English Bio
Cathy Grier participates in New York City’s MTA program, “Music Under New York." Selected in 2002 as one of New York’s finest subway performers, she has performed in Avery Fisher Hall and was featured on CNN, CBS Sunday Morning and NBC’s Today Show. Cathy has performed throughout New York City including St. Paul’s Church, to help heal the spirit and heart of a traumatized city. Her solo performances underground reveal a more rootsy approach to her music which has attracted the attention of not only commuters, but the eye of many indie-documentary film makers.
No stranger to the stage, Cathy has toured throughout the US and Europe, and is looking forward to promoting her new CD.
Shane Music's January 2003 release release by Cathy Grier is entitled ‘Comin’ Back To Me’. This 16 song CD, including 4 instrumental interludes, was recorded at The Magic Shop in Soho, New York City. Capturing Cathy Grier’s raw personal style of performance and self production, was veteran engineer Danny Kopelson (Cassandra Wilson).
A solo recording of captivating guitar playing and a rich powerful voice, ‘Comin’ Back To Me’ is Cathy’s return to a solid rootsy, bluesy style, full of grooves and chordal arrangements. As a songwriter narrator, it’s a love CD, in which Cathy’s unforgettable voice leads the listener on a windy road of tricky relationships and its discoveries. Love songs about desire, breakups through suffering and enlightenment, accented with sensual slide guitar, catchy blues riffs, and edgy rhythmic strumming. Her political activist side, is expressed in ‘Privacy’, ‘Fallen Friends’, and ‘At your Feet’. Cathy chose the poignant Stevie Wonder cover ‘Love Is In Need Of Love Today’, to express the dire need for love in a time of increasing violence and terror.
“Retracing”, a 1998 release, was recorded at Private Ear studio in Key West Florida. It features an eclectic mix of styles. Cathy toured in London and France. She was invited to join the Kensington Welfare Rights Union sponsored March of the Americas to end poverty, which started in Washington D.C. She was a featured artist in a Songwriter Hall of Fame New York showcase. Her song "Fallen Friends", about loss in the age of AIDS was selected for a compilation CD entitled "Sounds For The Soul" including Bruce Springsteen, and Janis Ian to name a few.
Cathy Grier formed her own music label Shane Music in 1993, which is based in Key West Florida. A Connecticut native, Cathy started her first independent record label in 1980 with partner Lenore Troia. Their 8 year association punctuated with national tours and albums, was highlighted by an MTV basement tape win in 1986. After venturing out on her own in 1990, she opened up for Laura Nyro and recorded “New York Sessions", a self produced album. Cathy then spent six years in Paris and London writing and performing for many artists, including New Age guitarist Pierre Bensusan and Carrere artist Indra, who’s 1991 single “Misery" hit number one on the French dance charts.
In Paris, she recorded another self-produced CD entitled “Solo” in 1993. London’s “Time Out” magazine described her as, “Funkily melodic in a mature and assured style.”
Cathy Grier has taken her music to many countries and believes music is a powerful tool that crosses boundaries of ignorance and hate.
Her CDs are just overflowing with great songs featuring Cathy's impassioned message and pure artistry. A beautiful combination of Folk/Rock/Blues with standup writing and production. Cathy Grier reaches out and touches your soul with her music and words. www.muzikman.com
Her quirky sounds with politically correct themes bring infectious melodies to socially relevant issues. They reflect her understanding of the audience's sensibilities as well as their desire to be entertained. Grier is truly a musician with a voice. ORB Confidential - B. Cormier & G. Reitz
Grier mixes Folked-up blues with a political mind-set, and there's more than a little funk in there too. Time Out NY Smith Galtney
Grier carefully etches stories meant to prod listeners to action. Grier hopes to inspire activism-as a singer and songwriter-through her mix of gritty rock, sexy jazz, and dusty blues songs. New York Blade News - Karen Iris Tucker