Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman

The American singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman is just a year older than me. She was born in 1964 in Cleveland, Ohio, and was inspired to be a musician by watching shows like Hee Haw. After playing her guitar in coffeehouses while in college, she eventually was signed to the Elektra Records label and released her self-titled debut Tracy Chapman in 1988.

This debut record was very popular, going multi-platinum the world over. It went to number 1 in many countries (the US, Canada, the UK, Germany, Italy, Austria, and the Netherlands). The record helped her to win the Grammy Awards for the Best New Artist and for Best Contemporary Folk Album in 1989. Tracy Chapman was rated number 10 on Rolling Stone’s list of 100 Greatest Albums of the 80’s and number 261 on its list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All-Time.