Tracy Chapman (born March 30, 1964) is an American singer-songwriter, best known for classic singles " Fast Car," "Talkin' Bout a Revolution," and "Give Me One Reason."
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Tracy Chapman began playing guitar and writing songs as a child. She received a scholarship through A Better Chance that allowed her to attend Wooster School in Connecticut, and was eventually accepted to Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts.
During college, Chapman began street-performing and playing coffeehouses in Cambridge. After waiting to graduate college, she signed to SBK, releasing Tracy Chapman ( 1988). The album was critically acclaimed, and she began touring and building a fanbase. Soon after performing at the televised Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert in June 1988, Chapman's "Fast Car" began its rise on the US charts. Album and singles sales were strong, and the album went multi-platinum and won four Grammy Awards. Later in 1988, Chapman was a featured performer on the worldwide Amnesty International Human Rights Now! Tour.
Her follow-up album Crossroads ( 1989) was less commercially successful. By 1992's Matters of the Heart, Chapman was playing to a small and devoted audience. To the surprise of most industry-watchers, however, Chapman's 1995 album New Beginning included the hit single "Give Me One Reason" which won the 1996 Grammy for Best Rock Song. The following album was 2000's Telling Stories, which featured more of a rock sound than folk. Its hit single "Telling Stories" received heavy airplay on European radio stations. Her sixth album was Let It Rain ( 2002), in support of which she toured in Europe and the US in 2003.
