History of Rhiannon Giddens in Timeline

Rhiannon Giddens is a highly acclaimed American musician celebrated for her diverse folk music repertoire. As a founding member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, she gained prominence as the lead singer, fiddle player, and banjo player, showcasing her versatility and deep understanding of country, blues, and old-time music. Giddens' work often explores themes of American history, particularly the contributions and experiences of African Americans in music. Beyond her instrumental and vocal skills, she is a respected music historian and advocate for preserving and promoting traditional music forms.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

1918: Cincinnati Pops Orchestra Recording

In 2017, a week after performing with the Louisville Orchestra, Rhiannon sang with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra for their live recording of American Originals: 1918, which explored the early development of jazz during the post WWI era.

February 21, 1977: Rhiannon Giddens' Birth

On February 21, 1977, Rhiannon Giddens, an American musician known for her work in eclectic folk music and a founding member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, was born.

Others born on this day/year

1995: Graduation from NCSSM

In 1995, Rhiannon Giddens graduated from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in Durham, North Carolina.

2000: Graduation from Oberlin Conservatory

In 2000, Rhiannon Giddens graduated from Oberlin Conservatory at Oberlin College, where she studied opera.

2003: Reconnection and Musical Collaboration

In 2003, Rhiannon Giddens reconnected with middle school classmate Cheryse McLeod Lewis. The two friends started singing together.

2005: Participation in the Black Banjo Gathering and Formation of Sankofa Strings

In 2005, Rhiannon Giddens attended the Black Banjo Then and Now Gathering in Boone, North Carolina. She met Dom Flemons and Súle Greg Wilson and they formed Sankofa Strings. Giddens was also a caller at contra dances and featured in the band Gaelwynd.

2007: Collaboration on Talitha MacKenzie's Album

In 2007, Rhiannon Giddens contributed fiddle, banjo, dancing, and vocals to Talitha MacKenzie's album, 'Indian Summer'.

2007: Marriage to Michael Laffan

In 2007, Rhiannon Giddens married Irish traditional musician Michael Laffan.

2008: Recording Begins for 'Because I Knew You...'

In 2008, Rhiannon Giddens and Cheryse McLeod Lewis began recording music for their CD 'Because I Knew You...'.

2009: Release of 'Because I Knew You...'

In 2009, Rhiannon Giddens and Cheryse McLeod Lewis, as the duo Eleganza, released the CD 'Because I Knew You...', consisting of classical, religious, theater, and movie music.

2009: Birth of Daughter

In 2009, Rhiannon Giddens and Michael Laffan had a daughter.

2009: Appalachia Documentary Appearance

In 2009, Rhiannon Giddens appeared in the Smithsonian Folkways collection documenting Mike Seeger's final trip through Appalachia titled, 'Just Around The Bend: Survival and Revival in Southern Banjo Styles – Mike Seeger's Last Documentary'.

Loading Video...

November 12, 2013: Solo Original Member of Carolina Chocolate Drops

As of November 12, 2013, Rhiannon Giddens became the only original member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops.

2013: Birth of Son

In 2013, Rhiannon Giddens and Michael Laffan had a son.

2014: Participation in The New Basement Tapes Project

In 2014, Rhiannon Giddens participated in 'The New Basement Tapes' project, produced by T Bone Burnett, setting newly composed music to recently discovered Bob Dylan lyrics. The resulting album, 'Lost on the River: The New Basement Tapes', reached the Billboard top 40.

2014: Collaboration on 'Lost on the River: The New Basement Tapes'

In early 2014, Rhiannon Giddens recorded 'Lost on the River: The New Basement Tapes' alongside Elvis Costello, Marcus Mumford, Taylor Goldsmith, and Jim James, produced by T Bone Burnett.

February 2015: Release of Debut Solo Album

In February 2015, Rhiannon Giddens released her debut solo album, 'Tomorrow Is My Turn', on Nonesuch Records, produced by T Bone Burnett. The album features songs made famous by Patsy Cline, Odetta, Dolly Parton, Nina Simone, and others.

