Martie Maguire

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Martie Maguire
Martie Maguire performing in Austin, Texas during the Accidents & Accusations Tour.
Martie Maguire performing in Austin, Texas during the Accidents & Accusations Tour.
Background information
Birth name Martha Elenor Erwin
Born October 12, 1969 (1969-10-12) (age 38)
Genre(s) Bluegrass
Country
Country rock
Occupation(s) Musician
Songwriter
Singer
Years active 1989-Present
Label(s) SonyBMG/Open Wide/Columbia
Associated acts Dixie Chicks
Website Dixiechicks.com
Members
Natalie Maines, Martie Maguire, Emily Robison
Former members
Laura Lynch
Robin Lynn Macy
Notable instrument(s)
1920 German Stradavarius violin,
Gibson F-5 Master acoustic mandolin

Martie Maguire is an American songwriter, singer, multi-instrumentalist, and a founding member of the multiple Grammy Award-winning female alternative country-rock band the Dixie Chicks.

Contents

[edit] Early life

[edit] Childhood

Martha Elenor Erwin (nicknamed "Martie") was born October 12, 1969, in York, Pennsylvania,[1] but was raised in Addison, a northern suburban town on the edge of Dallas, Texas, with an older sister, Julia, and younger sister, Emily, to parents Paul Erwin and Barbara Trask. Encouraged by her parents-- both educators at private schools, Maguire began playing violin at age five, and by age 12, was learning to play "fiddle style", with a birthday gift of fiddle lessons, [2] and was active in the school orchestra.[3] Emily Erwin, (later known as Emily Robison), three years her junior, also shared an early talent, interest and love of music, and the two were provided musical instruction on several instruments. Because of this, although Maguire became famous for her ability in vocal harmony, and mastery of the fiddle, she also plays a variety of stringed instruments that include the viola, guitar, mandolin, and bass.[4]

[edit] Playing in the band

By 1983, Maguire was touring with her sister Emily and school friends; siblings Troy and Sharon Gilchrist.[5] The sisters showed an "almost obsessive" interest in busking at small venues and attending bluegrass festivals.[6] The four students formed the teenage bluegrass group "Blue Night Express", playing together for 5 years, from 1984-1989,[7] while still attending private Greenhill School in Addison, Texas.[4] "We'd drive down to the west end of Dallas and open our cases, and that was our job," Maguire said of it in a later interview to 60 Minutes II correspondent Dan Rather. "That's how we made money in high school."[8] In 1987, Maguire, known then still as Martie Erwin, was awarded second place for the fiddle in the National fiddle championships held yearly in Winfield, Kansas. After graduation of high school, with Robison yet to complete her secondary school studies, from 1988 to 1989, Maguire attended Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, performing in the school orchestra there and again in the National fiddle championships, earning third place that year.[9]

[edit] Early Dixie Chicks

In 1989, Maguire and Robison teamed up with guitarist Robin Lynn Macy and Laura Lynch on bass playing what was at the time predominantly bluegrass music and a beguiling mix of country standards. When they were booked for their first paid appearances, they decided to call themselves the Dixie Chicks after a song, "Dixie Chicken" written by Lowell George of the band Little Feat.[10] Originally listed as Martie Erwin, Maguire played fiddle, mandolin, viola and harmonized with Robison on backing vocals within the band.[11]

In 1990, the Dixie Chicks paid $5,000 for a first independent studio album with the name,Thank Heavens for Dale Evans,[12] and in 1991 a Christmas single at the end of the year- a 45 rpm vinyl recording named "Home on the Radar Range", with "Christmas Swing" on one side and the song on the flip side in a clever play on words, named "The Flip Side". The record titles were significant; during that period of time, the bandmates dressed up as "cowgirls", and publicity photos reflected this image. However, even with an appearance at the Grand Ole Opry,[13] with few exceptions, such as Garrison Keillor's radio program, on PBS; A Prarie Home Companion,[14] they didn't get much national airplay.

