Natalie Merchant

Merchant co-founded and sang in the band 10,000 Maniacs in 1981 (see 1981 in music) but left the band in 1993 (see 1993 in music) for a solo career. Her solo album Tigerlily (1995, 1995 in music) had three top-40 singles, Carnival, Jealousy, and Wonder. In 1998, Natalie released Ophelia and the following year released Live in Concert. In 2001 Natalie released her most critically acclaimed album, Motherland, and went on an extensive tour of North America and Europe. In 2003, Natalie parted ways with Elektra Records and released a folk album of traditional songs called The House Carpenter's Daughter on September 16, 2003 on Myth America records. Natalie also plays the piano, produces and writes all of her songs.

Merchant has collaborated with Billy Bragg a number of times, including the 1998 album Mermaid Avenue. Like Bragg, her work touches on social and political themes and she has been active in raising a number of campaigning issues in both her songs and through the causes she lends her name to. Her website, which she is actively involved in contributing to, prominently displays a link to The Nation, which gives some indication of her political stance.

In the summer of 2003 Merchant gave birth to a daughter named Lucia.

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