Claire Lynch (born February 20, 1954) is an American bluegrass musician, singer, songwriter, and producer. She is a three-time winner of the International Bluegrass Music Association's Female Vocalist of the Year honors.[3] She is considered one of the two best female voices in bluegrass, a recognition she shares with Dale Ann Bradley.[3]
Claire Lynch | |
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Lynch at the Richmond Folk Festival in 2018 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | (1954-02-20) February 20, 1954 (age 68)[1] Kingston, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | Bluegrass |
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| Years active | 1977–present |
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| Website | clairelynch |
Lynch moved to Huntsville, Alabama from Kingston, New York, when she was 12 years old.[4] She grew up in a musical family, with her mother playing the piano and her father singing.[5] She had two sisters with whom she would sing, including doing trios at church. In high school, she spent time writing and recording songs.[5]
Lynch's musical career transitioned during college when she became interested in bluegrass music. She joined a band called Hickory Wind, which eventually changed its name to the Front Porch String Band.[5] Lynch played with the group until 1981, when it retired from the road. She then pursued a dual career of music and raising a family. The Front Porch String Band reunited in 1991, releasing the album Lines and Traces.[5]
| Title | Album details | Peak positions |
|---|---|---|
| US Bluegrass [6] | ||
| Breakin' It |
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— |
| Friends for a Lifetime |
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— |
| Moonlighter |
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— |
| Silver and Gold |
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— |
| Lovelight |
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— |
| Out in the Country |
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— |
| New Day |
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11 |
| Crowd Favorites |
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10 |
| Whatcha Gonna Do |
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— |
| Dear Sister |
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9 |
| North by South |
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5 |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||
Lynch has won numerous awards in her career, including being named the best female vocalist in 1997, 2010, and 2013 by the International Bluegrass Music Association. She also received a USA Walker Fellowship Award in 2012.[7]
Three of Lynch's albums have been nominated for a Grammy in the Best Bluegrass Album category:[8]
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