"Among the cognoscenti of the Chicago folk scene, Michael Smith, author of such standards as "The Dutchman" and "Spoon River" is the songwriterâs songwriter, and beautifully honest soprano Anne Hills the diva of record." - Scott Alarik, The Boston Globe

13 MP3 Songs
FOLK: Modern Folk, POP: Folky Pop



Details:
Michael Smith and Anne Hills both moved to Chicago in the late 1970's, a time when its vibrant folk scene included artists like Steve Goodman, Bonnie Koloc and John Prine. While Michael and his wife, Barbara, continued performing as a duo, Anne was busy co-founding Hogeye Music, a Folklore Center still active in Evanston, IL, and performing with Jan Burda.

Michael's writing was already well known through interpretations of his work by an endless stream of successful performers, including Spanky and Our Gang, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Chicago's own Steve Goodman (who co-wrote many songs with Michael). Michael found an enthusiastic audience in his new home town and worked increasingly as a solo artist. Eventually, he began working with Bob Gibson, writing and playing bass. They completed and produced the show "The Women in My Life" for which Michael wrote the enduring favorites "Sister Clarissa" and "Elizabeth Dark."

While Michael was busy building a catalog of wonderful songs, Anne was honing her skills as a back-up vocalist and songwriter. Her efforts came to the attention of Gibson as well. It was through this mutual partner that Anne and Michael met. So began a long musical friendship that would include co-writing, co-production, and occasional tours together.

Anne's first solo release, Don't Explain (1984), included three Michael Smith covers. She was instrumental in producing and placing Michael's first two solo records with the Flying Fish label, "Michael Smith" (1986) and "Love Stories" (1987). In 1993 Anne decided to record a collection of Michael's songs. "October Child" was produced by jazz great Peter Erskine and included Anne and Michael's first songwriting collaboration, "Disappearing Heart." Following that Anne and Scott Petito produced Michael's 1994 release, "Time." Last fall, they collaborated on Anne's first Redwing Music release, "Bittersweet Street."

Each has a history of writing in theater, Michael setting John Steinbeck's words for Steppenwolf's "The Grapes of Wrath," as well as his own show "Michael, Margaret, Pat & Kate." Anne's many acting stints included co-writing songs with Jay Ansill for Philadelphia's Arden Theater adaptation of the Brian Freil play "Lovers."

While continuing their work separately, Anne and Michael were building a joint repetoire that brought audiences to their feet whenever they shared an evening's performance. This autumn, Redwing Music is proud to debut their first duet project, "Paradise Lost and Found." It includes some perenial favorites like Michael's "The Dutchman" and Anne's "Silken Dreams," but also introduces more of their collaborative work and new songs from them both. "Paradise Lost and Found" is a live in the studio recording that beautifully captures the warmth and electricity of their stage performances.