Marc Cohn
Friday, November 1, 2019 at 8:00 PM at Emelin Theatre
Marc is one of the most soulful, talented artists I know. I love his songs, he's an incredible singer, and I marvel at his ability to mesmerize every audience he plays for. - Bonnie Raitt
After winning a GRAMMY for his soulful ballad 'Walking in Memphis,' Marc Cohn solidified his place as one of this generation’s most compelling singer-songwriters, combining the precision of a brilliant tunesmith with the passion of a great soul man. Rooted in the rich ground of American rhythm and blues, soul and gospel and possessed of a deft storyteller’s pen, he weaves vivid, detailed, often drawn-from-life tales that evoke some of our most universal human feelings: love, hope, faith, joy and heartbreak.
Cohn followed up his platinum-selling 1991 debut album, with two more releases in the 1990s. As his reputation as an artist and performer continued to grow, Bonnie Raitt, James Taylor, David Crosby, Graham Nash and Patty Griffin all made guest appearances on Cohn’s early records for Atlantic.
In 2007, Cohn recorded his most moving and critically-acclaimed record to date, Join the Parade, inspired by the horrific events following Hurricane Katrina and his own near-fatal shooting just weeks before. Cohn then released Listening Booth: 1970, a collection of reimagined classics, “The Coldest Corner in the World” (2014), the title song to the documentary Tree Man, as well as Careful What You Dream: Lost Songs and Rarities, along with the bonus album Evolution of a Record (2016).
In 2017, Cohn went on the road with the legendary Michael McDonald, garnering critical acclaim across the U.S. As a songwriter, he also worked with a roster of American music greats. Cohn co-wrote a solid half of the celebrated album This is Where I Live, by soul survivor William Bell, who with Cohn’s help won his first GRAMMY at age 78. Marc revisited another corner of American music’s rich heritage with the Blind Boys of Alabama on the GRAMMY-nominated song 'Let My Mother Live,' and also worked with David Crosby on the album Lighthouse.
Moving forward, he continues to do what he does best: infuse American music with both a fresh perspective and a reverence for its deep roots.
Opening Act: Mark Erelli
Bearing witness to small details and fleeting moments is what dignifies our everyday stories, rendering the mundane profound. This principle has governed Erelli’s approach to his two decade career, including 11 solo albums, stints accompanying Josh Ritter, Paula Cole and Anais Mitchell, and a pair of records he produced for GRAMMY-winning songwriter Lori McKenna. Ever since Billboard magazine heralded the “simple, atmospheric grace” of his Signature Sounds debut, Erelli’s belief in the sacredness of an examined life has driven him between the ostensible extremes of lullabies and murder ballads, western swing and protest anthems. Whether he’s holding a pen or a Telecaster, Erelli’s music welcomes even the casual listener, but those who choose to dig more deeply are richly rewarded. Perhaps that is what Folk Alley hears in Erelli’s songs, when it encourages people to “listen close; there's sure to be something in there to break your heart a split second before it leads you straight to grace.”