Iris DeMent
Encyclopedia
Iris DeMent is an American
singer and songwriter
. DeMent's musical style encompasses the genres country
and folk music
.
She was born near the town of Paragould, Arkansas
but grew up in Cypress, California
, where she was exposed to and influenced by country and gospel music
.
, Alice Stuart
, and in the opening scenes of the movie Little Buddha
(neither credited, nor on the sound-track album) and has become one of DeMent's better known compositions. In her second album, My Life, released in 1994, she continued the personal and introspective approach. My Life was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Contemporary Folk Album category. DeMent's third album, The Way I Should, was released in 1996. Featuring the protest song
"Wasteland of the Free," it is DeMent's most political work, and covers topics like sexual abuse, religion, government policy, and Vietnam. After a hiatus during the late 1990s and early 2000s, she released her fourth album, Lifeline, in 2004.
She gained some notice singing the Merle Haggard
song, "Big City
", on Tulare Dust: Tribute to Merle Haggard, a 1994 various artists tribute album
. In 1995, her song "Our Town" was played in the closing moments of the last episode for the CBS
TV series Northern Exposure
, gaining DeMent more fans. (The song has also been recorded by Kate Rusby
, Jody Stecher
, and Kate Brislin.)
DeMent has sung duets with John Prine
(on In Spite of Ourselves
), Steve Earle
and Emmylou Harris
and is featured on the albums of many other performers. She has made frequent appearances on Garrison Keillor
's A Prairie Home Companion
, and appeared in the 2000 film Songcatcher
, playing the character Rose Gentry and singing on the soundtrack as well. In 1994, Natalie Merchant
of 10,000 Maniacs
performed DeMent's song "Let the Mystery Be" with David Byrne
for the show MTV Unplugged
. The song was included on Campfire Songs: The Popular, Obscure and Unknown Recordings
.
DeMent's rendition of "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms
" accompanies the closing credits of the Coen brothers
' True Grit (2010)
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
. DeMent's musical style encompasses the genres country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
and folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
.
Early life
DeMent was the youngest child of Pat DeMent and his second wife, Flora Mae. As the baby of the family, she was Pat DeMent's fourteenth child, and Flora Mae's eighth. She was raised in a Pentecostal household, but now identifies as an "agnostic Christian."She was born near the town of Paragould, Arkansas
Paragould, Arkansas
-Health & Education:Paragould is home to Arkansas State University Paragould, Arkansas Northeastern College, Black River Technical College, and Crowley's Ridge College. Paragould has two public school districts, the Greene County Technical School District and the Paragould School District, as well...
but grew up in Cypress, California
Cypress, California
Cypress is a suburban city located in the northern region of Orange County within Southern California. Its population was 47,802 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, where she was exposed to and influenced by country and gospel music
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
.
Music and career
DeMent's first album, Infamous Angel, was released in 1992 and explored themes like religious skepticism, living in a small town, lamenting "nothing good ever lasts", and forgiving human frailty. Her song "Let the Mystery Be" from that album has been covered by a number of artists, including 10,000 Maniacs10,000 Maniacs
10,000 Maniacs is a United States-based alternative rock band, which formed in 1981 and continues to be active with various line-ups.-1981–1993:...
, Alice Stuart
Alice Stuart
Alice Stuart is an American blues and folk singer-songwriter and guitarist. She toured the UK with Van Morrison and throughout the United States with Mississippi John Hurt....
, and in the opening scenes of the movie Little Buddha
Little Buddha
Little Buddha is a 1994 feature film by Italian director Bernardo Bertolucci, starring Bridget Fonda and Keanu Reeves. Made by Bertolucci's regular partner, British producer Jeremy Thomas, it marked the team's return to the East after The Last Emperor....
(neither credited, nor on the sound-track album) and has become one of DeMent's better known compositions. In her second album, My Life, released in 1994, she continued the personal and introspective approach. My Life was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Contemporary Folk Album category. DeMent's third album, The Way I Should, was released in 1996. Featuring the protest song
Protest song
A protest song is a song which is associated with a movement for social change and hence part of the broader category of topical songs . It may be folk, classical, or commercial in genre...
"Wasteland of the Free," it is DeMent's most political work, and covers topics like sexual abuse, religion, government policy, and Vietnam. After a hiatus during the late 1990s and early 2000s, she released her fourth album, Lifeline, in 2004.
