Natalie Merchant facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Natalie Merchant
Merchant performing in 2017
Background information
Birth name	Natalie Anne Merchant
Born	(1963-10-26) October 26, 1963 (age 61) Jamestown, New York, U.S.
Genres	rock folk
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter
Instruments	Vocals piano
Years active	1981–present
Labels	Elektra Myth America Nonesuch

Natalie Anne Merchant (born October 26, 1963) is an American singer and songwriter. She became famous as the lead singer and main lyricist for the band 10,000 Maniacs. Natalie joined the group in 1981 and stayed with them for seven albums. In 1993, she left to start her own solo music career. Since then, she has released nine studio albums as a solo artist.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Natalie Merchant was born on October 26, 1963, in Jamestown, New York. She was the third of four children. Her grandfather, who played the accordion, mandolin, and guitar, came to the United States from Sicily.

When Natalie was young, her mother loved music, especially classical and artists like Petula Clark and the Beatles. Her mother encouraged all her children to learn music. Natalie remembers being inspired by a Styx concert when she was 12. She also enjoyed music from musicals like West Side Story.

Natalie started working at a health food store when she was 16. She thought about working in special education. However, in 1981, she began singing for a band called Still Life. This band later became 10,000 Maniacs.

Music Career Highlights

Starting with 10,000 Maniacs

Merchant in 1984. She was known for her dancing and simple style with 10,000 Maniacs.

Natalie Merchant became the lead singer and main songwriter for 10,000 Maniacs. She joined the band in 1981 while studying at Jamestown Community College. The group recorded their first album, Human Conflict Number Five, in 1982. Natalie sang lead vocals and later played the piano on seven studio albums with the band.

In 1993, she decided to leave the group. She wanted more creative control over her music. Her last recording with the band was a cover of "Because the Night" by Bruce Springsteen and Patti Smith. This song was from their MTV Unplugged performance and became the band's highest-charting song in the U.S., reaching #11 in 1994.

Solo Success with Tigerlily

Merchant in 1995 at Earth Day in Columbia, Maryland

After leaving 10,000 Maniacs, Natalie was excited to write her own songs. She wrote "I May Know the Word" on the very day she left the band. This song appeared on her first solo album, Tigerlily, released in 1995 by Elektra.

Tigerlily was a huge success. It sold over five million copies, making it Natalie's most successful album so far. The album featured her first top-ten hit, "Carnival." Other popular songs from the album included "Wonder" and "Jealousy." Natalie toured a lot and appeared on TV shows like Saturday Night Live.

Exploring New Sounds with Ophelia

Three years later, in 1998, Natalie released her second solo album, Ophelia. While Tigerlily had simpler music, Ophelia featured richer and more complex arrangements. Natalie worked with many different musicians on this album. The album's name and title track refer to Shakespeare's character, Ophelia.

The first single from Ophelia was "Kind and Generous." This song was very popular and played often on VH1. It helped establish Natalie as a successful solo artist. That summer, Sarah McLachlan invited Natalie to perform at Lilith Fair, a big music festival. This tour helped Ophelia sell over a million copies.

Natalie also recorded "But Not for Me" by George Gershwin for a charity album. This album, Red Hot + Rhapsody, raised money for AIDS awareness.

New Directions: Motherland and Independent Music

In 2001, Natalie released her next album, Motherland, on the Elektra label. This album showed Natalie experimenting more with her music. Motherland sold well, reaching Gold status on the Billboard charts. Popular songs from this album included "Just Can't Last" and "Build a Levee."

Natalie went on a long world tour to promote Motherland. She played shows across the United States and Europe. After her contract with Elektra Records ended in 2002, Natalie decided to release her next album independently.

Merchant at the piano in 2005

Her next album, The House Carpenter's Daughter, was released in 2003 on her own label, Myth America Records. This was her only release on this label.

Later Albums and Inspirations

In 2010, Natalie signed with Nonesuch Records and released Leave Your Sleep. This album was inspired by conversations with her daughter over six years. It was very popular, reaching #1 on the Billboard Folk Albums chart.

In 2014, she released her self-titled album, Natalie Merchant. This was her first album of new original songs since Motherland in 2001. It was praised by critics and debuted high on the charts.

Merchant performing with guitarist Erik Della Penna in Cambridge, 2018

In 2015, Natalie re-recorded songs from her first solo album, Tigerlily, for a new album called Paradise Is There: The New Tigerlily Recordings. She added strings to some songs and made others simpler. She said she was touched by how many lives her music had reached.

She continued to release new music, including Butterfly in 2017, which featured new songs and orchestral versions of older ones. Her most recent album, Keep Your Courage, was released in 2023.

Personal Life and Activism

Natalie Merchant married Daniel de la Calle in 2003 and they had a daughter named Lucia. She lives in Rhinecliff, New York.

Natalie enjoys gardening and painting. She has been a vegetarian since 1980. She also teaches arts and crafts to children in New York state. In 2019, Natalie had a health issue that affected her singing for several months, but she recovered.

Natalie is also known for her activism. In 2012, she helped organize a concert with actor Mark Ruffalo to protest against oil and gas fracking in New York. She also directed a short documentary in 2013 called Shelter: A Concert Film to Benefit Victims of Domestic Violence. This film highlighted efforts to help victims of domestic violence.

In 2017, Natalie participated in a protest against then-President-elect Donald Trump in New York City. She performed her song "Motherland" and led a group sing-along of Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land." Natalie is also a member of Artists Against Racism, a Canadian charity.

Awards and Recognition

Natalie Merchant has received several awards for her music.

Discography

With 10,000 Maniacs

• Human Conflict Number Five (EP) (1982)
• Secrets of the I Ching (1983)
• The Wishing Chair (1985)
• In My Tribe (1987)
• Blind Man's Zoo (1989)
• Hope Chest: The Fredonia Recordings 1982–1983 (1990)
• Our Time in Eden (1992)
• MTV Unplugged (1993)
• Campfire Songs: The Popular, Obscure and Unknown Recordings (2004)

Solo Albums

• 1995: Tigerlily
• 1998: Ophelia
• 2001: Motherland
• 2003: The House Carpenter's Daughter
• 2010: Leave Your Sleep
• 2014: Natalie Merchant
• 2015: Paradise Is There: The New Tigerlily Recordings
• 2017: Butterfly
• 2023: Keep Your Courage

Film and Television Appearances

Natalie Merchant has appeared in various films and television shows, often performing her music.

Films

Television

See also

In Spanish: Natalie Merchant para niños