| American country and bluegrass singer Date of Birth: 21.06.1959 Country: USA |
Kathy Mattea, an American country and bluegrass singer, was born on June 21, 1959, in South Charleston, West Virginia. She grew up in Cross Lanes and attended Nitro High School. In 1976, while studying at West Virginia University, she joined the bluegrass band "Pennsboro." Two years later, she moved to Nashville.
At the beginning of her career, Mattea worked as a tour guide at the Country Music Hall of Fame and sang backup vocals for Bobby Goldsboro and other local musicians. In 1983, she signed a contract with Frank Jones, the owner of Mercury Records.
Mattea's third album, "Walk the Way the Wind Blows," released in 1986, was a major breakthrough for her. The cover version of Nancy Griffith's song, "Love at the Five and Dime," became a hit, and tracks like "Walk the Way the Wind Blows," "You're the Power," and "Train of Memories" made it into the top ten songs. The track "Love at the Five and Dime" also featured renowned country singer Don Williams.
Following her breakthrough, Mattea released a string of hits including "Goin' Gone," "Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses," "Come From the Heart," and "Burnin' Old Memories." These songs remained on top of various charts for a long time.
Mattea's emotionally charged track, "Where've You Been," co-written by her husband Jon Vezner and Don Henry, reached the tenth spot on the country chart and earned her a Grammy for "Best Female Country Vocal" in 1990. She was named "Best Female Country Vocalist" of the year for her songs "Eighteen Wheel and a Dozen Roses" and "Where've You Been."
In 1993, Mattea received another Grammy for her Christmas album "Good News." In 2002, she released the album "The Innocent Years," which she dedicated to her ill father. In 2008, Mattea released "Coal," an album that didn't receive high critical acclaim.
Although her latest album didn't achieve overwhelming success, Mattea continues to create music, record, and perform. She has a dedicated fan base and recently released a "Definitive Collection" album.