| Claire Lynch | |
| Birth Date: | 20 February 1954[1] |
| Birth Place: | Kingston, New York, U.S. |
| Genre: | Bluegrass |
| Years Active: | 1977–present |
| Associated Acts: | Front Porch String Band |
Claire Lynch (born February 20, 1954) is an American bluegrass musician, singer, songwriter, and producer. She is a three-time winner of the International Bluegrass Music Association's Female Vocalist of the Year honors.[2] She is considered one of the two best female voices in bluegrass, a recognition she shares with Dale Ann Bradley.[2]
Lynch moved to Huntsville, Alabama from Kingston, New York, when she was 12 years old.[3] She grew up in a musical family, with her mother playing the piano and her father singing.[4] She had two sisters with whom she would sing, including doing trios at church. In high school, she spent time writing and recording songs.[4]
Lynch's musical career transitioned during college when she became interested in bluegrass music. She joined a band called Hickory Wind, which eventually changed its name to the Front Porch String Band.[4] Lynch played with the group until 1981, when it retired from the road. She then pursued a dual career of music and raising a family. The Front Porch String Band reunited in 1991, releasing the album Lines and Traces.[4]
| Title | Album details | Peak positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Bluegrass [5] | |||
| Breakin' It |
| — | |
| Friends for a Lifetime |
| — | |
| Moonlighter |
| — | |
| Silver and Gold |
| — | |
| Lovelight |
| — | |
| Out in the Country |
| — | |
| New Day |
| 11 | |
| Crowd Favorites |
| 10 | |
| Whatcha Gonna Do |
| — | |
| Dear Sister |
| 9 | |
| North by South |
| 5 | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||
Lynch has won numerous awards in her career, including being named the best female vocalist in 1997, 2010, and 2013 by the International Bluegrass Music Association. She also received a USA Walker Fellowship Award in 2012.[6]
Three of Lynch's albums have been nominated for a Grammy in the Best Bluegrass Album category:[7]