She gained some notice singing the Merle Haggard
Merle Haggard
Merle Ronald Haggard is an American country music singer, guitarist, fiddler, instrumentalist, and songwriter. Along with Buck Owens, Haggard and his band The Strangers helped create the Bakersfield sound, which is characterized by the unique twang of Fender Telecaster guitars, vocal harmonies,...
song, "Big City
Big City (song)
"Big City" is a song made famous by country music singer Merle Haggard. Co-written by Haggard and Dean Holloway, the song was released in 1982 as the title track to his first album for Epic Records...
", on Tulare Dust: Tribute to Merle Haggard, a 1994 various artists tribute album
Tribute album
A tribute album is a recorded collection of cover versions of songs or instrumental compositions. Its concept may be either various artists making a tribute to a single artist, a single artist making a tribute to various artists, or a single artist making a tribute to another single artist.There...
. In 1995, her song "Our Town" was played in the closing moments of the last episode for the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
TV series Northern Exposure
Northern Exposure
Northern Exposure is an American television series that ran on CBS from 1990 to 1995, with a total of 110 episodes.-Overview:The series was given a pair of consecutive Peabody Awards: in 1991–92 for the show's "depict[ion] in a comedic and often poetic way, [of] the cultural clash between a...
, gaining DeMent more fans. (The song has also been recorded by Kate Rusby
Kate Rusby
Kate Anna Rusby is an English folk singer and songwriter from Penistone, South Yorkshire. Sometimes known as The Barnsley Nightingale, she has headlined various British national folk festivals, and is regarded as one of the most famous English folk singers of contemporary times...
, Jody Stecher
Jody Stecher
Jody Stecher is an American singer and musician, who plays bluegrass and old-time music on banjo, mandolin, fiddle and guitar, and Dagar-vani dhrupad on the sursringar, a rare Indian instrument that is a baritone relative of the sarod....
, and Kate Brislin.)
DeMent has sung duets with John Prine
John Prine
John Prine is an American country/folk singer-songwriter. He has been active as a recording artist and live performer since the early 1970s.-Biography:...
(on In Spite of Ourselves
In Spite of Ourselves
In Spite of Ourselves is an album of duets between John Prine and various well-known female folk and alt-country vocalists, released in 1999.The album was Prine’s first release since successfully battling throat cancer...
), Steve Earle
Steve Earle
Stephen Fain "Steve" Earle is an American singer-songwriter known for his rock and Texas Country as well as his political views. He is also a producer, author, a political activist, and an actor, and has written and directed a play....
and Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris is an American singer-songwriter and musician. In addition to her work as a solo artist and bandleader, both as an interpreter of other composers' works and as a singer-songwriter, she is a sought-after backing vocalist and duet partner, working with numerous other artists including...
and is featured on the albums of many other performers. She has made frequent appearances on Garrison Keillor
Garrison Keillor
Gary Edward "Garrison" Keillor is an American author, storyteller, humorist, and radio personality. He is known as host of the Minnesota Public Radio show A Prairie Home Companion Gary Edward "Garrison" Keillor (born August 7, 1942) is an American author, storyteller, humorist, and radio...
's A Prairie Home Companion
A Prairie Home Companion
A Prairie Home Companion is a live radio variety show created and hosted by Garrison Keillor. The show runs on Saturdays from 5 to 7 p.m. Central Time, and usually originates from the Fitzgerald Theater in Saint Paul, Minnesota, although it is frequently taken on the road...
, and appeared in the 2000 film Songcatcher
Songcatcher
The film's score was written by David Mansfield, who also assembled a roster of female country music artists to perform mostly traditional mountain ballads. Some of the songs are contemporary arrangements, and some are played in the traditional Appalachian music style. The artists include Rosanne...
, playing the character Rose Gentry and singing on the soundtrack as well. In 1994, Natalie Merchant
Natalie Merchant
Natalie Anne Merchant is an American singer-songwriter and musician. She joined the alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs in 1981 and left it to begin her solo career in 1993.-Early life:...
of 10,000 Maniacs
10,000 Maniacs
10,000 Maniacs is a United States-based alternative rock band, which formed in 1981 and continues to be active with various line-ups.-1981–1993:...
performed DeMent's song "Let the Mystery Be" with David Byrne
David Byrne (musician)
David Byrne is a musician and artist, best known as a founding member and principal songwriter of the American new wave band Talking Heads, which was active between 1975 and 1991. Since then, Byrne has released his own solo recordings and worked with various media including film, photography,...
for the show MTV Unplugged
MTV Unplugged
MTV Unplugged is a TV series showcasing many popular musical artists usually playing acoustic instruments. The show has received the George Foster Peabody Award and 3 Primetime Emmy nominations among many accolades.-Unplugged:...