[edit] Changing sound

In 1992 the women had opened for several big name country musicians, including Reba McEntire, Garth Brooks, and George Strait, among others, as well as releasing a second independent studio album,Little Ol' Cowgirl.[11] Although they had originally been billed as an "all cowgirl" or "all-girl" band,[3] they dropped that description as they enlisted the assistance of session musicians to produce a fuller, richer sound in their music. [12] Maguire commented, "I hope our fans won't be disappointed (in The Little Ol' Cowgirl); it's got drums on every track; it's no longer bluegrass, but we have to make a living and you can't do that playing bluegrass."[14] One of these sidemen was accomplished producer and steel guitarist Lloyd Maines, in nearby Lubbock, Texas, who played on both their second (and third) independent albums, and with whom they developed a mutual respect as musicians. In doing so, they met Lloyd's daughter, Natalie, who was also an aspiring musician. However, not all of the band members were pleased in the direction that their music was taking. Macy left, seeking a "purer bluegrass sound".[15] The remaining band gamely continued playing; they embarked upon a European mini tour, which they chronicled in a "Dixie Chick Chat" newsletter for fans,[16] but the trip wasn't a commercial career boost. With the gap left by Macy, Lloyd passed Natalie's audition demo tape that had won her a full scholarship to the Berklee School of Music, to Maguire and Robison.[17] Her distinctive voice was a match for Maguire's soprano and Robison's alto harmonies. As Maguire and Robison considered their options, and the major record labels waffled over whether they should take a risk on an all-women's band a few reviewers did see things differently:

"Some record label executives will be kicking themselves soon enough when the Dixie Chicks are queens of the honky-tonk circuit. If their show at the Birchmere last week was any indication, these Chicks have what it takes to make the big time, yet no major label has taken the plunge to sign them." Eric Brace, The Washington Post March 30, 1992[18]

Unaware other possibilities were being considered by the Erwin Sisters, Lynch, thrust into the role of sole lead singer on their third independent album, Shouldn't a Told You That in 1993, had been unable to attract support from a major record label even when she had a co-lead vocalist before. By 1995, she was replaced by Maguire and Robison with singer-songwriter Natalie Maines after the group was still unable to garner little more than local interest.[19] The change left the cowgirl dresses in the past, leaving the band with a more contemporary look and a sound that was broader in appeal.[20]

[edit] The right stuff: success

After Natalie Maines assumed the position of lead vocalist, the band was revitalized. Maguire said of their music, "It's very rootsy, but then Natalie comes in with a rock and blues influence. That gave Emily and I a chance to branch out, because we loved those kinds of music but felt limited by our instruments." [21] The "new" Dixie Chicks took to the road, and were scouted and signed by SONY's Monument Records in 1996.[12] A single "I Can Love You Better" was released in October 1997, and reached the Top 10 on American country music charts, while the new lineup recorded the rest of their debut album. The finished result was released on January 27, 1998. Although it was the fourth album for the "Dixie Chicks", most fans now consider it their first, primarily because it was their first major label release, and because with Maines, the band's look and sound changed significantly. Newcomers to Dixie Chicks music are often unaware of the band's history. This first album for the current band added a widespread audience to their original loyal following, entering the top five on both country and pop charts[22] with initial sales of 12 million copies in the country music arena alone, taking the record for the best-selling duo or group album in country music history.[20] In 1998 the Dixie Chicks sold more CDs than all other country music groups combined.[23]


[edit] Wide Open Spaces

Both as a single and an album, Wide Open Spaces flowed musically and harmoniously. The title song, although written by folksinger Susan Gibson, provided lyrics that all three members felt were so semi-biographical in nature, that years later in October, 2006 they commented on it on a Vh1 storytellers program before performing the song.

"Many precede and many will follow,
A young girl's dream no longer hollow,
It takes the shape of a place out west;
But what it holds for her, she hasn't yet guessed
She needs wide open spaces,
Room to make her big mistakes,
She needs new faces,
She knows the high stakes."[24]

Big Country music took note of the Chicks, awarding them the Horizon Award for new artists in 1998, which, according to CBS News, is "given to someone expected to have a long, successful career".[25] By 1999, the album won the new line up their first Grammy Awards as well as acclaim from the Country Music Association, the Academy of Country Music, and other high profile awards. The album yielded five singles ranking in the top ten in the American Billboard charts, and of them, three became number one hits. In 1998, the Dixie Chicks sold more CDs than all other country music groups combined.[23]


[edit] Early commerical success

After surprising even their own record label with the overwhelming popularity of the debut album of the new trio, the band moved on to produce another rare RIAA certified diamond with their new album, Fly, in August, 1999 having sold over 10 million copies. The Chicks are the only female group in history to have earned two RIAA Diamond Awards.[26] As of 2007, Wide Open Spaces has sold more than 30.5 million copies, a "quadruple platium" album.[27] With Fly, both albums ranked so high in sales by 2000, that even as of 2008, the Dixie Chicks are not only the highest selling female band in U.S. history, but they have albums that continue to place in the list of the 50 best-selling albums in American history.[28] Fly again won Grammy awards and honors from the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music, and a humbling amount of honors from a variety of other sources for their accomplishments.[25][29]

