Kathy Mattea facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kathy Mattea
Mattea in 2000
Born	Kathleen Alice Mattea (1959-06-21) June 21, 1959 (age 66) South Charleston, West Virginia, U.S.
Alma mater	West Virginia University
Occupation	Singer songwriter producer
Years active	1983–present
Spouse(s)	Jon Vezner ​ (m. 1988)​
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Genres	Country country folk Bluegrass
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Labels	Mercury Nashville Narada Captain Potato Sugar Hill Thirty Tigers

Kathy Mattea (born Kathleen Alice Mattea on June 21, 1959) is an American singer. She is famous for her country and bluegrass music. Since 1984, she has released many songs. More than 30 of her songs have appeared on the Billboard country music charts. Four of these songs reached number one: "Goin' Gone", "Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses", "Come from the Heart", and "Burnin' Old Memories". She also had 12 other songs in the top ten.

Kathy Mattea has released 14 studio albums, two Christmas albums, and one greatest hits album. Most of her early music was with Mercury Records. Later, she released music with other labels. Her albums have earned five gold awards and one platinum award. She has worked with famous artists like Dolly Parton and Michael McDonald. Kathy Mattea has won two Grammy Awards. One was in 1990 for her song "Where've You Been". The other was in 1993 for her Christmas album Good News. Her music style blends traditional country, bluegrass, folk, and Celtic sounds.

Early Life and Start in Music

Kathleen Alice Mattea was born on June 21, 1959, in South Charleston, West Virginia. She grew up with her two brothers in Cross Lanes, West Virginia. Her father worked at a chemical plant, and her mother was a homemaker. As a child, Kathy's mother encouraged her to play piano for family and friends. She also sang in her parents' church. In high school, she performed in school shows and at family events.

Kathy started playing guitar as a teenager. She became interested in folk music. She also loved bluegrass music, which she said "formed her roots" as an artist. In 1976, while attending West Virginia University, she joined a bluegrass band. After a friend moved to Nashville to pursue music, Kathy decided to join him. She left college and moved to Nashville. Her friend later left Nashville, but Kathy decided to stay. She worked as a tour guide at the Country Music Hall of Fame. She also worked as a secretary and waitress to support herself. During this time, she sang demo songs for other artists. A music producer named Byron Hill discovered her. He helped her sign with Mercury Records in 1983.

Music Career

First Albums (1984–1986)

Kathy Mattea's first album, Kathy Mattea, came out in 1984. She later shared that there wasn't much money for recording. She even bought her jacket for the album cover at Kmart. She also received advice on her image. Kathy felt she didn't have a clear "artistic vision" at that time.

Four songs from this album became hits on the country charts. "Street Talk" reached number 25. "Someone Is Falling in Love" reached number 26. Other songs like "God Ain't No Stained Glass Window" and a cover of Barry Manilow's "Somewhere Down the Road" were also on the album. Critics said the album had good country songs and praised Kathy's voice.

Her second album, From My Heart, was released in 1985. This album was produced by Allen Reynolds, who worked with many famous artists. Songs like "It's Your Reputation Talkin'", "He Won't Give In", and "Heart of the Country" were singles from this album. They reached numbers 34, 22, and 46 on the country charts. The album also included a cover of Elton John's "Ball and Chain". Critics thought this album was better than her first. They said it had a "more focused direction" and a "purer sound."

Breaking Through (1986–1990)

Kathy Mattea's third album, Walk the Way the Wind Blows (1986), helped her become very popular. This album brought in more folk and acoustic sounds, inspired by her childhood. It was a big success with both critics and fans. Four songs from this album became top ten hits on the country charts. These included "Love at the Five and Dime", the title track "Walk the Way the Wind Blows", "You're the Power", and "Train of Memories". Many talented musicians played on this album, including Béla Fleck and Vince Gill. Billboard magazine praised it as her "most country effort to date."

An autographed photo of Mattea live in concert, 1989.

