Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

ETHERIDGE, Melissa

(b 29 May '61, Leavenworth KS) Singer-songwriter. Worked on the East Coast coffee house circuit before moving to Los Angeles; spotted by Chris Blackwell of Island Records, who personally signed her. Etheridge came to wider notice with her debut album on Island '88, which notched up healthy sales world-wide but especially in USA and Australia. Melissa Etheridge found her in the company of session musicians of the calibre of guitarist Waddy Wachtel and keyboardist Wally Badarou. Island released promotional CD Live to maintain impetus at the turn of the year; including 'Crome Plated Heart', 'The Late September Dogs', 'Similar Features', 'Bring Me Some Water' and 'Like The Way I Do', the best songs on Melissa Etheridge. Brave And Crazy '89 was an album of songs with economical arrangements and the same powerful delivery (some said overwrought). Etheridge came out as a lesbian in the early '90s and it seemed to give new life to her work, which could be appraised again, and reappraisal tended to heighten the songs' universality. Her next was Never Enough '92, incl. Grammy-winning 'Ain't It Heavy'. Yes I Am '93 ploughed the same furrow with another Grammy for 'Come To My Window', plus 'All American Girl' and 'I'm The Only One'. In Nov. '94 she sang the US national anthem at Madison Square Garden before Martina Navratilova's final match in a 22-year tennis career (Navratilova lost to Gabriela Sabatini). Your Little Secret '95 confirmed her as one of the most remarkable singers and songwriters in her field, with the raw vitality of Janis Joplin but without Joplin's vocal excesses. (At Joplin's inauguration into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Etheridge in '95 sang 'Piece Of My Heart'.) 'Shriner's Park' remembered a park in Leavenworth where high school kids used to go late at night. With songs such as 'Change', 'Your Little Secret' and 'Nowhere To Go' there was little in the way of innovation or stylistic development, but whatever she does has integrity. As a declaration of intent, Etheridge told The Advocate '94, 'I write from a genderless place. I don't think I will ever write or sing ''I love her.'' I like that my music reaches not just gay but straight fans, men and women both.'