Tracy Chapman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tracy Chapman
Chapman performing in 2009
Background information
Born	(1964-03-30) March 30, 1964 (age 61) Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Genres	Folk blues rock pop soul
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Years active	1986–present
Labels	Elektra

Tracy Chapman is an American singer and songwriter, born on March 30, 1964. She is famous for her unique voice and meaningful songs. She signed with Elektra Records in 1987. Her first album, also called Tracy Chapman, came out in 1988. It became very popular, especially after she performed at a big concert for Nelson Mandela. This album sold millions of copies and won three Grammy Awards, including one for Best New Artist. Her song "Fast Car" from this album became a huge hit. In 2025, her debut album was added to the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress, which means it's considered very important.

In 1989, Tracy released her second album, Crossroads. She continued to release new music, including Matters of the Heart in 1992. Her fourth album, New Beginning, came out in 1995 and was another big success worldwide. It featured the popular song "Give Me One Reason", which won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Song. She released more albums like Telling Stories (2000), Let It Rain (2002), Where You Live (2005), and Our Bright Future (2008). In 2015, she released a Greatest Hits album. In 2023, Tracy Chapman made history when country singer Luke Combs covered her song "Fast Car". Her original song became a number one hit on the country charts, making her the first Black person to achieve this with a solo song. She also won a Country Music Association Award for Song of the Year for "Fast Car" in 2023.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Tracy Chapman grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. Her mother bought her a ukulele when she was only three years old. She started playing guitar and writing her own songs when she was eight. She has said that a TV show called Hee Haw might have inspired her to play guitar. Growing up, she sometimes faced bullying and unfair treatment because of her race.

Tracy went to an Episcopal high school and later attended Tufts University. While studying at Tufts, she often performed her songs in public places like Harvard Square. She also recorded demo songs at the university's radio station, WMFO. This helped her protect her songs and allowed the station to play them.

Music Career Highlights

Tracy Chapman's first big performance was in Boston in 1985. A fellow student, Brian Koppelman, heard her play and showed her demo tape to his father, Charles Koppelman. Charles Koppelman, who worked in music publishing, signed her in 1986. After she finished college in 1987, he helped her get a contract with Elektra Records.

Chapman performing in Budapest, Hungary, 1988

Her first album, Tracy Chapman, was released in 1988. Critics loved it, and she started touring and gaining fans. Her song "Fast Car" became very popular after she performed it at the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert in London in June 1988. She performed twice at the concert, once in the afternoon and again later when she filled in for another artist. This performance greatly increased the sales of "Fast Car" and her album. "Fast Car" reached number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Rolling Stone magazine later listed it as one of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time." Her other songs, "Talkin' 'bout a Revolution" and "Baby Can I Hold You", also became hits. The album sold millions of copies and won three Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist for Tracy. Later in 1988, she joined the Amnesty International Human Rights Now! Tour around the world.

Her next album, Crossroads (1989), also sold well, reaching platinum status in the U.S. In 1992, she released Matters of the Heart. Her fourth album, New Beginning (1995), was a huge success, selling over five million copies in the U.S. It included the hit song "Give Me One Reason", which won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Song in 1997. This song became her most successful single in the U.S., reaching number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Her fifth album, Telling Stories, came out in 2000 and also sold well. She released her sixth album, Let It Rain, in 2002.

In 2008, she released her eighth studio album, Our Bright Future. This album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album.

Chapman and Eric Clapton performing at a White House Special Olympics dinner, December 1998

In April 2015, Tracy performed Ben E. King's song "Stand By Me" on the Late Show with David Letterman. This performance became very popular online. On November 20, 2015, she released her Greatest Hits album, which included 18 songs and a live version of "Stand by Me."

In October 2018, Tracy Chapman filed a lawsuit against rapper Nicki Minaj. Tracy said that Minaj had used parts of her song "Baby Can I Hold You" without permission. Tracy had a rule against allowing her songs to be used in samples. In January 2021, they settled the case, and Minaj paid Tracy Chapman $450,000.

Before the 2020 United States presidential election, Tracy performed "Talkin' 'bout a Revolution" on Late Night with Seth Meyers. She encouraged people to vote.

When Luke Combs' version of "Fast Car" became a number one country hit in July 2023, Tracy Chapman became the first Black woman to have a country number one song that she wrote by herself. At the 57th Annual Country Music Association Awards in November 2023, she won the Country Music Association Award for Song of the Year for "Fast Car". This made her the first Black songwriter to win that award. She even joined Luke Combs on stage to sing "Fast Car" at the 66th Grammy Awards in February 2024.

Social Activism and Awards

Tracy Chapman is known for being active in social and political causes. She cares deeply about human rights. In 1988, she performed in London as part of a concert tour celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with Amnesty International. That same year, she performed at the concert honoring Nelson Mandela's 70th birthday. This event raised money for the Anti-Apartheid Movement in South Africa and for children's charities. She also performed at an event in Paris in 1998 to mark Amnesty International's 50th anniversary. In 2000, she sang a duet with Luciano Pavarotti at a charity concert for Cambodia and Tibet. In 2004, she participated in the AIDS/LifeCycle event, which raises money for AIDS services.

She has also supported elementary schools in Cleveland. She helped create an educational music video about important achievements in African-American history. She also sponsored an essay contest for high school students called "Crossroads in Black History."

Tracy Chapman has received honorary doctorates for her work. In 1997, she received one from Saint Xavier University. In 2004, her old university, Tufts University, gave her an honorary doctorate in Fine Arts. This recognized her dedication to social activism.

I'm fortunate that I've been able to do my work and be involved in certain organizations, certain endeavors, and offered some assistance in some way. Whether that is about raising money or helping to raise awareness, just being another body to show some force and conviction for a particular idea. Finding out where the need is – and if someone thinks you're going to be helpful, then helping.

On April 16, 2023, the President of South Africa announced that Tracy Chapman would receive a special award called The Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo. This award honors important foreign people who have shown friendship to South Africa. Tracy received the award in Silver for her help in the fight for freedom. She participated in efforts to free Nelson Mandela and helped raise awareness about human rights issues around the world. The award ceremony took place on April 28, 2023.

Tracy often performs at charity events like Make Poverty History and amfAR.

Legacy and Recognition

A street in Saint-Jean-d'Heurs, a small town in France, has been named after Tracy Chapman. This shows how much her music and message are appreciated around the world.

Discography

Studio Albums

• Tracy Chapman (1988)
• Crossroads (1989)
• Matters of the Heart (1992)
• New Beginning (1995)
• Telling Stories (2000)
• Let It Rain (2002)
• Where You Live (2005)
• Our Bright Future (2008)

Awards and Nominations

Grammy Awards

Other Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Tracy Chapman para niños