Katy Moffatt | |
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 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Tribute to Les Paul, State Theater, Cleveland OH, November 15, 2008 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | (1950-11-19)November 19, 1950 (age 74) |
| Origin | Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. |
| Instrument | acoustic guitar |
| Years active | 1970s – present |
| Website | Katy Moffatt: Americana Musician |
Katherine Louella "Katy" Moffatt (born November 19, 1950) is an American musician, lyricist, composer, vocalist.[1][2] She is the sister ofcountry singer-songwriterHugh Moffatt.
Moffatt became impassioned by music as a child growing up inFort Worth, Texas. She was captivated by Broadway show tunes, theBeatles, and theMotown sound, and has said that she was such an avid listener to Top 40 radio that "I used to come home from school, have dinner, go to bed, and set the alarm for midnight. Then I'd get up and do my homework and listen to the radio. It was my favorite time – I could be alone with the music."[3]
Moffatt points to the influence of the Beatles and the bands of theBritish Invasion as inspiring her to learn the guitar. She creditsLeonard Cohen's "Dress Rehearsal Rag" for making her want to perform and says folk singers likeJudy Collins,Phil Ochs, andDave Van Ronk were her models.Ella Fitzgerald and the versatile vocalist,Tracy Nelson were also important influences.[3]
Moffatt was born in Fort Worth, Texas.[4] She left Fort Worth to attendTulane University in New Orleans but ended up studying atSt. John's College in Santa Fe, New Mexico.[5] In Santa Fe, she developed a local following performing her songs at the college. Her local fame won her a part as a folk singer inTom Laughlin's movie, "Billy Jack."[6] In 1971, as an aspiring singer-songwriter, she moved toDenver, Colorado to find an audience in the growing musical community there. While working a regular cocktail hour gig at a Denver hotel, Moffatt met Mary Flower and Randy Handley and who, along with Lon Ephraim, formed a band called Flower, Handley, and Moffatt. The band developed a following and traveled all over the state performing. Eventually, Moffatt and Flower became a duo and toured on the national coffeehouse circuit.
Moffatt's frequent gigs as a solo performer at Ebbets Field, a prominent Denver music club, opened a door to the mainstream recording industry. From 1975 to 1979 she recorded for Columbia Records, making several singles and two albums –Katy (produced byBilly Sherrill) andKissin' in the California Sun.
Coinciding with her recording at Columbia, Moffatt opened for such performers asCharlie Daniels,Warren Zevon,Muddy Waters, andSteve Martin, and she toured withLeo Kottke. She also worked withWillie Nelson andAndrew Gold, appeared withPoco andJohn Prine, and toured withJerry Jeff Walker,JD Souther and theAllman Brothers. She also has done songs withMichael Martin Murphey such as "Hard Country," "Take It As It Comes," and a live version of "Backsliders Wine" on his 1979 albumPeaks, Valleys, Honky-Tonks and Alleys. For a brief time in the early 1980s, while waiting out two management contracts, Moffatt was a sought-after and featured touring harmony and duet singer for four prominent acts.[7]
With that music industry experience behind her, she returned to making records including recording several songs for the short-lived Permian record label that were released to country radio and pursued an ever-expansive solo artist's path. She began making records as she wanted them to be made and licensed several gems which became favorites and remain so within her body of work thus far, including "Walkin' On the Moon", "The Greatest Show on Earth" (aka "The Evangeline Hotel"), "Hearts Gone Wild", and "Angel Town".
Like many American singer-songwriters, Katy Moffatt is honored both abroad and in her own country. She regularly tours Europe and the U.K.
1985Academy of Country Music nomination as Best New Female Vocalist[8]
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