Tracy Chapman

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Tracy Chapman is an American singer-songwriter, born in 1964 in Cleveland. Her mother bought a ukulele when she was three, and at eight she was already writing songs on guitar. Through a programme for gifted pupils she went to a boarding school in Connecticut, after which she studied anthropology at Tufts University. There she played on the street in Harvard Square and on subway platforms. A fellow student brought a demo with Talkin' 'bout a Revolution to the attention of a publisher, and in 1987 she signed with Elektra Records.

Music and breakthrough

Her self-titled debut album from 1988 was a great success. A decisive role was played by her performance at the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute at Wembley Stadium, where she stepped in at the last moment for Stevie Wonder. After that Fast Car rose quickly in the American charts. The album won three Grammys, including that for Best New Artist. Later came Crossroads (1989), Matters of the Heart (1992) and New Beginning (1995), with the hit Give Me One Reason. Telling Stories, Let It Rain, Where You Live and Our Bright Future (2008) followed.

Influence

Her music is sober: an acoustic guitar, a warm, dark voice and lyrics about poverty, inequality and politics. In 2023 Luke Combs had a country hit with his cover of Fast Car, which made Chapman the first Black artist to win a country award for Song of the Year with a composition of her own.

Listening

Discography

Studio albums

• 1988Tracy Chapman
• 1989Crossroads
• 1992Matters of the Heart
• 1995New Beginning
• 2000Telling Stories
• 2002Let It Rain
• 2008Our Bright Future
• 20214 Years Selection

See also

• Tracy Chapman