Natalie Merchant

Acclaimed vocalist Natalie Merchant blends a soft pop melodicism with an understanding of folk traditions and a bent for humanitarianism; qualities which she first seeded as the lead singer for college rock staples 10,000 Maniacs in the 1980s and which came into full flower in her solo career. With her clear, keening voice and idiosyncratic phrasing, Merchant commanded attention in the gentle environs of 10,000 Maniacs, helping the band move from the underground and into the mainstream. By the time their Unplugged cover of Patti Smith and Bruce Springsteen's "Because the Night...