Support Women Artists Sunday: Cat Power

Cat Power is the stage name of American singer/songwriter Chan Marshall (born Charlyn Marie Marshall on January 21, 1972). She is known for her minimalist style, sparse guitar and piano playing, and breathy vocals.

Chan Marshall was born in Atlanta, Georgia. Marshall's father, Charlie, is a blues musician and itinerant pianist. Her childhood involved much upheaval, with Marshall living throughout the Southern United States (Greensboro, North Carolina; Bartlett, Tennessee; and Georgia and South Carolina), back and forth between parents and her grandmother. In interviews she has openly discussed her childhood and stated that the constant traveling prepared her for the touring life of a professional musician.

After dropping out of high school, she started performing under the name Cat Power while in Atlanta, backed by musicians Glen Thrasher, Marc Moore, and others. She took the Cat Power name after a Caterpillar ad that read: "Cat Diesel Power". While in Atlanta, Marshall played her first live shows as support to her friends' bands, including Magic Bone and Opal Foxx Quartet.

In 2007, Marshall contributed songs to the soundtrack of Ethan Hawke's new movie The Hottest State, recording with Jesse Harris and Terry Manning, and the Academy Award-winning Juno. In early 2008, she collaborated with Beck and producer Danger Mouse on the album Modern Guilt. She contributed backing vocals to two tracks, "Orphans" and "Walls". The album was released in July of that year.

Cat Power's song "Half of You", from the album You Are Free, was featured on the HBO show True Blood in an episode 6 love scene, and "Fool", from the same album, was featured in episode 4 of the third series of UK teen drama Skins. Cat Power's song "The Greatest," from her album The Greatest, was featured in the 2009 film 17 Again.

via wikipedia

Sea of Love Wonderwall (cover) Cat Power on iTunes: