitlin Cary and two albums with LEAGUES. Cockrell often writes emotional songs with the intent of inclusion.

Jonah Tolchin is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and New Jersey native. He performed at the Newport Folk Festival in 2012. Tolchin released his first full-length album, Criminal Man, independently in 2012. He is currently signed to Yep Roc Records through which he has released two albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Watchhouse</span> American folk duo

Watchhouse is an Americana/folk duo based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The group was formed in 2009 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and consists of songwriter Andrew Marlin and Emily Frantz, who are married to each other. Watchhouse has produced six albums of Marlin's original works of American roots music. In the last three years, the group has toured throughout the U.S and Europe, including appearances at Austin City Limits, South by Southwest, Edmonton Folk Music Festival, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Newport Folk Festival, Philadelphia Folk Festival, Pickathon, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Rooster Walk, MerleFest, and the Omagh Bluegrass Festival. Watchhouse was the featured artist on CBS This Morning's Saturday Morning Sessions on December 7, 2019.

<i>Bobby Fuller Died for Your Sins</i> 2017 studio album by Chuck Prophet

Bobby Fuller Died for Your Sins is an album by recording artist and singer-songwriter Chuck Prophet. It was released on February 10, 2017, on Yep Roc Records. Chuck Prophet has described the album as "California Noir", elaborating: "the state has always represented the Golden Dream, and it's the tension between romance and reality that lurks underneath the surface in all noir films and paperbacks, and that connects these songs. Doomed love, inconsolable loneliness, rags to riches to rags again, and fast-paced violence are always on the menu on the Left Coast." The title of the album refers to the mystery long surrounding Bobby Fuller, a well regarded musician in the mid-1960s. Fuller was found dead in his car, which was parked outside of his Hollywood apartment, in July 1966. Fuller was 23 years old. His death was ruled a suicide, but the circumstances of his death remain controversial.

<i>Undress</i> (The Felice Brothers album) 2019 studio album by The Felice Brothers

Undress is a studio album by the American band The Felice Brothers. It was released on May 3, 2019, by Yep Roc Records.

<i>Be Still Moses</i> 2020 studio album by Steep Canyon Rangers

Be Still Moses is the 12th studio album by American bluegrass band Steep Canyon Rangers. The North Carolina label, Yep Roc Records, released the album digitally on March 6, 2020, then on CD and LP on April 10, 2020. The album was made in collaboration with the Asheville Symphony. The album's title track, "Be Still Moses," features the Philadelphia R&B/Soul group Boyz II Men. Be Still Moses reached #1 on Billboard's Bluegrass Chart, #2 on the Classical Crossover Chart, and #8 on the Americana/Folk Chart.

<i>North Carolina Songbook</i> 2019 live album by Steep Canyon Rangers

North Carolina Songbook is the 11th album from American bluegrass band Steep Canyon Rangers. The album was released on Yep Roc Records on November 29, 2019, for Record Store Day/Black Friday. The digital and wide releases for North Carolina Songbook came on April 10, 2020. album debuted at #1 on the Billboard Bluegrass Albums Chart. It also reached #9 on the Americana/Folk Albums chart, #22 on the Current Country Albums chart, #29 on the Record Label Independent Albums chart, and #119 on the Top Current Albums chart. North Carolina Songbook was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album in March 2021.

<i>Lay It on Me</i> (EP) 2020 EP by Nick Lowe

Lay It On Me is an EP by British singer-songwriter Nick Lowe. It is the third consecutive Nick Lowe EP to feature label-mates, Los Straitjackets, as his backing band. The EP was released through Yep Roc Records on June 5, 2020. Lay It On Me reached number 37 on Billboard's Americana/Folk Albums chart.