While the addition of Maines freed the bandmates to explore more musical genres, it lacked the bluegrass that the Erwin sisters had loved. After the commercial success of their first two albums with Sony, the band wasn't long in approaching their label about fairer compensation. As the band wrangled with Sony, finally getting a record imprint of their own, "Open Wide Records",[4] and a slightly better contract, they wrote songs with less emphasis on drums, with a less commercial sound, closer to their roots.[30] One song, "Lil' Jack Slade" is an instrumental, and two songs from folksinger Patty Griffin are covered. Lloyd Maines had experience with producing records for other artists-- some as diverse as David Byrne, the Lost Gonzo Band, and Joe Ely, so the Dixie Chicks produced the album, Home with him. [31] Again, they won Grammy awards, and other noteworthy accolades as before, although it fell short of reaching the diamond record status of the first two albums. Natalie Maines said afterward, "I want to check the record books and see how many fathers and daughters have won Grammys together."[32]

[edit] Composing songs

Maguire had begun writing and recording songs as early as the original "foursome" version of the Dixie Chicks, on their debut independent album, Thank Heavens for Dale Evans; and one song in particular, co-written with Laura Lynch called "Pink Toenails" surfaced in 2001. The song was featured in the film, Don't Say A Word, with Skye McCole Bartusiak performing the number.[33] Maguire co-wrote the song, "Cowboy Take Me Away", which was recorded on the Dixie Chicks second studio album Fly for her sister Emily, during her courtship to country music singer Charlie Robison.[2] Emily subsequently married, changing her name to Emily Robison in 1999. Maguire was singled out by BMI in 2000, and awarded Songwriter of the Year for writing and/or co-writing "Cowboy Take Me Away," "Ready To Run" and "You Were Mine"; the last being co-written with Robison, about their parent's divorce.[34]

[edit] Exploring film and play soundtracks

In 1999, Maguire became involved in the use of her music for use in films or plays. The Dixie Chicks performed two songs, recording a cover of the song, You Can't Hurry Love as well as Maguire's "Ready to Run" to the film Runaway Bride, starring Richard Gere and Julia Roberts.[35] Maguire was nominated for a Tony Award in 2003, for co-composing the film score to Urban Cowboy; the musical, using the song she had co-written, "Cowboy Take Me Away".[32]

[edit] Controversy and public opinion

Although Maguire and Robison often appear quiet and demure compared to their animated bandmate Natalie Maines, the trio have stood united on controversial subjects almost since they joined as a band, even when their opinions have had the potential to serve them harm more than to accomplish their goals. When Sony worried that their name might offend Northerners and Feminists, they remained firm. They took a hit from some fans for the song, "Goodbye Earl", on their album, Fly a song using black comedy to portray the predicament of a battered woman, and her revenge: the remorseless murder of her husband with the aid of her best friend.[36] They participated in each stage of renegotiating their contract after Fly according to Maguire, including teaming up with other female rockers; Courtney Love and Aimee Mann with a lawsuit addressing the inequities in the industry. [37] In 2005, Maguire, Robison and Maines joined with a host of 31 other recording artists, including Dolly Parton, Christina Aguilera, Yoko Ono, and Mandy Moore supporting relationships of all kinds, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity on a double disk release entitled, Love Rocks, with their song from the album Home called, "I Believe In Love".[38]

Some of the largest (and most personal) examples that have made the Dixie Chicks so controversial, however, include Maguire and Robison's support of Maines' 2003 criticism of United States President George W. Bush's choice of a pre-emptive strike on Iraq, which lost the band an estimated half of their audience in the United States. That same anti-war stance also led the American Red Cross to refuse a donation of $1,000,000.00 because of their controversial political standing. Other concerns include controversy (particularly between some Christian sects) in the Southern bible belt concerning IVF, (both Maguire and Robison were unable to conceive without it), support for stem cell research (all three women have had grandparents suffering from alzheimers; Maines co-wrote a song called "Silent House" with Neil Finn of Crowded House about her grandmother's memory loss), mobilization to review the case of a prisoner on Death Row (whom Maines believed to be innocent), and the band's support for liberal causes, including those for Gay and Lesbian rights. These stances have made them extremely controversial, but they agree that they prefer to have an audience who appreciate them for who they are, and are unwilling to mince words just for financial gain.

