Marc Cohn revisits album that kicked off his career
You may have heard the song Walking in Memphis, and hummed along with it on the radio, or you might even own Marc Cohn’s seminal self-titled album that won him a Grammy Award for Best Song of the Year, but that’s where most people’s familiarity ends.
A singer and songwriter, Cohn released his debut solo album in 1991 after working with numerous artists, including as backing pianist for Tracy Chapman.
Walking in Memphis was styled by Cohn as being “100 per cent autobiographical,” describing a trip that the musician took to Memphis, experiencing it as more than a place, but as a home of the gospel spirit.
At that time, Cohn wasn’t even a signed recording artist. In his words, “I was really just looking for inspiration in a place where some of my favourite music had been made. It was one of the rare times I was explic- itly looking to be inspired, and Iwas.”
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of this defining moment, Cohn is embarking on a North American tour, performing his seminal album along with guest singers The Blind Boys of Alabama.
“This tour has been a whole different experience for me,” says Cohn. “It’s somewhere between a normal concert and a Broadway show. I’m certainly not the first one to do something like this, but in and of itself it’s very interesting.”
Though Walking in Memp his is definitely a standout favourite, the album (and the concert) also features other great songs that you will no doubt be familiar with.
“If Walking in Memphis was the only song that mattered to audiences, I wouldn’t have been able to do this for the last 25 years.
“I’m really proud of my entire body of work, and to have my entire career summed up as a one-hit wonder? I don’t like it.”
On Feb. 1, Cohn comes to Calgary to fill the Jack Singer Concert Hall with his beautifully resonate voice. Take a walk in Memphis, blue shoes and all, with Cohn for his 25th Anniversary Concert as he performs his formative Marc Cohn album cover to cover as it was originally meant to be heard.
Tickets are available at artscommons.ca or by calling 403-294-9494.