Biography
Folk musicians Aubrey Atwater, a Rhode Island native, and Elwood Donnelly first encountered each other in March 1987 while jointly hosting an evening at the volunteer-operated Stone Soup Coffeehouse in Providence. Their spontaneous a cappella harmonies, offered as an introduction for one act on the bill, revealed a blended sound stronger than either voice achieved alone. Since that moment their most compelling work has emerged from the partnership. Wed since 1989, the singers and multi-instrumentalists have ranged widely across both inherited and newly composed folk material.
Atwater, granddaughter of noted violinist Mary Rose Eaton His, began on piano and devoted seven years to classical study before setting the instrument aside at thirteen. Music returned at sixteen when she took up acoustic guitar and learned folk-styled pieces by Joni Mitchell, Bonnie Raitt, Paul Simon, James Taylor and Neil Young through self-instruction. While pursuing psychology, history and French at Brown University, she sang often at campus coffeehouses and rallies. Volunteering soon afterward at Stone Soup Coffeehouse led to her meeting her future spouse.
Donnelly, who plays guitar and harmonica without formal training, has performed since age fifteen. Beyond solo appearances he belonged to the rock band the Lonely Things from 1965 to 1967 and, in 1984, to the Kesar Band, which focused on traditional Cambodian repertoire.
The duo’s earliest joint recordings, Labor And Love in 1988 and Culled From the Garden in 1991, centered on traditional material from Ireland, England and Scotland. Later projects, Like the Willow Tree in 1994 and Where the Wild Birds Do Whistle in 1997, broadened the scope to encompass Appalachian pieces and original compositions.
Although Atwater-Donnelly maintains a steady schedule of Northeast performances, Atwater occasionally appears alone. She has toured the United States and the British Isles and issued the 1992 solo album Simple Sentences containing her own songs. In 1995 she self-published a collection of poems titled Be Careful, Don’t Walk Barefoot on My Kitchen Floor. She has steadily expanded her instrumental range as well. Once a pupil of influential dulcimer player Jean Ritchie, she has conducted dulcimer workshops at the Hindman Settlement School in Kentucky, the Ozark Folk Center in Arkansas and the John C. Campbell Folk School in North Carolina. At present she is preparing a live children’s-music recording featuring pupils from American community schools in England.
Atwater, granddaughter of noted violinist Mary Rose Eaton His, began on piano and devoted seven years to classical study before setting the instrument aside at thirteen. Music returned at sixteen when she took up acoustic guitar and learned folk-styled pieces by Joni Mitchell, Bonnie Raitt, Paul Simon, James Taylor and Neil Young through self-instruction. While pursuing psychology, history and French at Brown University, she sang often at campus coffeehouses and rallies. Volunteering soon afterward at Stone Soup Coffeehouse led to her meeting her future spouse.
Donnelly, who plays guitar and harmonica without formal training, has performed since age fifteen. Beyond solo appearances he belonged to the rock band the Lonely Things from 1965 to 1967 and, in 1984, to the Kesar Band, which focused on traditional Cambodian repertoire.
The duo’s earliest joint recordings, Labor And Love in 1988 and Culled From the Garden in 1991, centered on traditional material from Ireland, England and Scotland. Later projects, Like the Willow Tree in 1994 and Where the Wild Birds Do Whistle in 1997, broadened the scope to encompass Appalachian pieces and original compositions.
Although Atwater-Donnelly maintains a steady schedule of Northeast performances, Atwater occasionally appears alone. She has toured the United States and the British Isles and issued the 1992 solo album Simple Sentences containing her own songs. In 1995 she self-published a collection of poems titled Be Careful, Don’t Walk Barefoot on My Kitchen Floor. She has steadily expanded her instrumental range as well. Once a pupil of influential dulcimer player Jean Ritchie, she has conducted dulcimer workshops at the Hindman Settlement School in Kentucky, the Ozark Folk Center in Arkansas and the John C. Campbell Folk School in North Carolina. At present she is preparing a live children’s-music recording featuring pupils from American community schools in England.
Albums
The Boat You Row
2022
When Winter Calls
2005
Where the Wild Birds Do Whistle
2000
Like the Willow Tree
1994
Culled from the Garden
1991
Labor and Love
1988
Live
