Natalie Merchant

Natalie Anne Merchant was born on October 26, 1963 in Jamestown, New York (upstate New York - close to Buffulo).

As a 16-year-old student at Jamestown Community College in her hometown, Natalie met campus radio DJs Dennis Drew and Steve Gustafson. Early the following year, Drew (who played keyboards) and Gustafson (who played bass) recruited guitarist Robert Buck to form a band called Still Life. On a whim, Merchant began sitting in with them, and she was soon asked to join. They changed its name and 10,000 Maniacs was born. She stayed with the band for 13 years from when she was 17 to when she was 30. In July 1993 she announced she was leaving the band to pursue a solo career. Merchant released her first solo effort in 1995. Titled "Tigerlily".

Her thought provoking lyricism has earned her comparisons to more literary figures than musical - "The Emily Dickinson or Flannery 'O Connor of Pop" - this reputation as a song writer of quality and her sweet, distinctive voice have captivated a loyal audience over the past 20 years.

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