See also: Dixie Chicks political controversy

[edit] Personal life

[edit] Family life

Martie married pharmaceutical representative Ted Seidel on June 17, 1995, and changed her surname to his, becoming Martie Seidel, as well as the stepmother to his son, Carter. A new country music singer, Brad Paisley, wrote a song about a child watching his mother and himself being rejected once her dates learned about her son, and the gratitude to his stepfather for having enough time and love for the both of them. Martie wrote to tell him she was moved both because she was now a stepmother, and had a stepfather as well. The song was called, "He Didn't Have To Be", and Maguire joined him in performing it onstage in a concert on a CMT showcase program, saying the song "struck a chord" in her".[39] However, her marriage did not last, and she and Ted Seidel were divorced in November, 1999.[2]

At bandmate Natalie Maines' sister Kim's wedding Martie met Gareth Maguire, a Roman Catholic teacher and actor from Northern Ireland. The couple became engaged in June, 2001, and married August 10, 2001, in a civil ceremony in Hawaii. Later they had a Catholic "blessing" ceremony in the groom's hometown, Carnlough in County Antrim, Ireland, on March 9, 2002, for all the guests that were not able to attend the first wedding. She said of the ceremony that the Catholic Church would not permit a wedding service due to her prior divorce. Maguire says ruefully that there were so many "special" people that they'd wanted to include, but that they just couldn't wait to marry.[40] Part of the reason for the rush was Gareth's need to keep flying back and forth because of visa considerations. [41] After her marriage, Martie changed her name to that of her new husband, which is why in her musical career she has had the surnames of Erwin, Seidel, and now, Maguire.

[edit] Infertility and motherhood

Maguire has been frank about using invitro fertilization to conceive their twins. In an interview in Conceive Magazine, she said, "All my paperwork said 'unspecified origin'. We spent three years of active trying before we went to IVF. First I went on Clomid. Then I had some dye tests and found I had a collapsed tube, so I had laparoscopic surgery; the tube wasn't blocked, just spasming." After three attempts at intrauterine insemination, she said, she and her husband didn't think it was worth continuing in that manner, and switched to IVF.[42] Martie and Gareth have two children, twin daughters Eva Ruth and Kathleen 'Katie' Emilie, born April 27, 2004. In August 2007, Maguire began IVF again and announced her pregnancy with another daughter due in the summer of 2008.[43] In an interview with People Magazine she said, "Carrying one instead of two will be much easier."

Regarding the number of children the Dixie Chicks have produced in the past seven years, (Maines has two and Robison has three in addition to Maguire's twins) Maguire responded, "We'll have to move over and let the little chicks take over! We've got a new band!"[43] Maguire and Robison co-wrote a song, "So Hard", about their own personal experiences with infertility and their need to rely on other methods to conceive. They speak out about the difficulties they faced, but also their good fortune; both having options that for many women are financially prohibitive. Mentioning the stigma attached to IVF, Magurie said, "I think we feel a responsibility to break down some barriers. It's much more of a common problem than people realize."[44] Both sisters feel strongly that the issue needs more candid discussion.[45] A final concern Maguire mentioned was the question of what to do with all the unused frozen embryos. "Now that I have children, I see those embryos as possible children. So I have to think about what my options are if there are leftovers again. I could keep them in storage, and maybe they will help my children some day. Or I can try to donate them to stem cell research. I don't think I could give them to another family," she admits. "I would always worry: what if it's an abusive family? What if they don't get enough love?"[42]

[edit] Philanthropic efforts and other causes

The Dixie Chicks have supported a variety of causes, which include environmental issues, GLBT rights, political activism, Rock the Vote, PBS appearances and collaborations with other musicians to help raise money for charity after Hurricane Katrina, and other issues. Examples include the following:

