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 often performs with her musical partner, guitarist David Rawlings. Their music has a unique, quiet, and sometimes serious style. It blends sounds from Appalachian music, bluegrass, country, and Americana. People have described their music as both new and a bit like old country songs.

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 the sound a bit more upbeat. After eight years, she released The Harrow & the Harvest in 2011, which 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. In 2024, Welch and Rawlings released Woodland. This album won the 2025 Grammy Award for Best Folk Album. This makes Welch and Rawlings the only duo to win this award more than once.

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

Early Life and Music Journey

Gillian Welch was born on October 2, 1967, in New York City. She was adopted by Mitzie and Ken Welch, who were entertainers. When Gillian was three, her parents moved to Los Angeles to write music for TV shows.

As a child, Welch learned about American folk singers like Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, and the Carter Family. She sang folk songs with her friends at elementary school. Later, in high school, a TV show featured her as a student who was good at everything.

While in college at the University of California, Santa Cruz, Welch played bass in a rock band and drums in another band. One day, a roommate played an album by the bluegrass band The Stanley Brothers. Welch felt a strong connection to the music. She realized she had found her true musical style.

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

Starting a Music Career

Rawlings and Welch performing in Seattle in 2009

After college in 1992, Welch moved to Nashville, Tennessee. She felt that much of the music she loved was made there. Rawlings soon followed her. In Nashville, they discovered their voices sounded great together when they sang "Long Black Veil." They started performing as a duo, simply called "Gillian Welch."

Welch found a manager, Denise Stiff, who also managed Alison Krauss. They signed a record deal with Almo Sounds. After a performance, producer T-Bone Burnett wanted to record an album with them. Burnett agreed to keep their music simple, just as they liked it.

First Album: Revival

For Welch's first album, Revival, Burnett wanted to capture the simple sound of their live shows. Welch remembered it was a very focused time, just her, Rawlings, and the engineer. They later added other musicians for some songs.

The album came out in April 1996 and received many good reviews. Critics called it a "superb debut" and praised Welch's songwriting. They noted how her songs sounded like older music but were still fresh and smart. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1997 for Best Contemporary Folk Album.

Many artists have covered songs from Revival, including "Orphan Girl." Other musicians like Joan Baez and Grace Potter have also recorded Welch's songs.

Second Album: Hell Among the Yearlings

The duo's 1998 album, Hell Among the Yearlings, continued with a simple, serious style. The songs told stories about different characters and situations. Like Revival, this album focused on Welch and Rawlings' voices and guitars.

Welch performing at the 2007 New Orleans Jazz Fest

This album also got good reviews. Critics said Welch made the characters in her songs feel very real. They praised the album's live feel and how Welch and Rawlings created their own unique sound while still showing influences from older artists.

Working on 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 soundtrack for the 2000 film O Brother, Where Art Thou?. She sang "I'll Fly Away" with Alison Krauss, and 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 soundtrack became a huge success, selling many copies and winning the 2002 Grammy Award for Album of the Year. This success helped Welch's career grow even more.

Starting Her Own Label: Time (The Revelator)

When her record label was bought by a bigger company, Welch decided to start her own independent label called Acony Records. The first album released on her new label was Time (The Revelator) in 2001, produced by Rawlings. Most of the songs were recorded in a famous studio in Nashville.

Rawlings and Welch performing at the 2009 Newport Folk Festival

Welch said the album was about American history, rock 'n' roll, and country music. It included songs about historical events and famous people. The album kept their calm and simple musical style. Welch explained that they imagined the songs as "tiny rock songs" played with acoustic instruments.

Time (The Revelator) received a lot of praise from critics. They especially liked how the lyrics had grown. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2002 for Best Contemporary Folk Album. It also appeared on many "best of the decade" lists.

In 2002, a DVD called The Revelator Collection was released. It featured live performances and music videos of songs from Time, along with some cover songs.

New Sounds: Soul Journey

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

For the first time on this album, Welch and Rawlings recorded their own versions of three traditional folk songs.

Soul Journey also received great reviews. Critics described it as "pretty much perfect" and praised Welch's voice. The album did well on the music charts.

