SANTA CRUZ SENTINEL

Mary McCaslin's Roundup

February 13, 2009

GRETCHEN PETERS PLAYS DON QUIXOTE’S

This Tuesday world-class country singer-songwriter Gretchen Peters performs at Don Quixote’s in Felton. Peters is known for her song, “Independence Day,” which was a hit in 1994 for singer Martina McBride and most recently for American Idol winner Carrie Underwood. “Independence Day” tells the story of an 8 year old girl’s drastic reaction to the domestic abuse she witnesses between her parents.

Gretchen is a phenomenal and prolific songwriter whose songs have been recorded by dozens of big name artists. Her voice is dynamic yet delicate. She will be performing with her long-time partner, multi-instrumentalist Barry Walsh.

During the 2008 Presidential Campaign the GOP used “Independence Day” to usher Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin to the stage after the St. Louis debate. Peters was appalled that her song was being co-opted by people who were completely overlooking its context and message to promote a candidate who would set women’s rights back decades – all without her permission. “The fact that the McCain/Palin campaign is using a song about an abused woman as a rallying cry for their Vice Presidential candidate, a woman who would ban abortion even in cases of rape and incest, is beyond irony,” Peters said. That was when she decided to donate the royalties from “Independence Day” accrued during the election cycle to Planned Parenthood in Sarah Palin’s name. She also encouraged others to make donations to Planned Parenthood in Palin’s name and over one million dollars was raised. Peters added, “I hope with the additional income provided by the McCain/Palin campaign Planned Parenthood will be able to help many more women in need.”

Speaking by telephone, she made it clear that the only way “Independence Day” is autobiographical is that her parents divorced when she was 8 years old.

Asked how she met singer-songwriter Tom Russell, who produced her 2008 CD, One to the Heart, One to the Head, Gretchen said that Tom spotted her photo on the cover of the British magazine Maverick. He asked a friend about her. Receiving a very positive response, he became interested and listened to her music. Their musical collaboration and friendship grew from there. (In the interest of disclosure, I’m very flattered to report that Gretchen recorded my song, “Prairie in the Sky” on this CD.)

Gretchen has lived in Nashville for 20 years. She and Barry Walsh live in a small enclave of liberals, but she is doubtful that they will make it their final residence. As she said, “It’s sort of like, ‘Do I stay and be a missionary or move on?’”

She arrived in Nashville, a singing, songwriting product of New York, Boulder, Colorado and politically active parents. “I didn’t understand the whole delineation between singer and songwriter. Everybody I knew was a singer-songwriter, did it all. I couldn’t really conceive of myself in any other light.”

Peters signed a publishing deal, and her story songs hit a sweet spot with some of mainstream country’s finest voices of the 1990s. Her songs “On a Bus to St. Cloud” (Trisha Yearwood), “You Don’t Even Know Who I Am” (Patty Loveless), “Chill of the Early Fall” (George Strait), “Let That Pony Run” (Pam Tillis) and most famously, “Independence Day” (Martina McBride) brought her the recognition and prominence she deserved. “Independence Day” earned her a Grammy nomination and the CMA Song of the Year award.

She recorded her first CD, The Secret of Life, in 1996. She followed up with more recordings of her sophisticated, melodic songs. Her 2007 CD, Burnt Toast & Offerings, features some haunting and insightful musical vignettes, along with exquisite production. The song, “Breakfast at Our House,” is about the disintegration of her 20 year marriage and “Ghost” speaks to depression and isolation. These songs set a new high watermark for her songwriting.

Gretchen has recently released a retrospective 2 disc CD set called Circus Girl: The Best of Gretchen Peters. The first disc features songs from her 1996-2007 recordings, and the second disc features handpicked rarities, including early recordings and interviews, demos, work tapes, live tracks and one-off recordings. This beautifully packaged limited edition collector’s item is a “completist’s” dream. It debuted at her recent worldwide interactive webcast from The Rutledge in Nashville and was available during the online benefit auction for KIPP Academy (Knowledge is Power Program) that followed after the show. Two weeks later she was part of a Songwriter’s TeleSummit over the phone networks.

Here in Santa Cruz we have the opportunity to enjoy great musicians from all over the world almost any day of the week. This Tuesday at Don Quixote’s is no exception.

Email Mary McCaslin at roundup@marymccaslin.com.

If You Go:

WHAT: Gretchen Peters Concert

WHERE: Don Quixote’s Music Hall, 6275 Hwy 9, Felton

WHEN: Tuesday, September 8, 7:30 p.m.

DETAILS: 603-2294