Biography
Grace Griffith, a Washington, D.C.-based singer whose crystal-clear tone has drawn comparisons to the late Sandy Denny, introduced American listeners to material from the Celtic Isles. Previously a member of the Celtic folk trio Connemara, she has continued to develop those traditions in her solo work. The Washington Area Music Association honored her with WAMMIE awards for “Best Female Vocalist” in both the Celtic and Traditional Folk categories across four straight years.
Her initial recognition came through Connemara, the group she established in the early 1990s alongside fiddler Cathy Palmer and Celtic harpist Tracie Brown. The trio issued two albums, Beyond the Horizon in 1993 and Siren Song in 1995. Griffith’s first solo release, Every Hue and Shade, appeared on her independent label the same year. In 1996 she assembled eight selections from that album, added the Connemara track “Sailing/Ships Are Sailing,” and included a fresh version of Dougie McLean’s “Turning Away”; the resulting collection was issued as Grace. Martin Simpson, Zan McLeod, and Al Petteway contributed instrumental support. Minstrel Song arrived in 2000.
Her initial recognition came through Connemara, the group she established in the early 1990s alongside fiddler Cathy Palmer and Celtic harpist Tracie Brown. The trio issued two albums, Beyond the Horizon in 1993 and Siren Song in 1995. Griffith’s first solo release, Every Hue and Shade, appeared on her independent label the same year. In 1996 she assembled eight selections from that album, added the Connemara track “Sailing/Ships Are Sailing,” and included a fresh version of Dougie McLean’s “Turning Away”; the resulting collection was issued as Grace. Martin Simpson, Zan McLeod, and Al Petteway contributed instrumental support. Minstrel Song arrived in 2000.
Albums