. The song was included on Campfire Songs: The Popular, Obscure and Unknown Recordings
Campfire Songs: The Popular, Obscure and Unknown Recordings
Campfire Songs: The Popular, Obscure and Unknown Recordings is a 2004 compilation album by 10,000 Maniacs featuring their biggest hits, b-sides and unknown recordings from the Natalie Merchant era.-Track listing:Disc One - The Most Popular Recordings...
.
DeMent's rendition of "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms
Leaning on the Everlasting Arms
Leaning on the Everlasting Arms is a hymn published in 1887 with music by Anthony J. Showalter and lyrics by Showalter and Elisha A. Hoffman. Showalter said that he received letters from two of his former pupils saying that their wives had died...
" accompanies the closing credits of the Coen brothers
Coen Brothers
Joel David Coen and Ethan Jesse Coen known together professionally as the Coen brothers, are American filmmakers...
' True Grit (2010)
True Grit (2010 film)
True Grit is a 2010 American Western film written and directed by the Coen brothers. It is the second adaptation of Charles Portis' 1968 novel of the same name, which was previously filmed in 1969 starring John Wayne. This version stars Hailee Steinfeld as Mattie Ross and Jeff Bridges as U.S....
.
Personal life
DeMent married Elmer McCall in 1991, but the marriage subsequently ended in divorce. She married singer-songwriter Greg Brown on November 21, 2002.Charts
| Year | Album | Chart | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Infamous Angel | One of Rolling Stone's "Essential Recordings of the 90's" | |
| 1994 | My Life My Life (Iris DeMent album) My Life is the second album released by singer-songwriter Iris DeMent. It peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart.The album was dedicated to her father, Patric Shaw DeMent, who died in 1992.-Side one:#"Sweet Is the Melody" – 3:41... |
Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... Heatseekers Top Heatseekers Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical... |
16 |
| 1996 | The Way I Should The Way I Should The Way I Should is the third album released by singer-songwriter Iris DeMent. It peaked at number 22 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart.Guests include guitarist Mark Knopfler and Delbert McClinton, who duets with DeMent on "Trouble".-Track listing:... |
Billboard Heatseekers | 22 |
| Jan 2004 | Lifeline Lifeline (Iris DeMent album) Lifeline is the fourth album released by singer-songwriter Iris DeMent, released in 2004, eight years since her previous recording The Way I Should.... |
FolkDJ-L Folk Radio Airplay | 15 |
Albums
- Infamous AngelInfamous Angel (Iris DeMent album)Infamous Angel is the debut album of singer-songwriter Iris DeMent.In 1995, her song "Our Town" was played in the closing moments of the last episode for the CBS TV series Northern Exposure...
(January 16, 1992) - My LifeMy Life (Iris DeMent album)My Life is the second album released by singer-songwriter Iris DeMent. It peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart.The album was dedicated to her father, Patric Shaw DeMent, who died in 1992.-Side one:#"Sweet Is the Melody" – 3:41...
(1994) - The Way I ShouldThe Way I ShouldThe Way I Should is the third album released by singer-songwriter Iris DeMent. It peaked at number 22 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart.Guests include guitarist Mark Knopfler and Delbert McClinton, who duets with DeMent on "Trouble".-Track listing:...
(1996) - LifelineLifeline (Iris DeMent album)Lifeline is the fourth album released by singer-songwriter Iris DeMent, released in 2004, eight years since her previous recording The Way I Should....
(2004)
Other contributions
- WYEP Live and Direct: Volume 4 - On Air PerformancesWYEP Live and Direct: Volume 4 - On Air PerformancesWYEP Live and Direct: Volume 4 - On Air Performances is a compilation album made of songs that were performed by various artists live on WYEP. WYEP is a non-commercial, community-supported radio station that specializes in eclectic music and programming...
(2002) - "Our Town"
Further reading
- In The Country of Country: A Journey to the Roots of American Music, Nicholas Dawidoff, Vintage Books, 1998, ISBN 0-375-70082-X
- Don't Get Above Your Raisin': Country Music and the Southern Working Class, Bill C. Malone, University of Illinois Press, 2001, ISBN 0-252-02678-0
External links
- Iris DeMent Homepage
- Iris DeMent at Folklib.net
- Prairie Home Companion appearance on November 2, 2002