References

  1. Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 275. ISBN   978-0-89820-177-2.
  2. 1 2 Deming, Mark. "Tift Merritt: Biography". AllMusic . Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  3. "Interview: Tift Merritt brings soulful rock to Louisville's Waterfront Wednesday [Music". Louisville.com. July 21, 2010. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
  4. Archived July 11, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  5. Kast, Sheilah. "Tift Merritt Performs in NPR's Studio 4A". NPR. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
  6. "Yep Roc Records > Store". Store.yeproc.com. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
  7. Merlefest's Chris Austin Songwriting Contest Winners Archived July 24, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  8. "Product Categories". Grand Central Music. Archived from the original on March 11, 2012. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
  9. Harrington, Richard (April 15, 2005). "Start of rightcontent.inc". The Washington Post.
  10. Kast, Sheilah (November 7, 2004). "'Tambourine,' Tift Merritt's 'Rock Soul Throwdown'". NPR. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
  11. "Tift Merritt". ABC Country. August 24, 2009. Archived from the original on May 5, 2012. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
  12. "Live From Austin TX: Tift Merritt: Tift Merritt: Movies & TV". Amazon. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
  13. "Blue Rose Records". Bluerose-records.de. Archived from the original on April 11, 2012. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
  14. Franco, Michael (February 25, 2008). "I Felt Like Another Country Myself: An Interview with Tift Merritt < PopMatters". Popmatters.com. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
  15. Pareles, Jon (November 9, 2007). "A Tribute to Bob Dylan, Both Reverent and Rowdy". The New York Times.
  16. "See You on the Moon" (PDF). Concordmusicgroup.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 29, 2012. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
  17. "Americana Music Awards – Nominees for the 2008 Americana Music Association Honors and Awards". Folkmusic.about.com. September 18, 2008. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
  18. "Edmonton Folk Music Festival/Festival Archive". Official Website. Edmonton Folk Music Festival. 2010. pp. Festival Archive/Past Performers 2009 (M). Archived from the original on December 14, 2010. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
  19. "Blitzen Trapper adds dates to summer outing". Livedaily.com. May 14, 2010. Archived from the original on May 28, 2010. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
  20. "Joan Baez Appears on Pier Tonight". Santa Monica Dispatch. July 9, 2009. Archived from the original on March 11, 2012. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
  21. Archived January 6, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  22. "On the Beat: David Menconi on music – Tift Merritt sings for change | newsobserver.com blogs". Blogs.newsobserver.com. Archived from the original on March 21, 2012. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
  23. Overdub Lane
  24. "Tift Merritt's 'See You on the Moon' Gets Tracked And Covered". Music.mync.com. March 23, 2010. Archived from the original on February 26, 2012. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
  25. "Full Album: Tift Merritt – See You On The Moon". Wxrt.radio.com. February 6, 2010. Archived from the original on February 1, 2013. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
  26. 1 2 Jurgensen, John (August 13, 2010). "The Secrets of Songwriters". The Wall Street Journal.
  27. 1 2 Greenman, Ben. "Tift Merritt's "See You on the Moon," review". The New Yorker. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
  28. Jones, Amy (July 16, 2010). "Tift Merritt makes her own brand of music at Asheville's Orange Peel". Asheville Citizen-Times . Retrieved July 16, 2010.[ dead link ]
  29. "Tift Merritt's homecoming show centers on 'Bramble Rose' album". newsobserver. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  30. "Live in Denver: With Baby on Board, Tift Merritt Finds Comfort, Joy and Everlasting Love". May 24, 2017.
  31. "Tift Merritt Album & Song Chart History: Country Albums". Billboard . Retrieved July 26, 2010.
  32. "Tift Merritt Album & Song Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard . Retrieved July 26, 2010.
  33. "Tift Merritt Album & Song Chart History: Heatseekers Albums". Billboard . Retrieved July 26, 2010.
  34. "Tift Merritt Album & Song Chart History: Independent Albums". Billboard . Retrieved October 11, 2012.
  35. "Tift Merritt Album & Song Chart History: Folk Albums". Billboard . Retrieved July 26, 2010.
  36. Bjorke, Matt (March 5, 2017). "Top 10 Country Albums Sales Chart: March 6, 2017". Roughstock.
  37. "Tift Merritt – Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  38. "Tift Merritt – Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  39. "Going for Adds (Triple A)" (PDF). Radio & Records . April 26, 2002. p. 34.
  40. "Going for Adds (Triple A)" (PDF). Radio & Records. January 7, 2005. p. 19.
  41. "Mixtape - Single by Tift Merritt". Apple Music . Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  42. "To Myself - Single by Tift Merritt". Apple Music. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  43. "Tift Merritt - Dusty Old Man". Daily Play MPE. December 13, 2016.
  44. "Tift Merritt - Proclamation Bones". Daily Play MPE. March 22, 2017.
  45. "CMT : Videos: Tift Merritt : Virginia, No One Can Warn You". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
  46. "CMT : Videos : Tift Merritt : Good Hearted Man". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on February 27, 2008. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
  47. "CMT : Videos: Tift Merritt : Broken". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on March 11, 2008. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
  48. "Engine to Turn". Vimeo . Retrieved February 3, 2013.