Gillian Welch facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gillian Welch
Welch performing at MerleFest in 2006
Background information
Birth name	Gillian Howard Welch
Born	(1967-10-02) October 2, 1967 (age 57) New York City, U.S.
Origin	Nashville, Tennessee
Genres	Country Bluegrass Folk Americana
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter
Instruments	Vocals acoustic guitar banjo drums
Years active	1996–present
Labels	Acony Almo Sounds

Gillian Howard Welch (born October 2, 1967) is an American singer and songwriter. She performs with her musical partner, David Rawlings, who plays guitar. Their music has a simple, often serious style. It mixes sounds from Appalachian music, bluegrass, country, and Americana. The New Yorker magazine said their music is "new and yet reminds you of old country styles."

Welch and Rawlings have worked together on many popular albums. Five albums were released under her name, three under Rawlings' name, and two under both their names. Her first album, Revival (1996), and Time (The Revelator) (2001), were nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album. Her 2003 album, Soul Journey, added electric guitar and drums, making their sound a bit more lively.

After eight years, she released her fifth album, The Harrow & the Harvest, in 2011. This album was also nominated for a Grammy. In 2020, Welch and Rawlings released All the Good Times (Are Past & Gone). This album won the 2021 Grammy Award for Best Folk Album.

Welch also helped produce the music for the 2000 movie O Brother, Where Art Thou?. She sang on two songs for the movie's soundtrack, which won a Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 2002. She even appeared briefly in the film. In 2018, she and Rawlings wrote the song "When a Cowboy Trades His Spurs for Wings" for another movie, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. This song was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Gillian Howard Welch was born in New York City on October 2, 1967. She was adopted by Mitzie and Ken Welch, who were entertainers. Her adoptive parents moved to Los Angeles when she was three. They wrote music for TV shows like The Carol Burnett Show.

As a child, Welch learned about American folk singers. She listened to artists like Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, and the Carter Family. She sang folk songs with her friends at elementary school. Later, she went to Crossroads School in Santa Monica, California.

While studying at the University of California, Santa Cruz, Welch played bass in a goth band and drums in a surf band. One day, a roommate played music by the bluegrass band The Stanley Brothers. Welch felt a sudden strong connection to this music. She said:

The first song came on and I just stood up and I kind of walked into the other room as if I was in a tractor beam and stood there in front of the stereo. It was just as powerful as the electric stuff, and it was songs I'd grown up singing. All of a sudden I'd found my music.

After college, Welch studied songwriting at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. There, she met David Rawlings at an audition for the school's country band.

Starting a Music Career

Rawlings and Welch performing in Seattle in 2009

In 1992, after college, Welch moved to Nashville, Tennessee. She explained, "I looked at my record collection and saw that all the music I loved had been made in Nashville... so I moved there." Rawlings soon followed her. They realized their voices sounded great together when they sang "Long Black Veil." They started performing as a duo, simply called "Gillian Welch."

A year later, Welch found a manager, Denise Stiff. They signed a record deal with Almo Sounds. After a performance, producer T-Bone Burnett wanted to record an album with them. Burnett liked their simple, acoustic sound and agreed to keep it that way.

Debut Album: Revival

For Welch's first album, Revival, Burnett wanted to capture their live sound. Welch remembered, "There was very little distance between our singing and playing. The sound was very immediate." They also recorded with other musicians like guitarist James Burton and drummers Jim Keltner and Buddy Harman.

The album came out in April 1996 and got mostly good reviews. Critics praised Welch's unique songwriting, which sounded old but was new. The song "Orphan Girl" from Revival has been covered by many artists, including Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt. Other artists like Joan Baez and Bright Eyes have also recorded Welch's songs.

Revival was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album in 1997.

Second Album: Hell Among the Yearlings

The duo's 1998 album, Hell Among the Yearlings, continued their simple, serious style. Like Revival, it focused on Welch and Rawlings' voices and guitars.

Welch performing at the 2007 New Orleans Jazz Fest

This album also received good reviews. Critics noted how Welch seemed to truly become the characters in her songs. Some praised the album's live feel and Rawlings' harmonies.

Success with O Brother, Where Art Thou?

David Rawlings, Welch and Alison Krauss performing at the 2008 Austin City Limits Music Festival

Welch sang two songs and helped produce the music for the 2000 movie O Brother, Where Art Thou?. She sang "I'll Fly Away" with Alison Krauss. Critics loved their performance. Burnett and Welch also wrote extra lyrics for "Didn't Leave Nobody but the Baby," sung by Welch, Emmylou Harris, and Krauss. This song was nominated for a Grammy.

The movie's soundtrack became very popular and won the 2002 Grammy Award for Album of the Year. This success helped Welch's career a lot. She also had a small part in the movie.

Starting Her Own Label: Time (The Revelator)

When their record label, Almo Sounds, was sold, Welch started her own label called Acony Records. The first album released on her new label was Time (The Revelator) in 2001, produced by Rawlings. Most of the album was recorded in the famous RCA Studio B in Nashville.