David Rawlings' Music Projects

Besides the albums released under Gillian Welch's name, she and Rawlings have also worked on several albums released under Rawlings' name. These albums often feature a larger band and fuller musical arrangements than their usual simple style. These projects have usually been released under the band name Dave Rawlings Machine.

Their first album as Dave Rawlings Machine, A Friend of a Friend, came out in 2009. Welch helped write five of the songs and played guitar and sang harmonies. Critics praised the album for including many different styles of traditional American music.

On September 18, 2015, they released their second album as Dave Rawlings Machine, Nashville Obsolete. The band included other talented musicians.

On August 11, 2017, Poor David’s Almanack was released. This was the first time an album was released simply under "David Rawlings," without the "Machine" name. The song “Cumberland Gap” from this album was nominated for a 2018 Grammy Award.

Return with 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 that the long wait was because they were not happy with the songs they were writing. She said the album was their most "intertwined" work, meaning they wrote it very closely together.

The album received strong praise from many music publications. Critics admired its personal feel, natural sound, and timeless songwriting. The album reached high positions on both US and UK music charts. It was nominated for a Grammy for Best Folk Album.

Boots No 1: The Official Revival Bootleg

On November 25, 2016, Boots No 1: The Official Revival Bootleg was released. This album celebrated the 20th anniversary of Welch's first album, Revival. It included songs that weren't released before, different versions of songs, and demos.

All the Good Times (Are Past & Gone)

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

Woodland

On July 19, 2024, Welch and Rawlings announced Woodland, which was released on August 23, 2024. This album is their first collection of new original songs from Welch since 2011. The album won the 2025 Grammy Award for Best Folk Album. This marks Rawlings' second win for this award, making them the only duo to win it more than once.

Music Style and Themes

Welch and Rawlings combine sounds from early 1900s music, like old time, classic country, and traditional bluegrass. They also mix in modern styles like rhythm and blues, rock 'n' roll, and jazz. Their music is hard to put into one category because it's both new and reminds people of old country sounds.

Welch performing at the 2009 Newport Folk Festival

Their songs usually have simple music, with Welch and Rawlings singing and playing acoustic guitars, banjos, or a mandolin. Welch plays rhythm guitar, and Rawlings plays lead guitar. Rawlings is known for his creative guitar solos.

Song Themes

Many of Welch and Rawlings' songs explore serious themes. They often tell stories about people facing challenges like poverty, loneliness, or feeling disconnected from their families. Even though Welch is the main singer, some of these characters are male. Welch has said that she doesn't write "happy love songs" because her songs are about different kinds of life experiences. Their songs often have a slow pace, which can draw listeners in deeply.

How People See Their Music

Critics have called Gillian Welch "one of the most interesting singer-songwriters of her generation." People have praised her for creating an impressive collection of music.

When her first albums came out, some critics wondered about the "authenticity" of her music. This was because she grew up in California but sang songs with themes from the Appalachian mountains. However, many other critics defended her. They argued that a love for music and the ability to express deep feelings are what truly matter, not where someone grew up.

On September 16, 2015, Welch and Rawlings received the Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting from the Americana Music Association.

Influences and Collaborations

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

Welch says her biggest influences are musicians from earlier times. She likes to see which music has lasted and is still important after many years. She has been inspired by traditional country artists like the Stanley Brothers and the Carter Family. She explains that while she loves and respects traditional music, she is a songwriter who uses it as a starting point.

Welch also gets ideas from rock 'n' roll artists like Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and the Grateful Dead. She has even covered "Black Star" by Radiohead.

Welch has recorded songs with many famous artists, including Ryan Adams, Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, and Mark Knopfler. She also created the cover art for one of Robyn Hitchcock's albums. Artists like Jimmy Buffett and Miranda Lambert have recorded songs written by Welch.

Live Performances

Welch performing in 2006

Welch and Rawlings have performed at many music festivals around the world, including the Newport Folk Festival and Coachella Festival. They have toured widely in North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. People who see their concerts often praise the strong connection they have on stage. On August 6, 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 artists like Patty Griffin and Emmylou Harris. In 2009, The Dave Rawlings Machine joined the Big Surprise Tour, a large tour featuring roots music.

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