TRACY By Teagan

CHAPMAN Richardson
 Who is Tracy
Chapman?
 An American singer / songwriter
 Born in Cleveland, Ohio on March 30th 1964
 Tracy works as an activist speaking and
performing for several non profit
organizations
 A multi-platinum and four-time Grammy
award winning artist

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC

 Where is
Tracy
Chapman
TRACY CHAPMAN IS AN CHAPMAN GREW UP IN A THROUGH A MINORITY-
AFRICAN AMERICAN PREDOMINANTLY BLACK PLACEMENT PROGRAM
SINGER/SONGWRITER NEIGHBOURHOOD CHAPMAN WAS
WHO WAS BORN IN ENROLLED AS A

From?
CLEVELAND, OHIO SCHOLARSHIP STUDENT
AT WOOSTER SCHOOL; A
SMALL PRIVATE SCHOOL
IN CONNECTICUT

IT WAS HERE THAT TRACY CHAPMAN

TRACY MET OTHER GRADUATED
STUDENTS AND HIGHSCHOOL IN 1982
TEACHERS INVOLVED IN AND WENT ON TO STUDY
POLITICAL CAUSES WEST AFRICAN
CULTURES AT TUFTS
UNIVERSITY NEAR
BOSTON
What Genre of Music Does
Tracy Chapman Make?
Typically when one searches Tracy Chapman
there are three genres you will find her music
under; folk music, blues rock , and soul
music.

Tracy Chapman thought that if she were

influenced by anything it was the country
music her mother liked to listen to.

Artists like Charlie Pride, Dolly Parton and Glen

Campbell made Chapman interested in
picking up a guitar.
 Where It All Began

 Began writing music while studying at Tufts University in

Massachusetts
 Started performing in Boston at the local radio station
 In 1986 Tracy was introduced to a manager at Elektra
Records and soon after recorded Tracy Chapman (1988)
 Progressed musically releasing several albums in the late
90’s and early to mid 2000’s
 Chapman received several honors following the release of
her albums including best new artist, and best
contemporary folk album
 DISCOGRAPHY
Name of Album Year of Release
Tracy Chapman 1988
Crossroads 1989
Matters of the Heart 1992
New Beginning 1995
Telling Stories 2000
Let It Rain 2002
Where You Live 2005
Our Bright Future 2008 This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

 Highest Rank Reached on
Song Title Billboard Chart

1. Give Me One Reason Peaked at #3

TOP 5 MOST 2. Fast Car Peaked at #6

POPULAR 3. Baby Can I Hold You Peaked at #48

SONGS.
4. Talkin’ Bout A Revolution Peaked at #75

5. Crossroads Peaked at #90

Click the video to see Tracy Chapman perform ‘Fast Car’ Live
• In 1988 Tracy performed in the Nelson Mandela
70th Birthday Tribute Concert
• This event raised money for South Africa’s Anti-
Apartheid Movement and several different
children’s charities
• Chapman performed her three songs ‘Why?’,
‘Behind the Wall’, and ‘Talkin’Bout A Revolition’
• This event gained international profiles and
respectability which pressured the government to
release Mandela

Social Activism: Nelson Mandela

70th Birthday Tribute Concert
 Social
Activism: AIDS
LifeCycle Event
 AIDS LifeCycle is a charity event to
raise money for HIV/AIDS services
 Chapman was among the 1200
cyclists participating in the 7 day
event
 Proceeds went to the San Francisco
AIDS Foundation and the HIV/AIDS
services of the L.A. Gay and
Lesbian Center
 Social
Activism: Tufts
University
In 2004 in recognition of her commitment to
social activism, Tufts University awarded
Tracy Chapman with her honorary
doctorate in Fine Arts.
“Chapman is an incredible musician and
storyteller, who showed that it is possible to
cross genres with her stunning score for last
seasons’s production of Bloot Knot –
something that we encourage our students
to aspire to.”

- Melissa Smith, A.C.T. Conservatory Director.

 References
Decurtis, A. (1988, June 30). Tracy Chapman's Black and White World. Retrieved from Rolling Stone:
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/tracy-chapmans-black-and-white-world-7878/|

Editors. (2017, September 25). TheFamousPeople.com. Retrieved March 02, 2019, from The Tracy
Chapman Biography: https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/tracy-chapman-3089.php

Editors, B. (2014, April 2). Tracy Chapman Biography. Retrieved March 02, 2019, from Biography:
https://www.biography.com/people/tracy-chapman-20872547

Pond, S. (1988, September 22). Tracy Chapman: On Her Own Terms. Retrieved from Rolling Stone:
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/tracy-chapman-on-her-own-terms-60993/