[edit] Other interests

[edit] Awards

See also: Dixie Chicks#Awards

[edit] Discography

See also: Dixie Chicks discography

[edit] References

  1. ^ TV Guide
  2. ^ a b c Ladies' Home Journal(Retrieved 13 March, 2008)
  3. ^ a b Gilchriest, Gail The Dixie Chicks Put Cowgirl Chic Back in the Saddle Elle Magazine 1991
  4. ^ a b c Leggett, Steve All-Music Guide writer on MSN (Retrieved 9 March, 2008)
  5. ^ Jam Base Sharon Gilchrist
  6. ^ Frost, Jane Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, KS, Early 1980s The All-Inclusive Dixie Chicks Page Retrieved 3 December 2007
  7. ^ Gilchrist, SharonFaraway Hills Retrieved 12 February, 2008
  8. ^ Rather, Dan 60 Minutes II Dixie Chicks Not Whistling Dixie
  9. ^ Walnut Valley Association 1987 and 1989 National fiddle championships in archive Retrieved 2 March, 2008
  10. ^ Tarnow, Noah Dixie Chicks Rolling Stone Magazine; 12/01/98 Issue 801, pg.37
  11. ^ a b Superior Pics Retrieved 23 March, 2008
  12. ^ a b c Brooks, Robert The All-Inclusive Dixie Chicks Timeline Retrieved 25 March, 2008
  13. ^ Dixie Chicks Fans Net
  14. ^ a b Clark, Renee Can the Dixie Chicks make it in the big time? Local Heroes (Transcribed from) Dallas Life Magazine, Dallas Morning News, March 1, 1992 Retrieved 23 March, 2008
  15. ^ "8 Note Online" Dixie Chicks Biography Retrieved 10 February 2008
  16. ^ Brooks, Robert The All-Inclusive Dixie Chicks Timeline (Retrieved 24 March, 2008)
  17. ^ Redbook Dishing With The Dixie Chicks 3/01/2002 (Retrieved 23 March, 2008)
  18. ^ Brace, Eric Dated March 30, 1992 The Washington Post(Retrieved 28 March, 2008)
  19. ^ Dickerson, James L. (2000) Dixie Chicks: Down-Home and Backstage. Taylor Trade Publishing, Dallas, Texas. ISBN 0-87833-189-1.
  20. ^ a b Ankeny, Jason Vh1 Dixie Chicks Biography All-Music Guide
  21. ^ Malkin, Nina [1] (Retrieved 31 December 2007)
  22. ^ Smith, Chris The Vancouver Sun "100 Albums You Need To Own" (Retrieved 4 January, 2008)
  23. ^ a b Elle Magazine.com Retrieved 30, May, 2008Dixie Chicks Biography
  24. ^ Gibson, SusanLyrics, Wide Open Spaces by Susan Gibson
  25. ^ a b Retrieved 2 February, 2008 Dixie Chicks Riding High
  26. ^ Country Music About.com (Retrieved 20 April, 2008)
  27. ^ RIAA Certification Website Retrieved 4 March, 2008
  28. ^ Willman, Chris Rednecks & Bluenecks: The Politics of Country Music By Chris Willman, 2005 pg. 21-23 ISBN 1595580174
  29. ^ Awards list from Dixie Chicks Fans site Retrieved 7 April, 2008
  30. ^ Hermes, Will NPR Music All Things Considered Retrieved 20 April, 2008
  31. ^ {{cite web|url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/issues/vol16/issue10/music.maines.html|title=Lloyd Maines The Guy Is Everywhere|last=Nichols|first=Lee |publisher=The Austin Chronicle|pages=vol16/issue10|accessdate=2008-06-07}}
  32. ^ a b Dixie Chicks website
  33. ^ Yahoo Movie Review for Don't Say a Word Retrieved 22 March, 2008
  34. ^ Hillman, Chris Entertainment Weekly (Retrieved 21 April, 2008)
  35. ^ Lyrics to Runaway Bride Soundtrack
  36. ^ Quelland, Sarah MetroActive Music: Whistlin' Dixie Who knew the world's most controversial band would be three gals from Texas?
  37. ^ Sharp, Kathleen The Boston Globe [2]
  38. ^ 2005|1|28 Love Rocks Album from a variety of artists Retrieved 25 May, 2008
  39. ^ Paisely, Brad [3] Song, "He Didn't Have To Be" from "On The Verge" CMT Retrieved 20 January, 2007]
  40. ^ CMT Online, CMT Online Retrieved 25 September, 2005
  41. ^ Minchin III, James R. and Lieberman, Ellen InStyle Magazine; February 2003, Vol. 10 Issue 2, pg. 244 Retrieved 25 September 2005]
  42. ^ a b Weinhouse, Beth. (Fall 2007) [http://www.conceiveonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=71&Itemid=22 Conceive Magazine Online The Dixie Chicks Taking The Long Way...To Motherhood]
  43. ^ a b People Magazine (accessed 28 January, 2008)Dixie Chick Martie Maguire Is Expecting
  44. ^ Frontpage Publicity (found 1 February, 2008)Dixie Chicks Official Website
  45. ^ PBS ExclusivePBS Exclusive "So Hard"
  46. ^ (Retrieved 15 March, 2008) [4]
  47. ^ a b Davis, Rob (accessed 23 January, 2008) "Dixie Chicks Frequently Asked Questions
  48. ^ Dixie Chicks Website Support of Conservation International
  49. ^ Listing of Simpsons performances on a multimedia site- Most recent contribution: aired on 13th April 2008

[edit] External links


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Natalie Maines · Emily Robison · Martie Maguire
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