Biography
Born in the United States, singer and violinist Soozie Tyrell spent years contributing to other performers’ recordings before her association with Bruce Springsteen in the 1990s finally brought wider attention to her skills.
An Army officer’s daughter, she grew up amid frequent relocations across the country, with additional stretches in Italy and Taiwan, until her parents parted. After developing strong technique on the violin, she left Fort Myers, Florida, for New York City in 1977. She quickly immersed herself in the regional music community, performing with several local groups. One of those ensembles introduced her to vocalist Patti Scialfa; the two began collaborating in their own projects and joined the touring lineup of Southside Johnny And The Asbury Jukes. During the 1980s their paths diverged: Scialfa became a backing singer in Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band while Tyrell led her own New York outfit, the Wild Blue Marlins. Although the band came close to securing recording contracts, it dissolved without releasing any albums, leaving Tyrell established as a sought-after session musician.
A planned 1988 tour slot with Springsteen supporting Tunnel Of Love did not materialize, so she instead worked with Buster Poindexter, appeared live with Elvis Costello, and spent two seasons in the Saturday Night Live Band. When Springsteen paused his E Street Band activities in the early 1990s to assemble a fresh ensemble, Tyrell secured a place in the group, contributing to the 1992 album Lucky Town, the 1995 release The Ghost Of Tom Joad, the 2002 E Street Band reunion record The Rising, and multiple tours. Outside that partnership she also played on Sheryl Crow’s 2002 album C’Mon, C’Mon; the following year she issued her own roots-rock debut, White Lines, which included guest contributions from both Springsteen and Scialfa.
An Army officer’s daughter, she grew up amid frequent relocations across the country, with additional stretches in Italy and Taiwan, until her parents parted. After developing strong technique on the violin, she left Fort Myers, Florida, for New York City in 1977. She quickly immersed herself in the regional music community, performing with several local groups. One of those ensembles introduced her to vocalist Patti Scialfa; the two began collaborating in their own projects and joined the touring lineup of Southside Johnny And The Asbury Jukes. During the 1980s their paths diverged: Scialfa became a backing singer in Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band while Tyrell led her own New York outfit, the Wild Blue Marlins. Although the band came close to securing recording contracts, it dissolved without releasing any albums, leaving Tyrell established as a sought-after session musician.
A planned 1988 tour slot with Springsteen supporting Tunnel Of Love did not materialize, so she instead worked with Buster Poindexter, appeared live with Elvis Costello, and spent two seasons in the Saturday Night Live Band. When Springsteen paused his E Street Band activities in the early 1990s to assemble a fresh ensemble, Tyrell secured a place in the group, contributing to the 1992 album Lucky Town, the 1995 release The Ghost Of Tom Joad, the 2002 E Street Band reunion record The Rising, and multiple tours. Outside that partnership she also played on Sheryl Crow’s 2002 album C’Mon, C’Mon; the following year she issued her own roots-rock debut, White Lines, which included guest contributions from both Springsteen and Scialfa.
Albums