Friends From New York City

Beneath the Sheltering Sky" is singer-songwriter Karyn Black's first album. At once confessional and intimate, it transcends any one genre, leaving the listener with the humor and strength of the songwriter herself. Karyn's music demonstrates her strong folk roots, but the fun-loving country of Nashville gently surfaces and highlights the experiential sensibility of her music. Ultimately, it is Karyn's passionate lyrics that drive her songwriting and each line is as authentic as they come. In this increasingly shallow world of Backstreet and Britney, Karyn is a breath of fresh air.

TIME OUT Magazine LONDON
'.....Glorious crossover new country from Nashville's KARYN BLACK. Her new album, 'Beneath The Sheltering Sky' (Southbound) is a tough and tender collection of melodically charged songs, elegantly and sensitively performed....'

KARYN BLACK is a highly experienced singer, writer, performer and recording artist. Her unique ability to combine her folk/pop roots with contemporary dance has attracted attention from U.K production luminaries like STEPHEN 'BEANZ' RUDDEN (Seal, Adamski and Love City Groove) and programming wizard JAMES SANGER (Dido, Keane). She was previously signed to the now disbanded but world reknowned Acuff Rose Publishing group in London.

She cites her influences as ranging from David Gray to Lucinda Williams and from Jacque Brel to Dido.

Karen Elizabeth Black grew up in Newport, Rhode Island. The youngest of four, she has two brothers and a sister. She became involved in music, dance and theatre at the early age of five.

Her mother directed the family in a singing and dancing act, called the Four Fabulous Fennesseys which toured all over New England.

Karyn recalls, "Music surrounded me from a very early age. My brothers and sisters were always playing the record player and singing around the house. My mother held rehearsals in the kitchen and we had to practice our dance numbers and harmonies every night. We were constantly performing in clubs throughout New England. As we grew older, our interests diversified. My brother Kevin even started a bluegrass band."

Her brothers played banjo, mandolin, and guitar while Karyn sang harmony. Soon after, she started to teach herself the guitar and by the age of fourteen she had written her first song. At sixteen she was performing folk-pop music on her own as well as singing lead with several local bands.

From this point on, she established herself as a professional singer/songwriter and performed many nights in Newport and Boston while going to school. After her college graduation, Karyn moved to New York City. Karyn was invited to make several extended tours throughout the West Indies to huge acclaim, but she always returned for performances in New York, opening for Jose Feliciano at one point.

She started The Karyn Black Band in Tampa which became locally very popular under her management. She moved to Nashville in 1994 and signed on with producer Clay Mills, set up her own record company (Fennessey Records), and formed her publishing company, Karyn Black Music. She co-produced Beneath the Sheltering Sky, her first album, and shortly after production ended she moved to London to tour in Europe and to promote the album there.

Karyn has performed numerous times in London at the Mean Fiddler, The Borderline, 12 Bar Club, and The Garage as well as in Holland, France, and Spain. She has recently moved back to the United States, returning to Nashville, but will continue to perform in Europe on a regular basis. She has just completed her second album, Blinding, which is receiving considerable interest in London.

BAND MEMBERS: Karyn Black: Lead Vocals Larry Campbell-- Fiddle, Mandolin, Bazouki, Lap Steel, Acoustic Guitar Mike Chapman--Bass Tony Harrell--Keyboards Clay Mills--Acoustic Guitar Greg Morrow-- Drums, Percussion Danny Parks--Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar Background vocals--Karyn Black, Christye Cornelius, John Hurley, Clay Mills, Kim Parent, Carrie Starner