Anne Hills

A stunning soprano tone has made Anne Hills one of contemporary folk music's premier vocalists. But her affinity for choosing unforgettable material and her knack for writing heartfelt original songs have brought her to the upper echelon of her craft. In addition to recording three memorable solo albums, Hills has recorded two duo albums with Cindy Mangsen and three trio albums with Mangsen and Priscilla Herdman. A veteran of the Chicago folk scene of the 1980s, she performed in a legendary trio with folk singers Tom Paxton and Bob Gibson. Her vocals have also been featured on albums by Jim Post, Michael Smith, Livingston Taylor, Artie Traum and Si Kahn. The third daughter of American missionaries, Hills was born in India and raised in Michigan. While attending the Interlochen Arts Academy, she was a featured soloist with the school's big band, a group that also included Dave Brubeck's son Chris and percussionist Peter Erskine, later of Weather Report. Moving to Chicago in 1976, Hills helped to found Hogeye Music, a folklore center and recording label. Her first three recordings -- The Panic Is On, recorded with Jan Burda, in 1982; 1984's Don't Explain, and a multi-artist Christmas album, On This Day Earth Shall Sing, in 1984 -- were released on the label. Hogeye's catalog and roster of performers, which included Tom Paxton, Cindy Mangsen, Bob Gibson and Andrew Calhoun, was taken over by Flying Fish. Hills' second solo album, 1988's Woman of a Calm Heart, was produced by Artie Traum and Scott Petito and showcased her interpretative skills with deeply personal renditions of songs by Ilene Weiss, Gregory Simon, Eliza Gilkyson, Jack Hardy, Kris Kristofferson and David Roth. On her third solo album, October Child, produced by Erskine, in 1993, Hills showcased the songs of...