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Kathy Mattea

West Virginia's Songbird

Photos courtesy of Kristen Barlow

Where've you been? This poignant question anchors a powerful song of love and life that earned Kathy her first Grammy and offers important clues about the girl born June 21, 1959 in Cross Lanes, West Virginia.

Kathy Mattea has now been a star for over 20 years, yet I first heard her in concert just 3 years ago. It was outdoors at Claymont Court Farm - an event called New Song Festival. Sponsored in part by West Virginia's highly regarded Mountain Stage, this festival culminates several days of training and competition geared to emerging songwriters and performers from around the world.

Besides volunteering her time as a seminar instructor, Mattea had also agreed to headline New Song 2003 with singer/songwriter Tim O'Brien (a fellow West Virginian and collaborator). Considering Mattea's stature in country music, I expected her performance to be some version of a Garth Brooks/Reba McIntire sound and light show. This did not happen. Instead, we were treated to a casual, extremely well-performed concert that was delivered with unusual warmth and wit. Kathy talked about her love of West Virginia, her love of singing songs she really likes, and her determination to set her own course in choosing and performing music.

We enjoyed our first Mattea concert immensely, and soon began to notice that this West Virginia girl is not the usual variety of county singer, bluegrass, singer, folk singer, balladeer or anything else. By all accounts, she is exactly what she seems to be - gifted, creative, generous, gracious, witty, serious, smart - and adventurous. Did I forget to say 'darned good looking'?

Her dedication to good songs and good singing really shines in person and on her albums. Recordings by most leading artists include several good cuts, then a bunch of stuff you'd just as soon forget. Yet every single song on each of my Mattea albums is consistently good. If you are not familiar with the lyrics to her first Grammy winner, Where've You Been?, you really should take a few minutes to read and reflect on this timeless and uncommon song. Where've You Been, written by gifted songwriters Jon Vezner (Kathy's husband) and Don Henry) carries a powerful message that also helps to explain why Mattea continues to win fans for life. For lyrics of her other recordings, just click Mattea Lyrics, then choose the album and song.

Although a country girl at heart and in action, this short bio may show where Kathy gets some of her sophistication, focus. and appetite for growth. During the 90's, her search for new musical territory took her regularly to Scotland and the origins of Appalachian culture. In 2001, she finally left her old label (Mercury) to pursue a course less traveled with Narada Records. In announcing the change, Mattea's manager, Marc Dottore with TBA Entertainment, notes, “Kathy is a significant artist who has grown beyond the narrow confines of her genre, the unique marketing partnership between Narada and it's parent company Virgin, will expose Kathy to a much broader audience than the traditional Nashville system". Regarding the change in booking agencies, "IMN represents the cream of the crop in World, Jazz, Folk and Roots Music. Kathy's passion for music, spirituality and the creative process makes her a perfect fit on the IMN roster".

Although savvy in business, Kathy has never not forgotten where she's from, where she is, or where she's going. Always eager to quietly help others (click on Larry King/Sago Mine), Kathy was also one of the first artists in Nashville to help support victims of AIDS. For more biographical information about Kathy Mattea, you may enjoy Life Journey's Interview, Kathy's Got the Goods, and Mattea Bio (Narada Records).

In August, 2006, Kathy Mattea returned to West Virginia's eastern panhandle for another teaching/singing gig at the New Song Festival in Shepherdstown. This time, like a true Matteahead, I was aware of her remarkable musical range and personal journey. In 2003, she lost her father to a long bout with cancer. In 2005, her mother, Ruth, died from complications with Alzheimer's. I understood her tears when another singer sang about old people forgetting.

Seated at New Song onstage as one of 4 soloists, she sang, self- accompanied. She was gifted, creative, generous, gracious, witty, serious, smart - and adventurous. Her rich alto voice was cleaner, fresher, truer than ever. Did I forget to say 'darned good looking'?

OTHER LINKS OF INTEREST

Kathy Mattea concert dates in USA

Grammys and Other Music Awards

All the Songs + Album Store

Kathy Mattea Fan Club

Kathy Mattea Official Website

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