Tracy Chapman was born on March 20, 1964 in
Cleveland,
Ohio. She learned to play the
ukulele, piano and guitar in her youth, and eventually she began
writing songs. She went to
Tufts University in
Boston on a minority placement scholarship. There, she studied
African culture and
anthropology.
While in school, Chapman performed at local coffeehouses in Harvard Square. Her moving vocals and fresh folk sound got her signed with Elektra Records in 1987, and her debut album, containing the major single “Fast Car,” was a huge hit. Chapman was and is a major supporter for social causes, specifically those of human rights and racial equity. She won Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the Grammy Awards in 1989, and Best Contemporary Folk Recording in 1997 for “Give Me One Reason.”
Her albums include: Debut album “Tracy Chapman,” “Crossroads,” “Matters of the Heart,” “New Beginning,” and “Telling Stories.”
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