Kathy had her first number one song in late 1987 with "Goin' Gone". This song was the first single from her fourth album, Untasted Honey. After that, "Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses" became her longest-running number one hit, staying there for two weeks. "Untold Stories" and "Life as We Knew It" also became top five hits. The album also featured a duet with bluegrass musician Tim O'Brien called "The Battle Hymn of Love". Critics liked the album's bluegrass influences and its storytelling songs. People magazine said Kathy sounded "warm, strong, smart and generally splendid."

In 1989, she released Willow in the Wind. The first two songs from this album, "Come from the Heart" and "Burnin' Old Memories", also reached number one on the country charts. Then came "Where've You Been" and "She Came from Fort Worth", which were also top ten hits. "Where've You Been" was co-written by Kathy's husband, Jon Vezner. This album featured many guest musicians and singers. Critics called it "the first completely realized project of her career." People magazine said the album had "swingy, blue-newgrass tracks" and that Kathy sounded "warm and relaxed." Kathy Mattea won the Country Music Association's Female Vocalist of the Year award in both 1989 and 1990. She also won a Grammy Award in 1990 for "Where've You Been".

Continued Success (1990–1993)

In 1990, Kathy released her first greatest hits album, A Collection of Hits. It included eight of her popular songs and a new song called "A Few Good Things Remain". Both "The Battle Hymn of Love" and "A Few Good Things Remain" became top ten hits. "A Few Good Things Remain" was also on her next album, Time Passes By, released in 1991. This album had Celtic music influences and was partly recorded in Scotland. The title track reached the top ten. Critics praised the album as "a quiet, reflective acoustic collection" with "impeccably chosen songs."

Tim O'Brien sang duet vocals on Mattea's 1990 single "The Battle Hymn of Love".

Her 1992 album, Lonesome Standard Time, had a song of the same name that reached number 11. "Standing Knee Deep in a River (Dying of Thirst)" also made the Top 20. This was her first album produced by Brent Maher. Critics noted that the album had a familiar feel with "whimsical numbers, bluesy laments, and love songs." In June 1992, Kathy had vocal problems and needed surgery. She had to rest her voice to heal.

After recovering, she released her first Christmas album, Good News, in September 1993. This album featured mostly new songs, along with some traditional ones. Critics said it sounded like a "well-crafted, gorgeously wrought folk/country/Celtic-flavored Kathy Mattea record." This album won a Grammy Award for Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album.

Later Years with Mercury (1994–2000)

Kathy Mattea released Walking Away a Winner in 1994. This album had more rock and pop influences. The title track became a number three hit on the country charts. Other songs from the album included "Nobody's Gonna Rain on Our Parade" and "Maybe She's Human". Kathy also made a small appearance in the movie Maverick in 1994. She also sang on the movie's soundtrack.

After a break from the charts, she returned with Love Travels in 1997. The first song, "455 Rocket", reached number 21. The title track also made the top 40. Kathy said they kept the first recording of "455 Rocket" because everyone was playing freely. Critics praised the album as "tasteful and compelling" and "her most mature and focused work yet."

Her last album with Mercury Records was The Innocent Years in 2000. Before making this album, Kathy spent time caring for her father, who was ill. This experience influenced the songs on the album. She told Country Standard Time that she thought a lot about what was important to her. The album included two songs she wrote with her husband. Two songs, "The Trouble with Angels" and "BFD", appeared on the country charts. Critics praised Kathy's "superb voice and mature readings."

Music Transition and Bluegrass (2002–Present)

In 2002, Kathy Mattea moved to Narada Productions for her album Roses. She wanted to work with a label that would support her musical exploration. She wanted to keep her contemporary folk and Celtic influences. Kathy toured performing arts centers to support the album. Critics noted that she "pushes the envelope" by blending Scottish and Irish music. A year later, she released her second Christmas album, Joy for Christmas Day, which also had Celtic influences.

