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“Beth Nielsen Chapman embarks upon a journey, a beautiful voice singing songs from different lands, from diverse faiths, and in different languages, that say so movingly we are all family, we share a common humanity, and we can be human only together. What a glorious, melodious testimony.” -Archbishop Desmond Tutu Grammy nominated songwriter and beloved adult contemporary artist Beth Nielsen Chapman will open this year’s Austin Interfaith Arts and Music Festival performing an eclectic mix of hits from her songbook, as well as songs from many different languages, cultures and spiritual traditions. Currently on tour in support of her latest CD, the product of a decade of hard work, Prism combines songs of devotion from Buddhist, Jewish, Sufi, Muslim, Shaker, Negrospiritual, Hindu, Catholic, Protestant and other traditions, and an entire CD of new music by Beth. Beth met and worked in a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect with scholars of many languages, cultures and countries while creating this “human family songbook.” Chapman, a regular on the Adult-Contemporary music charts in the 1990s with such hits as The Moment You Were Mine, Walk My Way and I Keep Coming Back to You, also wrote and performed the 2002 hit Shake My Soul on the soundtrack of the Ashley Judd film, Where the Heart Is. In 2004, her single, Free went to #1 on the BBC-Radio 2 chart, leading to her third U.K. concert tour of the year. Stateside, her CDs, Beth Nielsen Chapman (1990), You Hold the Key (1993), Sand and Water (1997), Greatest Hits (1997), Deeper Still (2002) and Look (2004) have earned her wide acclaim and a devoted following. In the fall of 2004, Chapman astonished fans with Hymns, a collection of centuries-old Latin liturgical pieces. This CD, following an interview on NPR’s All Things Considered, shot up to #3 on Amazon.com and garnered a deluge of response. She followed Hymns in 2006with a live DVD in the UK, If Love Could Say God’s Name; a concert for peace – beautifully filmed at St Paul’s Cathedral with the London Oriana Choir (musical director David Drummond). Such stars as Bonnie Raitt, Neil Diamond, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Emmylou Harris, Michael McDonald, Bette Midler, Anne Murray, Martina McBride, Alabama, Lorrie Morgan, Trisha Yearwood, Tanya Tucker, Amy Grant, Keb Mo, Roberta Flack, Emmylou Harris, Patti Griffin, Highway 101, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Brenda Lee have recorded Beth Nielsen Chapman songs. This Kiss, as recorded by Faith Hill, won ASCAP’s 1999 Song of the Year award and was nominated for a Grammy. Elton John popularized her ballad, Sand and Water, during his 1997 World Tour to honor the memory of Princess Diana, and countless film and television soundtracks include her songs. “My success as a songwriter has given me the opportunity to have a lot of freedom as an artist,” she said. “Because of it, I haven’t had the pressure of having to be a slave to the charts. I’ve always been really grateful that I can make whatever kind of record I want artistically.” -Beth Nielsen Chapman Tickets available soon! More information about Beth’s amazing career can be found at www.bethnielsenchapman.com
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