Anne Harris (musician)
Encyclopedia
Anne Harris is a singer/songwriter, violinist, recording artist and actor based in Chicago
, Illinois
. She has independently produced and released four studio albums on her record label, Rugged Road Records: Anne Harris (2001), Open Your Doors (2003), Wine and Poetry (2005) and Gravity and Faith (2008). A live album, Live at the Acorn Theater, was also released in 2008. Her music has been described by various writers as incorporating a variety of influences, including traditional Celtic music, American folk-rock, Afrobeat, soul, and chamber music. For lack of a specific genre label, her work has been dubbed "conscious music" which refers to music and lyrics that have some basis in a spiritual, humanist philosophy.
Harris grew up in Yellow Springs
, Ohio
, home of Antioch College
, and the earthy, liberal and progressive environment of her hometown remains an influence in her songwriting to this day. She began studying classical violin
at the age of eight and eventually attended the University of Michigan
in Ann Arbor where she earned a degree from the School of Music. After college, Harris moved to Chicago and worked as an actor in theater and commercials for a few years before returning to music around 1997. She worked for a while with a number of local Chicago bands, notably Poi Dog Pondering
, building a strong reputation for her instrumental talent. Over time she began writing and performing her own music.
Along with her recorded work, Harris has since performed at the North by Northeast
music festival in Toronto
, Canada, has sung the US National Anthem at a Chicago Cubs
baseball game and was awarded "Album Artwork of the Year" honors at the 2006 DIY Music Festival in Los Angeles for her "Wine and Poetry" CD packaging.
Harris continues to play violin with other notable national artists. She's currently touring with trance-blues innovator and 2009 Blues Music Award winner, Otis Taylor
and also appears with Cathy Richardson Band
and Jefferson Starship
.
She is currently serving an elected term on the Board of Governors of the Chicago Chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
.
Harris also appears as the character "Prudence" on three episodes of Jack's Big Music Show
, a music oriented children's television program on Noggin.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. She has independently produced and released four studio albums on her record label, Rugged Road Records: Anne Harris (2001), Open Your Doors (2003), Wine and Poetry (2005) and Gravity and Faith (2008). A live album, Live at the Acorn Theater, was also released in 2008. Her music has been described by various writers as incorporating a variety of influences, including traditional Celtic music, American folk-rock, Afrobeat, soul, and chamber music. For lack of a specific genre label, her work has been dubbed "conscious music" which refers to music and lyrics that have some basis in a spiritual, humanist philosophy.
Harris grew up in Yellow Springs
Yellow Springs, Ohio
Yellow Springs is a village in Greene County, Ohio, United States, and is the location of Antioch College and Antioch University Midwest. The population was 3,487 at the 2010 census...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, home of Antioch College
Antioch College
Antioch College is a private, independent liberal arts college in Yellow Springs, Ohio, United States. It was the founder and the flagship institution of the six-campus Antioch University system. Founded in 1852 by the Christian Connection, the college began operating in 1853 with politician and...
, and the earthy, liberal and progressive environment of her hometown remains an influence in her songwriting to this day. She began studying classical violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
at the age of eight and eventually attended the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in Ann Arbor where she earned a degree from the School of Music. After college, Harris moved to Chicago and worked as an actor in theater and commercials for a few years before returning to music around 1997. She worked for a while with a number of local Chicago bands, notably Poi Dog Pondering
Poi Dog Pondering
Poi Dog Pondering is an American musical group, noted for its cross-pollination of diverse musical genres, including various forms of acoustic folk music, and electronic music. Founded in Hawaii in 1985, the band moved to Austin, Texas in 1987, where they recorded their first three albums...
, building a strong reputation for her instrumental talent. Over time she began writing and performing her own music.
Along with her recorded work, Harris has since performed at the North by Northeast
North by Northeast
North by Northeast is an annual five-day live music and film festival and music conference in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, held each June....
music festival in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada, has sung the US National Anthem at a Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
baseball game and was awarded "Album Artwork of the Year" honors at the 2006 DIY Music Festival in Los Angeles for her "Wine and Poetry" CD packaging.
Harris continues to play violin with other notable national artists. She's currently touring with trance-blues innovator and 2009 Blues Music Award winner, Otis Taylor
Otis Taylor (musician)
Otis Taylor is an American blues musician. He is a multi-instrumentalist whose talents include the guitar, banjo, mandolin, harmonica, and vocals. In 2001, he was awarded a fellowship to the Sundance Film Composers Laboratory.-Music:Taylor moved at a young age to Denver, Colorado where he grew up...
and also appears with Cathy Richardson Band
Cathy Richardson
Catherine E. Richardson , who goes professionally by Cathy Richardson, is a singer and songwriter from Chicago, Illinois....
and Jefferson Starship
Jefferson Starship
Jefferson Starship is an American rock band formed in the early 1970s. The group is a spin-off from the iconic 1960s psychedelic/folk group Jefferson Airplane. The band has undergone several major changes in personnel and genres through the years while retaining the same Jefferson Starship name...
.
She is currently serving an elected term on the Board of Governors of the Chicago Chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc., known variously as The Recording Academy or NARAS, is a U.S. organization of musicians, producers, recording engineers and other recording professionals dedicated to improving the quality of life and cultural condition for music and its...
.
Harris also appears as the character "Prudence" on three episodes of Jack's Big Music Show
Jack's Big Music Show
Jack's Big Music Show is a children's television program currently airing on the Nick Jr. television network. The show premiered on the same network on September 12, 2005...
, a music oriented children's television program on Noggin.
Discography
- Anne Harris - 2001
- Open Your Doors - 2003
- Wine and Poetry - 2005
- Gravity And Faith - 2008
- Live At The Acorn Theater - 2008