Susan Marshall

Soulful Tennessee-based singer/songwriter Susan Marshall launched her professional path as a classical vocalist before establishing herself as a sought-after backup singer alongside Lenny Kravitz, the Afghan Whigs, Cat Power, and Lucinda Williams. Growing up in Memphis, she absorbed the area’s deep musical traditions during her early years and refined her vocal abilities through repeated exposure to Otis Redding, Al Green, Mavis Staples, and Elvis Presley. In her early twenties she moved to New York City and remained there for six years as a member of the off-Broadway ensemble Light Opera of Manhattan, after which she returned to Memphis and helped establish the bluesy early-’90s retro-rock outfit the Mother Station, serving as its frontwoman. The group issued a single album, Brand New Bag, on EastWest—the Warner Bros. satellite imprint—in 1994 and achieved radio success with “Put the Blame on Me” before disbanding. Marshall issued her first solo project, Susan Marshall Is Honey Mouth, in 2002, earning both critical praise and strong sales. Her 2005 release Firefly presented the commanding vocalist supported by a jazz ensemble, while 2009’s Little Red included contributions from Greg Dulli (Afghan Whigs, Gutter Twins), Dan Lavery (Tonic, the Fray), Matt Pence (Centro-Matic), and Lucinda Williams.