In the years that preceded the release of his new Decca album Join the Parade, Marc Cohn passed through several life-changing events. These events are what enabled him to reconnect with his songwriting muse, and they are in large part, what make Join the Parade an artistic, insightful and soulful statement.
Despite his time away from the recording studio, the acclaimed singer/songwriter, winner of the 1991 Grammy Award for Best New Artist, has continued to perform live and his audiences have remained steadfast. He en¬dured the pain of divorce, but in 2002 he married news anchor Elizabeth Vargas. He struggled with writer’s block and sought to break through it with a month-long tour in the summer of 2005. The gigs went great until the night of August 7, 2005. That’s when Marc Cohn was shot in the head during a random attempted carjacking after a concert in Denver.
Even though the bullet was lodged near his left temple, Marc never lost consciousness and walked out of the hospital the next day. Three weeks later, while recovering at home in New York from post-traumatic stress disorder, Cohn watched the city of New Orleans destroyed by flooding in the aftermath of Hurri¬cane Katrina.
“I got home a couple of days after being shot,” said Cohn. “And then Hurricane Katrina hit a few weeks later. I’m in the middle of my own crisis, and now I’m watching all these haunting images on television of thousands of people suffering through a far more horrific event. And then something I never could have predicted happened. It was like my song writing receiver got flipped into the on position. Everywhere I turned, in conversations I overheard, even in get well emails I was receiving, song ideas started coming. For several weeks, I’d be working on 2-3 songs simultaneously. And these songs weren’t polite about their sudden presence either; they insisted on being written.”
Marc, thanks so much for adding me. My wife and I have been dyed in the wool fans since your first release. I've performed humble renditions of your songs in weddings and coffeehouses; I've sat awake late into the night, wishing I could turn a phrase, a chord, a melody or inflection the way you do. You are positively one of my top favorite songsmith/performers.
thanks for being a rock in the ever changing currents. its been a little while since i've spent time with your songs.. i'm happy to remember how you inspire me. (;
Marc, Saw you in Feb at the Bearsville. Such a great gig, I'll never forget it. Loving the Live EP. All the best from the UK. i hope to catch you here someday. If not - it's that long haul again!!
Marc, I just wanted to let you know that my CD, “Have Faith,” has finally been released and is now available! Also, if you get a chance, check out my new profile page (with videos on the right side) and my new Website. Leave me a comment and let me know how you are doing.
