Claire Lynch

Bluegrass Harmony, Week 1
Songwriting Camp

Claire Lynch received a well-deserved Grammy nomination for Best Bluegrass Album for her 1995 Rounder debut, Moonlighter. Her latest album, New Day, and some of its singles have been lingering around the tops of the bluegrass and Americana charts - and for good reason: Claire is a powerful and unique singer and songwriter.

Suddenly, after 20 years in the business, six albums, countless sessions with some of Nashville's biggest stars and success as a songwriter, Claire Lynch has arrived.

Claire Lynch lived with her family in Hazel Green, Alabama town for years, quietly honing her craft. With the success of Moonlighter, her career spun into high gear: national TV and radio appearances, increased bookings, a video for "My Heart is a Diamond", extended stays in the top reaches of the Gavin Americana and Bluegrass Unlimited charts, and an IBMA award for "Female Vocalist of the Year" (1997) all came her way in the wake of Claire's first Grammy nomination.

There were very few role models for a young woman starting out on the bluegrass highway back in 1973 when Claire Lynch joined a band called Hickory Wind. A native of Kingston, New York, who has lived in Northern Alabama since the age of 12, Claire was offered a position in the band and decided she was going to be a bluegrass singer. After changing its name to the Front Porch String Band, the group worked regularly throughout the Southeast over the next several years, becoming fan favorites on the strength of its open-minded musical approach and incredible lead singer.

Claire also launched dual careers as a songwriter (her songs have been recorded by Patty Loveless, the Seldom Scene, Kathy Mattea, the Whites and Stephanie Davis) and a session vocalist. Her exquisite harmonies have graced albums by such leading artists as Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, Patty Loveless, Pam Tillis, Kathy Mattea, John Starling and Ralph Stanley.