July 2015: Performance at TFF Rudolstadt and Release of "Ballad of Lennon Lacy"

In July 2015, Rhiannon Giddens performed at TFF Rudolstadt in Germany, broadcasted by Deutschlandfunk. She also appeared on Jon Lindsay's single "Ballad of Lennon Lacy".

Loading Video...

November 27, 2015: Release of 'Factory Girl' EP

On November 27, 2015, Rhiannon Giddens released the 'Factory Girl' EP on Nonesuch Records for Black Friday Record Store Day. The music was produced by T Bone Burnett.

December 11, 2015: Digital Release of Factory Girl EP

On December 11, 2015, Rhiannon Giddens' 'Factory Girl' EP was released digitally.

2015: Release of 'Tomorrow Is My Turn'

In 2015, Rhiannon Giddens released her solo album, 'Tomorrow Is My Turn'.

December 31, 2015: Appearance on Jools Holland's Hootenanny

On December 31, 2015, Rhiannon Giddens appeared on Jools Holland's Hootenanny on BBC Two, performing songs from her album 'Tomorrow Is My Turn'.

January 2016: Participation in Transatlantic Sessions

In January 2016, Rhiannon Giddens participated in Transatlantic Sessions, performing as part of Celtic Connections in Glasgow and on a UK/Irish tour.

October 8, 2016: Appearance on Austin City Limits

On October 8, 2016, Rhiannon Giddens was featured on Austin City Limits.

2016: Folk Singer of the Year and Steve Martin Prize

In 2016, Rhiannon Giddens was honored as Folk Singer of the Year at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and received the Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass. Also in 2016, The Carolina Chocolate Drops were inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame.

June 2017: Appearance in The American Epic Sessions

In June 2017, Rhiannon Giddens appeared in 'The American Epic Sessions', recording "One Hour Mama" and "Pretty Saro" on the restored first electrical sound recording system. The performances were released on the soundtrack.

October 2017: Named a MacArthur "Genius" Fellow

In October 2017, Rhiannon Giddens was named a 2017 MacArthur "Genius" Fellow.

2017: Appearance on Nashville Season 5

In 2017, Rhiannon Giddens appeared in the fifth season of CMT's 'Nashville' as Hannah Lee "Hallie" Jordan, a social worker and gospel singer.

Loading Video...

2017: Release of 'Freedom Highway'

In 2017, Rhiannon Giddens released her solo album, 'Freedom Highway'.

2017: Vacancy of Artistic Director of Silkroad

In July 2020, Rhiannon Giddens was named Artistic Director of the cross-cultural music organization Silkroad. The position had been vacant since 2017 when Silkroad's founder, Yo-Yo Ma, stepped down.

January 2018: Co-production of Songs of Our Native Daughters

In January 2018, Rhiannon Giddens co-produced (with Dirk Powell) 'Songs of Our Native Daughters' for Smithsonian Folkways, with Amythyst Kiah, Leyla McCalla, and Allison Russell.

March 2018: Guest Curator for Cambridge Folk Festival

In March 2018, Rhiannon Giddens served as guest curator for the Cambridge Folk Festival in England.

October 2018: Release of 'Red Dead Redemption 2' featuring 'Mountain Hymn'

In October 2018, Rhiannon Giddens contributed the song "Mountain Hymn", co-written with Daniel Lanois, to the video game 'Red Dead Redemption 2'.

December 2018: Hosting 'Aria Code' Podcast

In December 2018, Rhiannon Giddens began hosting the podcast 'Aria Code' with Rhiannon Giddens, produced by the Metropolitan Opera and WQXR-FM.

2018: Separation from Michael Laffan

In 2018, Rhiannon Giddens and Michael Laffan separated.

2018: Appearance on Nashville Season 6

In 2018, Rhiannon Giddens appeared in the sixth season of CMT's 'Nashville' as Hannah Lee "Hallie" Jordan, a social worker and gospel singer.

Loading Video...

