Biography
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Born
6 April 1965 (age 59)
Susan Werner (born 1965) is an American singer-songwriter much of whose work has been in the contemporary folk genre.
Werner became interested in music at a young age and went on to receive a bachelor's degree in voice at the University of Iowa. In 1987, she moved to Philadelphia, and earned a master's degree in voice at Temple University. Werner initially wanted a career in opera, but after seeing a Nanci Griffith performance became inspired and began composing songs of her own on acoustic guitar.
Performing around Philadelphia, Boston, and New York City, Werner began making a name for herself in the folk scene of the early 1990s. She recorded five albums from 1993 to 2001, and in 2001 she moved to Chicago. Her first five albums were all in the folk genre, while her sixth album, "I Can't Be New" (2004), was a substantial departure with original material in the vein of cabaret and early jazz.
Werner's seventh album, The Gospel Truth, was released in March 2007 and addresses themes of religion, faith, social responsibility, as well as religion from an agnostic's point of view.
Her eighth album, Live at Club Passim featured a collection of original songs (gospel, jazz & folk) recorded with Colleen Sexton, Trina Hamlin & bassist Greg Holt. For her ninth album, Classics, she performs pop music from the 1960s and 1970s accompanied by chamber instruments.
Her tenth album, "Kicking the Beehive" (March 2011) was produced by Rodney Crowell and features guest appearances from Vince Gill, Keb' Mo and Paul Franklin. Her album "Hayseed", a concept album about "farms, farmers, and the people who love them", was released in the summer of 2013.
In 2017 Werner released An American In Havana, an EP featuring six songs written during two trips to Cuba in 2015 and 2016.
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