Kathy Chiavola is internationally recognized as one of the most respected vocalists and rhythm guitarists in bluegrass and acoustic music. She grew up playing guitar and singing folk, blues and rock in Kansas City, MO and was awarded a scholarship to the Oberlin Conservatory of Music where she earned her bachelor’s and masters degrees in voice. She later studied in a doctoral program at Indiana University with Metropolitan Opera star Eileen Farrell and moved to Nashville in 1980. She worked with The Doug Dillard Band, Vassar Clements, The Country Gazette, Jerry Douglas, Edgar Meyer, Bela Fleck and Mark O’Connor before forming her own group.
Kathy released her fourth album SOMEHOW, in August, 2007. It is her first recording of all original songs and incorporates diverse influences; bluegrass, blues, jazz, Latin, and country with an extraordinary cast of musicians including Victor Wooten, Edgar Meyer, Darrell Scott, Stuart Duncan, Jeff Coffin, Joey Misculin, Rob Ickes, and flamenco greats Chuscales and Yiyi. Critic Tom Travis of the UK’s Country Music People Magazine, December, 2007 issue named it his album of the year.
Kathy has toured the US, UK, Europe, Japan extensively and was the first bluegrass artist to perform in the Faroe Islands. "It was nothing less than a volcano of a concert, a country and bluegrass victory, where the acoustic instruments and a big voice filled every corner." in the Faroes to Castleford, England "nothing short of incredible", to Kenilworth, England "The audience - not all bluegrass fans, were captivated....Awesome."
Her previous recordings include FROM WHERE I STAND, A Personal Tribute, dedicated to world champion fiddler Randy Howard, her partner of nine years. Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine proclaimed, “stunning, emotional... beautifully compelling...Kathy’s vocal style and range fill a huge gap in today’s world of female bluegrass singers....An inspiring and courageous album to be treasured” and THE HARVEST which features Randy Howard, Roy Huskey, Brent Truitt, Chet Atkins, Emmylou Harris, Tony Rice, Bela Fleck, John Cowan, Bill Monroe, and Vince Gill. The Chicago Tribune hailed it one of the top five bluegrass CD’s of ‘96. Her duet with Bill Monroe is believed to be his last vocal recording.
Kathy’s country debut LABOR OF LOVE gathered unanimous critical acclaim in 1990. It was London’s Tower Records’ No. 1 country CD for two weeks and reached No. 2 on the UK country chart. Kathy’s recorded “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” for A PICTURE OF HANK, Mercury Records and “Won’t Be Long” for CLASSIC RAILROAD SONGS, VOL 4, Rounder Records.
Kathy has been featured on NPR’s Weekend All Things Considered, (www.npr.org, click on archives, select “Weekend All Things Considered” and type Kathy Chiavola)and was co-artistic director of the Nashville Chamber Orchestra American Song Festival featuring herself and Tim O’brien, Peter Rowan, Guy Clark, Nanci Griffith, Darrell Scott, Bill Miller, Marcus Hummon and Jim Lauderdale.
Kathy was voted 1995’s Outstanding Background Vocalist in the Nashville Music Awards. She has recorded with Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Tammy Wynette, Kathy Mattea, Garth Brooks, Emmylou Harris, Bill Monroe, John Oates, Tony Rice, Kenny Rogers, Wayne Newton, and many others. She has been heard on jingles for State Farm, McDonald’s and Country Time Lemonade.
She is a voice instructor at Belmont University, endorses D’Addario strings, Martin Guitars and serves on the board of directors for the Nashville chapter of The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.
AWARDS
Recorded Event of the Year, FOLLOW ME BACK TO THE FOLD, IBMA 2001
Female Vocalist of the Year, nominations, 1998 & 2000 SPBGMA
International Artist of the Year Independent Label - British Country Music Awards, nomination 1997
Female Vocalist of the Year, SPBGMA Bluegrass Awards 1997
Top 5 Bluegrass CDs, Chicago Tribune 1996
Backup Vocalist of the Year, Nashville Music Awards 1995
ALBUM REVIEWS
FROM WHERE I STAND
“With a voice that borders somewhere between Patsy Cline and light opera, Chiavola puts across every emotional moment with grace, confidence and tremendous comprehension....listen to the incredibly deep quality of her delivery. “ ~Stephanie Ledgin, SING OUT MAGAZINE, Summer 2001
“Chiavola has one of the purest, most refined voices in Nashville, and it commands attention here on a variety of music, from folkie material like Kate Wolf’s ‘Across the Great Divide’ to her own heart-breaking folk aria ‘Senza Parole’.” ~Craig Havighurst, THE TENNESSEAN, MARCH 8, 2001
“Setting aside the emotional charge that pervades this recording, the selection of material is first-class and the performances, wholly acoustic, are divine....she holds the listener spellbound.” ~Craig Baguley, COUNTRY MUSIC PEOPLE MAGAZINE, March 2001
“She’s pure of heart and pure of voice. Somehow equal parts classical soprano and mountain folkie.” ~Robert K. Oermann, MUSIC ROW, March, 2001
THE HARVEST
“Only superlatives can describe this stunning album. Wonderfully sung, superbly played, but, more importantly, constructed with care and not constrained within the bluegrass straitjacket. Explodes another theory-no one sings a John Hiatt song better than John Hiatt. Should be compulsory listening for anyone about to record an acoustic album.” ~John Atkins, Critics Choice Favourite albums of 1996, Country Music People
“Her new self-produced album...is as passionate as it is virtuosic. More than
just a terrific album, The Harvest is testimony to Chiavola’s musical vision and to the esteem of her friends and peers.” ~The Nashville Scene
“Chiavola is simply a highly talented bluegrass-style performer who possesses a golden ear for great songs plus the sterling voice and delivery needed to do them justice.” ~Bluegrass Unlimited
“Anyone with an interest in acoustic music, whether it be bluegrass, singer-songwriters or simply superlative musicianship should head out and buy this album right away....The highest of this album’s high spots is Kathy’s arrangement of John Hiatt’s Thirty Years of Tears. It’s stunning, even better than Hiatt’s version, and I can give no more praise than that.” ~Country Music People
“the voice is back....one of the best releases of ‘96...Kathy Chiavola has once again, if that’s possible, surprised many of the critics in country music with her breathtaking and stunning vocal presentation on the new album.” ~The New Country Music Gazette
“This is by far the best release this year.” ~Bradford Telegraph & Argus
“a follow up of the highest order......one of the most beautiful voices around. Her poise and total command of the material echoing class at every turn.” ~Country Music Roundup
LABOR OF LOVE
“I love this voice. I love this woman. I love this record.” ~Robert K. Oermann
“The Voice...the find of the country year.” ~Folk Roots
“Stunning!” ~Country Music People
“Chiavola has one of the sweetest and most sought after session voices in Nashville”
~Billboard
CONCERT REVIEWS
“Time and time again her stunning performance raised the roof..” ~Country Music People
“I adore Kathy’s wonderful voice and so did this festival audience. She cast a musical spell over all of us that I will long cherish...an unforgettable performance. ~International Country Music News and Routes
“Backed by just her own guitar and the hugely expressive fiddle work of world champion Randy Howard, she enthralled the audience with a vocal purity, pitch and control that was nothing short of beautiful...” ~Country Music People
“Kathy, ‘the voice’, holds any audience spellbound when she sings, we sat there absolutely entranced as did other members of the audience. Absolute bliss.” ~North Country Music
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