Nora O’Connor (born April 2, 1968) is an American, Chicago-based musician. Though primarily known for her vocals, O'Connor also plays guitar and bass. For much of 2013, O'Connor toured internationally as a singer in Iron and Wine.[1] She also records and performs with longtime collaborator, Andrew Bird.[2] O'Connor plays bass and sings back-up for Kelly Hogan (supporting Hogan's release "I Like To Keep Myself In Pain" on ANTI- Records)[3] and in 2010, Wilco's Jeff Tweedy enlisted O'Connor and Hogan as primary vocalists on gospel legend Mavis Staples’ Grammy Award-winning album You Are Not Alone.[2] In the studio and on the stage, O'Connor has backed (among others) Neko Case,[4] Jakob Dylan,[5] The New Pornographers,[5] The Decemberists,[6] Archer Prewitt,[5] John Wesley Harding,[5] Hushdrops,[7] Justin Roberts[8] and Robbie Fulks.[9][10][11]
Nora O'Connor | |
|---|---|
 O'Connor performing at The Hideout on October 30, 2017 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Nora O'Connor |
| Also known as | Nora O'Connor Kean |
| Born | April 2, 1968 |
| Origin | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Genres | Folk, Country |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, Guitar |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Labels | Bloodshot Records |
O'Connor has released two solo CDs. The first, Cerulean Blue, was released by Uncommon Ground Coffeehouse in Chicago in 1996. The second, Til the dawn, was released by Bloodshot Records on August 24, 2004. NOTE: In 2022 Nora announced: "My new album 'My Heart' comes out October 7, 2022 on Pravda Records."
In the mid-1990s, she formed the Nora O'Connor Band, with herself on lead vocals and guitar, Lisa Wertman Crowe on bass and vocals, Tony Ventura on guitar and Mark Cameron on drums.
O'Connor has two sons, and lives in Evanston, Illinois.
Other collaborative projects edit
- The Blacks: Five-piece insurgent country band (1993–2000)
- The Decemberists, touring band: backing vocals, guitar (2014–present)
See also Kelly Hogan§#Other projects.
Partial discography edit
Solo edit
- Cerulean Blue (1996, Uncommon Ground)
- Til the Dawn (2004, Bloodshot Records)
- My Heart (October 2022, Pravda Records)
The Blacks edit
- Dolly Horrorshow (1998, Bloodshot Records)
- Just Like Home (2000, Bloodshot Records)
- In Sickness and Health EP (2010, 6-song digital download, Bloodshot Records)
Kelly Hogan edit
- I Like To Keep Myself In Pain (2014, ANTI-)
The Flat Five edit
- It's A World of Love and Hope (2016, Bloodshot Records)
- "The Raven", single (2017, Bloodshot Records)
- Another World (2020, Pravda Records)
Miscellaneous edit
- Happy – Robbie Fulks (2010, Yep Roc Records)
- You Are Not Alone – Mavis Staples (2010, ANTI-)
- Tomorrow – Hushdrops
- Me, Myself and Wine – Lady Parts (2015, Bloodshot Records)
References edit
- ^ Baker, Brian (Mar 19, 2019). "Iron & Wine's Sam Beam Talks". Cincinnati CityBeat. Retrieved Mar 25, 2019.
- ^ a b Osmon, Erin (Feb 10, 2014). "Seven Questions for Musician Nora O'Connor". Chicago. Retrieved Mar 25, 2019.
- ^ "Kelly Hogan - I Like to Keep Myself in Pain". ANTI-records. Retrieved Mar 25, 2019.
- ^ Kahn, Andy (Apr 10, 2018). "Neko Case Shares New Single 'Bad Luck'". JamBase. Retrieved Mar 25, 2019.
- ^ a b c d Prince, David J. (June 11, 2010). "Chicago Singer Nora O'Connor's One Hot Summer". Billboard. Retrieved Mar 25, 2019.
- ^ Mervis, Scott (Jun 1, 2018). "'I'm losing my voice,' singer tells crowd, but Decemberists power through at the Benedum". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved Mar 25, 2019.
- ^ Guarino, Mark (Sep 11, 2014). "Chicago's Funeral Bonsai Wedding Debut A Hypnotic Bending Of Jazz And Roots; Hushdrops Get Epic". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on December 24, 2014. Retrieved Mar 25, 2019.
- ^ Roberts, Justin (2016). "Justin Roberts - Lemonade". Justin Roberts. Retrieved Mar 25, 2019.
- ^ Dickinson, Chrissie (Feb 6, 2014). "Nora O'Connor is a voice you know, you just don't know it". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved Mar 25, 2019.
- ^ "Fifth Star Bios - 2017 Honorees". chicago.gov. Retrieved Apr 1, 2019.
- ^ "Chicago musicians think back on their favorite Fleetwood Mac songs". Time Out. Retrieved Apr 1, 2019.
External links edit
- Official website
- Nora O'Connor discography at Discogs
- Nora O'Connor at AllMusic
- Bio @ Bloodshot Records
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