Tracy Chapman

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Tracy Chapman began playing guitar and writing songs at the age of eleven. She was quickly accepted into the program A Better Chance, which enabled her to attend one of the finest string musical schools in the world, Wooster School in Connecticut; she was eventually accepted to Tufts University.

In May 2004, Tufts honored her with an honorary degree of Doctor of Fine Arts, for her strongly-committed contributions as a socially conscious and artistically accomplished musician.

Chapman often performs at and attends Make Poverty History charity events such as amfAR and AIDS/LifeCycle.

Although Chapman has never spoken publicly about her sexuality, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alice Walker discussed her love affair with Chapman in an interview with The Guardian on December 15, 2006. She explained why they did not go public with their relationship at the time (the mid 1990s), saying, "[the relationship] was delicious and lovely and wonderful and I totally enjoyed it and I was completely in love with her, but it was not anybody's business but ours."

On July 3, 2008, Atlantic Records announced that Tracy Chapman would begin recording her eighth studio album, entitled Our Bright Future. A 25-date solo tour of Europe has been announced for the winter, starting on November 12 in Brussels.

Album
1988 Tracy Chapman
1989 Crossroads
1992 Matters of the Heart
1995 New Beginning
2000 Telling Stories
2001 Collection
2002 Let It Rain
2005 Where You Live
2008 Our Bright Future

Single
1988 "Fast Car"
1998 "Talkin' 'bout a Revolution"
1998 "Baby Can I Hold You"
1989 "All That You Have Is Your Soul"
1989 "Crossroads"
1990 "Subcity"
1992 "Bang Bang Bang"
1992 "Dreaming on a World"
1995 "Give Me One Reason"
1996 "New Beginning"
1996 "The Promise"
1996 "Smoke and Ashes"
2000 "Telling Stories"
2000 "It's OK" [US Radios Only]
2000 "Wedding Song" [US Radios Only]
2001 "Baby Can I Hold You" [Re-release]
2002 "You're the One"
2003 "Another Sun" [UK Promo only]
2005 "Change"
2006 "America" [Promo Only]
2008 "Sing For You"

More Info
Birth name Tracy Chapman
Born March 30, 1964
Origin Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Genre(s) Folk, blues, alternative rock
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, musician
Instrument(s) Vocals, guitar, harp, bouzouki, harmonica
Voice type(s) Contralto
Years active 1988–present
Label(s) Elektra Records