5 Things You Probably Don't Know About Country Folk Artist Iris DeMent

Like what? Check out these 5 Things You Probably Don't Know About Country Folk Artist Iris DeMent. Sure to surprise you about one of the leading contemporary country folk artists of our times. If you like country music as well as folk, you'll find singer songwriter Iris DeMent's crystal clear vocals, songbook and collaborations second to none.

1. Iris DeMent came to country folk music quite late, writing her first song at the tender age of 25. Since that time, she's made a real impression on the country folk circuit with her soaring voice and captivating stage presence. Hard to believe that singer songwriter Iris DeMent has only just begun.

2. Iris DeMent was born in Arkansas on January 5, 1961. The youngest of 14 children, Iris moved with her family to sunny California early on and it was there that Iris was exposed to gospel, country, folk and rhythm and blues music. Her early influences included Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Loretta Lynn and Johnny Cash, not to mention the compelling role gospel played in her life as a member of a deeply religious family. Iris later moved to Kansas for college and eventually made her way to Nashville where the rest, as they say, is history.

3. It was in Nashville where Iris DeMent hit her stride and got her first break in the music business. But, it took four years and a lot of hard work for Iris get noticed in Nashville. Country music radio all but ignored her first release, Infamous Angel, and it was word of mouth among country music and folk artists in Music City that got her first album re-released and put Iris DeMent on top.

4. Iris DeMent is married to the Red House Records' singer songwriter Greg Brown. But, family obligations keep her tour dates quite limited so when Iris appears at a folk festival in your town, grab some tickets and get ready for a special evening of country music and folk songs.

5. Iris DeMent's soaring voice provides just the right touch in her collaborations with country music and folk legends coast-to-coast. Her duets with folk music's John Prine are priceless, especially notable In Spite of Ourselveswhich has become a humorous country folk anthem on love, marriage and growing old together.

Iris DeMent Discography & Songs

Lifeline (2004)
1. I've Got That Old Time Religion In My Heart
2. Blessed Assurance
3. Fill My Way With Love
4. Hide Thou Me
5. The Old Gospel Ship
6. Sweet Hour of Prayer
7. That Glad Reunion Day
8. Leaning On the Everlasting Arms
9. He Reached Down
10. Near the Cross
11. I Never Shall Forget the Day
12. I Don't Want to Get Adjusted (To This World)
13. God Walks the Dark Hills

The Way I Should (1996)
1. When My Mornin' Comes Around
2. There's a Wall in Washington
3. Wasteland of the Free
4. I'll Take My Sorrow Straight
5. This Kind of Happy
6. The Way I Should
7. Letter to Mom
8. Keep Me God
9. Quality Time
10. Walkin' Home
11. Trouble (duet with Delbert McClinton)

My Life (1994)
1. Sweet Is the Melody
2. You've Done Nothing Wrong
3.Calling for You
4. Childhood Memories
5. No Time to Cry
6. Troublesome Waters
7. Mom and Dad's Waltz
8. Easy's Gettin' Harder Every Day
9. The Shores of Jordan
10. My Life

Infamous Angel (1992/1993 Re-release)
1. Let the Mystery Be
2. These Hills
3. Hotter Than Mojave in My Heart
4. When Love Was Young
5. Our Town
6. Fifty Miles of Elbow Room
7. Infamous Angel
8. Sweet Forgiveness
9. After You're Gone
10. Mama's Opry
11. Higher Ground (lead vocal by Flora Mae DeMent)

Selection from Iris DeMent's Country Music Folk Music Songbook

Mama's Opry (Infamous Angel)

She grew up plain and simple in a farming town.
Her daddy played the fiddle and used to do the calling when they had hoedowns.
She says the neighbors would come and they'd move all my grandma's furniture 'round.
And there'd be twenty or more there on the old wooden floor dancin' to a country sound.

The Carters and Jimmy Rodgers played her favorite songs.
And on Saturday nights there was a radio show and she would sing along.
And I'll never forget her face when she revealed to me,
That she'd dreamed about singing at The Grand Ol' Opry.

RESOURCES

Iris DeMent
www.irisdement.com

Iris DeMent on Yahoo! Music
http://new.music.yahoo.com/iris-dement/

Folkways, Smithsonian Institution
www.folkways.si.edu

Folk Alliance
www.folkalliance.org

Folk Music Archives
www.folkmusicarchives.org

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