“A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.”
- Chinese proverb
Today is the birthday of both Lisa Germano and Leigh Nash. Don't recognize those names? Let's get into it.
Lisa Germano was born in 1958 (a fine year, it was) in Mishawaka, Indiana. She is a multi-instrumentalist primarily known for her fiddle playing. She got her big break in1985 when John Mellencamp asked her to join his Scarecrow tour. She went on to record and tour with Mellencamp until 1993. If you've paid attention to the evolution of his music you no doubt first notice her presence on the 1987 record Lonesome Jubilee. Mellencamp shifted to an Americana-tinged sound moving away from his previous straight ahead rock formula. On that album, in addition to Germano's fiddle, they used an accordion, a hammer dulcimer, an autoharp, a dobro, a lap steel, a mandolin, a banjo, a penny whistle and a melodica. It's my favorite Mellencamp disc. Germano has had her own long solo career as well as working with a host of other musicians, including David Bowie, John Prine, Billy Joel, Crowded House, Bob Seger, Iggy Pop, James McMurtry, Patty Griffin…on and on it goes. Quite a talent.
Leigh Nash was born in 1976 in New Braunfels, TX. She and Matt Slocum formed the band Six Pence None the Richer in 1992. If that name doesn't ring a bell I'll bet you know their most recognizable tune. Kiss Me, their charming love song topped the charts in 1999. It was everywhere. It was/is just about everything you would want in a pop song, I think. Pert near perfect.
Also on that same self-titled album, they did a cover of the La's song There She Goes. It helped give the original much wider exposure and some might argue it's a superior version. You can decide.