Biography
Nancy Hanson's songcraft flows from straightforward sincerity rooted in personal emotion. Powerful guitar technique and magnetic stage command combine with vocals that blend gentle warmth and a luminous sheen, revealing the full scope of her abilities.
A lifelong passion for music drew her toward performing. At twelve she struck a bargain with her mother that freed her from piano instruction so she could take up the guitar, an instrument that felt instinctive from the start. Countless hours spent mastering tunes by admired songwriters shaped her early style, first shaped by John Denver, Dan Fogelberg, and James Taylor, then broadened by the work of Nanci Griffith, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Shawn Colvin.
While earning her B.S. in Psychology she supported herself by singing cover material in neighborhood clubs and restaurants. After graduation she began counseling troubled children and teens. Songwriting entered the picture in 1993; twelve months later she appeared as a finalist in the Telluride Folk Festival Troubadour Contest in Colorado.
That initial recognition spurred further efforts in composition, performance, and competition. She reached New Folk finalist status at both the Kerrville Folk Festival and the Napa Valley Music Folk Festival, then claimed first place in the Rocky Mountain Folk Festival Songwriting Contest. Her composition “Drops in a Bucket” captured the 1998 Fast Folk Café Songwriting Contest, earned second place in the folk division of the 2000 John Lennon Songwriting Contest, and her song “The Father in Me” received Honorable Mention.
The 1997 release of her debut album, Drops in a Bucket, drew enthusiastic notices from reviewers and listeners. Produced by composer and recording artist Sam Cardon, the record mirrors every facet of Hanson’s artistic identity. Its tracks display polish and appeal, marked by unadorned elegance, quiet assurance, and an infectious wit. Lyrical and melodic observations trace the texture of everyday existence, giving the music the intimate tone of a conversation with a trusted companion.
Her performances have reached distinguished stages across the United States, among them the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, the Fast Folk Cafe in New York City, and the evening campfires of the Kerrville Folk Festival. Although she maintains an active touring schedule, she chooses to remain near her Utah home with husband Dave and their three young children.
Fellow musicians frequently describe her as “the natural.” Nancy Hanson persists in developing her craft as songwriter, performer, and recording artist. In the same manner as the renowned figures who once guided her, she now offers encouragement to others, rendering the marvels and enigmas of life and love through her music.
A lifelong passion for music drew her toward performing. At twelve she struck a bargain with her mother that freed her from piano instruction so she could take up the guitar, an instrument that felt instinctive from the start. Countless hours spent mastering tunes by admired songwriters shaped her early style, first shaped by John Denver, Dan Fogelberg, and James Taylor, then broadened by the work of Nanci Griffith, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Shawn Colvin.
While earning her B.S. in Psychology she supported herself by singing cover material in neighborhood clubs and restaurants. After graduation she began counseling troubled children and teens. Songwriting entered the picture in 1993; twelve months later she appeared as a finalist in the Telluride Folk Festival Troubadour Contest in Colorado.
That initial recognition spurred further efforts in composition, performance, and competition. She reached New Folk finalist status at both the Kerrville Folk Festival and the Napa Valley Music Folk Festival, then claimed first place in the Rocky Mountain Folk Festival Songwriting Contest. Her composition “Drops in a Bucket” captured the 1998 Fast Folk Café Songwriting Contest, earned second place in the folk division of the 2000 John Lennon Songwriting Contest, and her song “The Father in Me” received Honorable Mention.
The 1997 release of her debut album, Drops in a Bucket, drew enthusiastic notices from reviewers and listeners. Produced by composer and recording artist Sam Cardon, the record mirrors every facet of Hanson’s artistic identity. Its tracks display polish and appeal, marked by unadorned elegance, quiet assurance, and an infectious wit. Lyrical and melodic observations trace the texture of everyday existence, giving the music the intimate tone of a conversation with a trusted companion.
Her performances have reached distinguished stages across the United States, among them the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, the Fast Folk Cafe in New York City, and the evening campfires of the Kerrville Folk Festival. Although she maintains an active touring schedule, she chooses to remain near her Utah home with husband Dave and their three young children.
Fellow musicians frequently describe her as “the natural.” Nancy Hanson persists in developing her craft as songwriter, performer, and recording artist. In the same manner as the renowned figures who once guided her, she now offers encouragement to others, rendering the marvels and enigmas of life and love through her music.
Albums
