| Shannon Worrell | |
| Background: | solo_singer |
| Origin: | Charlottesville, Virginia, US |
| Instrument: | Vocals, guitar |
| Genre: | Rock Folk |
| Occupation: | Singer-songwriter, musician |
| Years Active: | 1991–present |
| Label: | The Enclave Super Duke Records |
| Website: | http://www.myspace.com/shannonworrell |
Shannon Worrell is a singer-songwriter based in Charlottesville, Virginia. Known for a series of critically acclaimed albums in the 1990s culminating with an appearance (as September 67) on the Lilith Fair tour and for collaborations with fellow Charlottesville-based musicians Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds, Worrell's acoustic songwriting has been described as "subtly orchestrated chamber pop"[1] and "like a lean country cousin of the Throwing Muses."
Worrell was born in Charlottesville to a prominent local media family; her father, Thomas E. Worrell, inherited a media network consisting of the Charlottesville Daily Progress and 28 other newspapers.[2] She graduated from the University of Virginia in 1990[3] and stayed in Charlottesville, participating in the local music scene.
Worrell played in a band called Paris Match in the early part of the decade,[4] but left to work as a solo artist sometime after 1991. She played in various locations around Charlottesville's Downtown Mall for several years; in particular, she jammed with Haines Fullerton (formerly of local band the Deal), Tim Reynolds, and Dave Matthews on several occasions.[5] [6] All three would subsequently perform on her solo recordings.
Worrell's first album, Three Wishes, was released in 1994 on her own label, Super Duke Records. The album, co-produced by John Alagia, was recorded in a basement studio in Northern Virginia and comprises nine original songs in a mostly acoustic setting. Collaborators on the album included Tim Reynolds, the Dave Matthews Band's LeRoi Moore, and Matthews himself, who sang backing vocals on "Eleanor."[7] Haines Fullerton participated as well, writing vocal arrangements for the album.[8]
Between 1995 and 1998, Worrell collaborated with a number of Charlottesville area musicians in various group settings. The first to form was a trio collaboration with Kristin Asbury and Lauren Hoffman initially called Monsoon.[9] During this time period, the group appeared on the Dear Charlottesville compilation to support the local club scene.[10]
Initially, all three members were contributors to Monsoon. However, Hoffman ultimately decided she wanted to go her own way and left the band, eventually signing a contract with Virgin Records.[11] Worrell and Asbury continued as a duo under the name September 67. The group signed to The Enclave, an indie label affiliated with EMI, and released the album Lucky Shoe at the end of 1996. Lucky Shoe was produced by David Lowery of Camper Van Beethoven and Cracker and featured contributions from Bryan Harvey,[12] John Alagia (who co-wrote "Little Lantern Face"), and the backing musicians from Sparklehorse.[13]
The tour behind Lucky Shoe saw them supporting Wilco's "Being There" tour,[14] and participating in Lilith Fair '97.[15] During the Lilith Fair tour, the group recorded a live song called "Steve Malkmus is a Fucking Snob," which appeared as a non-album track on the EP "What's Wrong with Alice."[16] The song earned the band some controversy and a mention in Rolling Stone.[17]
When The Enclave was acquired by Virgin Records, Worrell's contract was not picked up, and the band made the decision to go their separate ways.[18]
Post September 67, Worrell returned to the studio to record a follow-up album. The Moviegoer, released in April 2000 on her Super Duke label, saw her collaborating again with Kristin Asbury, Bryan Harvey; the album features John Stirratt on bass, John Linnell on accordion and was produced by his wife, Karen Brown. Worrell took time off from music after the release of the album to raise her children and start Light House Studio, a non-profit media education center for Charlottesville youth.[19]
At the end of 2007, Worrell began performing publicly again, playing supporting gigs for Charlottesville band Sons of Bill.[20] In 2008, she entered the studio to record her first album in eight years, The Honey Guide. The album was released in October 2008, and was a featured pick on the iTunes folk store.[21]
In 2009, Worrell wrote original music for "Our American Ann Sisters", performed at Live Arts by PEP (Performers' Exchange Project), written by Martha Mendenhall.
In 2018, Kristin Hott and Worrell's band, September 67, performed a 20th reunion concert to benefit The Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative in Charlottesville, Virginia.