Mattea at the 2010 Cambridge Folk Festival in England

Her third album for Narada was Right Out of Nowhere in 2005. Kathy produced this album herself. It included covers of "Gimme Shelter" by The Rolling Stones and "Down on the Corner" by Creedence Clearwater Revival. It also featured a spiritual song called "Wade in the Water". Critics liked these covers and noted that Kathy chose mostly optimistic songs.

The bluegrass album Coal followed in 2008. Kathy released this album independently. She chose to make an album about coal mining after the Sago Mine disaster. She worked with country and bluegrass singer Marty Stuart as her producer. A second album with bluegrass and coal mining themes, Calling Me Home, was released in 2014.

In the mid-2010s, Kathy began having problems with her singing voice. She worked with a vocal coach to find her voice again. This led to her next album, Pretty Bird, released in 2018. Tim O'Brien produced this album. It includes covers of "I Can't Stand Up Alone" and "Ode to Billie Joe".

In 2021, Kathy Mattea became the new host of Mountain Stage. This is a radio program aired by West Virginia's NPR network. The show broadcasts weekly on many stations.

Musical Style and Collaborations

Kathy Mattea's music is known as country. During her most popular years, she also added bluegrass, Celtic, and folk elements to her songs. Writers have noted that Kathy was part of a group of country artists who were inspired by the American folk revival. They blended modern feelings with powerful images. After her album Coal in 2008, Kathy's music shifted more towards Appalachian music.

Kathy has worked with many other artists, especially in the 1990s. In 1991, she was one of several artists on "Voices That Care". This was a charity song to support U.S. troops. Dolly Parton's 1993 song "Romeo" featured Kathy Mattea and other famous singers. Kathy also appeared on two songs for the Red Hot + Country album in 1994. This album was for AIDS awareness. One song was a cover of "Teach Your Children" with Suzy Bogguss and Alison Krauss. The other was a duet with Jackson Browne. In 1998, Kathy recorded a duet with Michael McDonald called "Among the Missing". This was a charity song to help missing and exploited children.

Personal Life

Mattea has been married to Jon Vezner since 1988; he has also written several of her singles.

Kathy Mattea married songwriter Jon Vezner on February 14, 1988. They met when he started a music publishing company near her apartment. Jon Vezner wrote four of Kathy's hit songs: "Where've You Been", "Whole Lotta Holes", "Time Passes By", and "A Few Good Things Remain". He also wrote songs for other artists. The couple briefly separated in the early 2000s but later got back together. Jon said that they both work through difficulties in their marriage. Kathy and Jon do not have children, but they have had pets. They live in Nashville, Tennessee. Kathy's father passed away in 2003 after a long illness. Her mother passed away in 2005 due to illness.

Kathy Mattea is also known for her work in AIDS activism. In 1992, many awards shows gave out red ribbons for AIDS awareness. The Country Music Association gave out green ribbons for environmental awareness. Kathy chose to wear three red ribbons to honor friends who had passed away from the disease, along with the green ribbon. She participated in charity concerts and public campaigns. In 1994, she received an award from the Harvard AIDS Initiative.

Discography

Studio albums

• Kathy Mattea (1984)
• From My Heart (1985)
• Walk the Way the Wind Blows (1986)
• Untasted Honey (1987)
• Willow in the Wind (1989)
• Time Passes By (1991)
• Lonesome Standard Time (1992)
• Good News (1993)
• Walking Away a Winner (1994)
• Love Travels (1997)
• The Innocent Years (2000)
• Roses (2002)
• Joy for Christmas Day (2003)
• Right Out of Nowhere (2005)
• Coal (2008)
• Calling Me Home (2012)
• Pretty Bird (2018)

Number-One Hits

• "Goin' Gone" (1 week, 1987-1988)
• "Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses" (2 weeks, 1988)
• "Come From the Heart" (1 week, 1989)
• "Burnin' Old Memories" (1 week, 1989)

Film and TV Appearances

Awards and Nominations

Kathy Mattea has received many awards for her music. These include four awards from the Country Music Association and two from the Grammy Awards.

See also

In Spanish: Kathy Mattea para niños