Rawlings and Welch performing at the 2009 Newport Folk Festival

Welch said the album is about American history, rock 'n' roll, and country music. It includes songs about historical events and figures. Time kept Welch and Rawlings' calm and simple style. Welch explained that they imagined the songs as "tiny rock songs" played with acoustic instruments.

Time (The Revelator) received great reviews. Many praised Welch's amazing songwriting. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album in 2002.

A Happier Sound: Soul Journey

For their 2003 album, Soul Journey, Welch and Rawlings tried new things. Welch said, "I wanted to make it a happier record." Rawlings produced the album again. They also added more instruments than usual, like a dobro, violin, electric bass, and drums. Welch felt it was important for their music to show "change and growth."

Welch performing with Justin Townes Earle in 2009

On three songs from Soul Journey, Welch and Rawlings recorded their own versions of traditional folk songs for the first time.

Soul Journey also received strong praise. Critics called it "pretty much perfect" and praised Welch's deep, real sound.

David Rawlings' Projects

Besides their albums as "Gillian Welch," Welch and Rawlings have also released music under Rawlings' name. These albums often feature a larger band and richer sounds than their "Gillian Welch" material. They were usually released under the band name Dave Rawlings Machine. Welch often helps write songs and sings harmonies on these projects.

In 2015, they released Nashville Obsolete as Dave Rawlings Machine. In 2017, Poor David’s Almanack was released under the name David Rawlings. The song “Cumberland Gap” from this album was nominated for a Grammy in 2018.

Long-Awaited Album: The Harrow & the Harvest

Fans waited a long time for a new Gillian Welch album. The Harrow & the Harvest was finally released on June 28, 2011. Welch explained the delay was because they weren't happy with the songs they were writing. She said it was their "most intertwined, co-authored, jointly-composed album."

The album received great reviews. Critics praised its closeness, natural sound, and timeless songwriting. It was nominated for a Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album.

Special Releases and New Music

In 2016, Boots No 1: The Official Revival Bootleg was released. This album celebrated the 20th anniversary of Welch's first album, Revival. It included unreleased songs and different versions of original tracks.

In July 2020, Welch and Rawlings released All the Good Times (Are Past & Gone). This album featured cover songs and traditional tunes recorded at their home during the 2020 lockdowns. It was the first album released jointly under both their names. It won the 2021 Grammy Award for Best Folk Album.

On July 19, 2024, Welch and Rawlings announced a new album called Woodland. It is set to be released on August 23, 2024. This will be their first album of new original songs since 2011.

Musical Style and Themes

Welch and Rawlings mix old and new music styles. They combine old time, classic country, gospel, and traditional bluegrass with modern sounds like rhythm and blues, rock 'n' roll, jazz, and punk rock. Their music is unique and reminds people of older country forms.

Their songs usually have simple music. Welch and Rawlings sing and play acoustic guitars, banjos, or a mandolin. Welch plays rhythm guitar, and Rawlings plays lead guitar. Critics describe Rawlings as a very creative guitarist.

Song Themes

Welch's songs often tell stories about different characters, sometimes even male characters. She has said that "everybody wants happy love songs" for commercial success. But Welch and Rawlings often use a slow pace in their songs. Their music can make you feel calm and then surprise you with a powerful message.

Influences and Collaborations

Welch with Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, 2006

Welch is mostly inspired by older music. She listens to artists who have passed away, saying she waits "50 years... to see what's really relevant." She is influenced by traditional country artists like the Stanley Brothers, the Carter Family, and the Louvin Brothers. She explained that traditional music is a "springboard" for her songwriting.

Welch also enjoys rock 'n' roll artists like Bob Dylan, Chuck Berry, Neil Young, the Grateful Dead, and the Velvet Underground. She has covered songs by bands like Radiohead.

Welch has recorded with many famous artists, including Ryan Adams, Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, and Mark Knopfler. She also created the cover art for Robyn Hitchcock's 2014 album.

Many artists have recorded songs written by Welch, such as Jimmy Buffett, Alison Krauss and Union Station, Trisha Yearwood, and Miranda Lambert.

Live Performances

Welch performing in 2006

Welch and Rawlings have played at many music festivals, including The Newport Folk Festival, Coachella Festival, and Farm Aid. They have toured all over North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. People who see their concerts often praise the strong connection between Welch and Rawlings on stage. They seem to know what the other will do next. In 2022, they performed at the famous Grand Ole Opry.

The Dave Rawlings Machine has also toured, with Welch as a key member. Welch and Rawlings also join other musicians for group tours. In 2004, they were part of the Sweet Harmony Traveling Revue with Patty Griffin and Emmylou Harris. In 2009, The Dave Rawlings Machine joined the Big Surprise Tour, a "roots-music extravaganza."

Discography

• Revival (1996)
• Hell Among the Yearlings (1998)
• Time (The Revelator) (2001)
• Soul Journey (2003)
• The Harrow & the Harvest (2011)
• All the Good Times (Are Past & Gone) with David Rawlings (2020)
• Woodland with David Rawlings (2024)

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Gillian Welch para niños