February 2019: Premiere of Lucy Negro, Redux

In February 2019, the Nashville Ballet premiered 'Lucy Negro, Redux', a dance with music commissioned from Rhiannon Giddens.

May 2019: Began Relationship and Released Album

In May 2019, Rhiannon Giddens began a relationship with her Italian musical partner Francesco Turrisi and they released albums together.

2019: Documentary Appearance

In 2019, Rhiannon Giddens appeared in the Smithsonian Folkways collection documenting Mike Seeger's final trip through Appalachia titled, 'Just Around The Bend: Survival and Revival in Southern Banjo Styles – Mike Seeger's Last Documentary'.

Loading Video...

2019: Album Releases: 'Songs of Our Native Daughters' and 'There Is No Other'

In 2019, Rhiannon Giddens released two studio albums: 'Songs of Our Native Daughters' with Allison Russell, Leyla McCalla, and Amythyst Kiah, and 'There Is No Other' with Francesco Turrisi.

July 2020: Artistic Director of Silkroad

In July 2020, Rhiannon Giddens was named Artistic Director of the cross-cultural music organization Silkroad.

December 2020: Honorary Degree from UNC Greensboro

In December 2020, Rhiannon Giddens earned an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She sang "Calling me Home" by Alice Gerrard at a virtual commencement after accepting the degree.

2020: Commission for 'Omar' Opera

In 2020, Rhiannon Giddens was commissioned to create the opera 'Omar' for the Spoleto Festival USA, based on the autobiography of Omar Ibn Said. She wrote the libretto and was the lead composer with Michael Abels.

April 2021: Album Release

In April 2021, Rhiannon Giddens and Francesco Turrisi released albums together.

2021: Collaboration and Album Release

In 2021, Rhiannon Giddens collaborated with Francesco Turrisi and released the album 'There Is No Other'. Also in 2021, she released 'They're Calling Me Home', also in collaboration with Francesco Turrisi.

2021: Living in Limerick, Ireland

In 2021, Rhiannon Giddens was living in Limerick, Ireland.

2022: Children's Books Publication Announcement

In 2022, Rhiannon Giddens announced that Candlewick Press would publish four of her children's books. The first two, based on her songs "Build A House" and "We Could Fly" and illustrated by Monica Mikai and Briana Mukodiri Uchendu, are scheduled for release in Fall 2022.

Build a House

Check it on Amazon

2022: Featured in "Black Fiddlers" Documentary

In 2022, Rhiannon Giddens appeared in the documentary "Black Fiddlers", produced by Heritage Film Project and directed by Eduardo Montes-Bradley, alongside Justin Robinson. In the film, she shares memories of Joe Thomson and Odell Thomson.

Loading Video...

2022: Musical director of the 2023 Ojai Music Festival

In 2022, Rhiannon Giddens was named the musical director of the 2023 Ojai Music Festival.

2022: Postponed Premiere of Omar

Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the world premiere of Omar was postponed until 2022.

2023: Pulitzer Prize for Omar

In 2023, Omar received the Pulitzer Prize in Music.

2023: Release of 'You're the One'

In 2023, Rhiannon Giddens released her solo album, 'You're the One'.

2023: Honorary Degree from Princeton University and Wondrium series

In 2023, Rhiannon Giddens was awarded an honorary Doctor of Music from Princeton University. Also in 2023, Giddens joined the programming lineup at Wondrium leading the series "The Banjo: Music, History and Heritage."

July 2024: Headlined Gate to Southwell Festival

On 7th July 2024, Rhiannon Giddens and her band headlined the Gate to Southwell Festival.

November 2024: Separation from Francesco Turrisi

In November 2024, Rhiannon Giddens and Francesco Turrisi separated from her Italian musical partner Francesco Turrisi.

2024: Featured in "Cover Your Ears" Documentary

In 2024, Rhiannon Giddens is featured in the documentary "Cover Your Ears", produced by Prairie Coast Films and directed by Sean Patrick Shaul, where she discusses music censorship.

Loading Video...