History of Tracy Chapman in Timeline
Tracy Chapman is a highly acclaimed American singer-songwriter renowned for her socially conscious lyrics and distinctive voice. She rose to prominence in the late 1980s with her self-titled debut album, featuring the hit single "Fast Car," a poignant narrative of escaping poverty. Her music often addresses themes of social justice, inequality, and personal struggles. Chapman's success continued throughout the 1990s with albums like "Crossroads" and "New Beginning," which included the Grammy-winning single "Give Me One Reason." She is celebrated for her storytelling ability and her commitment to using her platform to raise awareness about important social issues.
March 30, 1964: Tracy Chapman's Birth
On March 30, 1964, Tracy Chapman, the American singer-songwriter known for hits like "Fast Car" and "Give Me One Reason," was born.
May 3, 1985: Major-Stage Debut
On May 3, 1985, Tracy Chapman made her major-stage debut as an opening act for Linda Tillery at Boston's Strand Theatre.
1986: Signing with SBK Publishing
In 1986, Tracy Chapman was signed to SBK Publishing by Charles Koppelman after he heard her demo tape.
1987: Signing with Elektra Records
In 1987, Tracy Chapman was signed to Elektra Records by Bob Krasnow.
1987: Graduation from Tufts and Signing with Elektra Records
In 1987, after graduating from Tufts University, Tracy Chapman signed a contract with Elektra Records.
June 1988: Performance at Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute Concert
In June 1988, Tracy Chapman performed at the televised Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert at Wembley Stadium in London, initially in the afternoon and later as a stand-in for Stevie Wonder. This appearance significantly boosted sales of her single and album.
August 27, 1988: "Fast Car" Reached No. 6 on Billboard Hot 100
On August 27, 1988, "Fast Car" reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100.
1988: Performance for Amnesty International and Nelson Mandela Tribute
In 1988, Tracy Chapman performed in London as part of a worldwide concert tour to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with Amnesty International. That same year, she performed at a tribute concert in honor of Nelson Mandela's 70th birthday, raising money for South Africa's Anti-Apartheid Movement and children's charities.
1989: Release of Crossroads Album
In 1989, Tracy Chapman released her album, Crossroads, which achieved platinum status in the U.S.
1992: Release of Matters of the Heart Album
In 1992, Tracy Chapman released Matters of the Heart.
1995: Release of New Beginning Album
In 1995, Tracy Chapman released her fourth album, New Beginning, which became a worldwide success and was certified 5x platinum by the RIAA. It also produced the hit single "Give Me One Reason."
1995: Release of "Give Me One Reason"
In 1995, Tracy Chapman released her hit single "Give Me One Reason".
1997: Grammy Award for "Give Me One Reason"
In 1997, Tracy Chapman won the Grammy for Best Rock Song for "Give Me One Reason".
December 10, 1998: Performance at Amnesty International's 50th Anniversary
On December 10, 1998, Tracy Chapman performed at the event commemorating the 50th anniversary of Amnesty International held in Paris, known as "The Struggle Continues...".
June 6, 2000: Pavarotti & Friends Performance
On June 6, 2000, Tracy Chapman was one of the guest artists at Pavarotti & Friends for Cambodia and Tibet, at which she performed a critically acclaimed duet with Luciano Pavarotti of "Baby Can I Hold You Tonight".
2000: Release of Telling Stories Album
In 2000, Tracy Chapman released her fifth album, Telling Stories, which later went gold.
2002: Release of Let It Rain Album
In 2002, Tracy Chapman released her sixth album, Let It Rain.
2004: Participation in AIDS/LifeCycle Event
In 2004, Tracy Chapman performed and rode in the AIDS/LifeCycle event.
2004: Honorary Doctorate from Tufts University
In 2004, Tracy Chapman was given an honorary doctorate in Fine Arts by her alma mater, Tufts University, recognizing her commitment to social activism.
2005: Release of Where You Live Album
In 2005, Tracy Chapman released her seventh album, Where You Live.
2008: Release of Our Bright Future Album
In 2008, Tracy Chapman released her eighth studio album, Our Bright Future.
2008: Commission for Blood Knot and Release of Our Bright Future
In early 2008, Tracy Chapman was commissioned to compose music for the American Conservatory Theater's production of Athol Fugard's Blood Knot. Atlantic Records also released her eighth studio album, Our Bright Future, in 2008.
2009: Interview with National Public Radio
In a 2009 interview with National Public Radio, Tracy Chapman discussed her approach to charitable efforts and her interest in human rights.
2010: "Fast Car" Ranked on Rolling Stone's List
In 2010, Rolling Stone ranked "Fast Car" at number 167 on their list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".
2014: Sundance Film Festival Jury Member
In 2014, Tracy Chapman was appointed a member of the Sundance Film Festival U.S. Documentary jury.
April 2015: Performance on Late Show with David Letterman
In April 2015, Tracy Chapman performed Ben E. King's "Stand By Me" on one of the final episodes of the Late Show with David Letterman, leading to a viral hit.
November 20, 2015: Release of Greatest Hits Album
On November 20, 2015, Tracy Chapman released Greatest Hits, a compilation album featuring 18 tracks, including a live version of "Stand by Me".
2015: Release of Greatest Hits Compilation Album
In 2015, Tracy Chapman released the remastered compilation album Greatest Hits, which she curated.
October 2018: Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Against Nicki Minaj
In October 2018, Tracy Chapman sued Nicki Minaj for copyright infringement, alleging that Minaj sampled her song "Baby Can I Hold You" without permission.
September 2020: Summary Judgment in Copyright Lawsuit
In September 2020, a District Court Judge granted summary judgment in favor of Nicki Minaj on one count of Tracy Chapman's copyright infringement complaint, ruling that the experimentation with the song constituted fair use.
2020: Performance on Late Night with Seth Meyers
On the eve of the 2020 United States presidential election, Tracy Chapman performed "Talkin' 'bout a Revolution" on Late Night with Seth Meyers, encouraging people to vote.
January 2021: Settlement of Copyright Dispute
In January 2021, the copyright dispute between Tracy Chapman and Nicki Minaj was settled when Minaj paid Chapman $450,000.
April 16, 2023: Announcement of National Order Bestowment
On April 16, 2023, The South African Presidency announced that Tracy Chapman would be bestowed with a National Order – The Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo.
April 28, 2023: Investiture Ceremony for National Order
On April 28, 2023, the investiture ceremony was held where Tracy Chapman received The Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo in Silver for her contribution to the fight for freedom by participating in efforts to free Nelson Mandela and raising awareness of human rights violations globally.
July 2023: "Fast Car" Hit Number One on Country Airplay Chart
In July 2023, when Luke Combs' version of Tracy Chapman's song "Fast Car" hit number one on the Country Airplay chart, Chapman became the first Black woman to score a country number one with a solo composition.
November 2023: Country Music Association Award for Song of the Year
At the 57th Annual Country Music Association Awards in November 2023, Tracy Chapman became the first Black woman to ever take home a CMA Award, winning Song of the Year for "Fast Car", which also made her the first Black songwriter to win that award.
2023: First black woman to score a country number one with solo composition
In 2023, Tracy Chapman became the first black person to score a country number one with a solo composition, and to win the Country Music Association Award for Song of the Year, when Luke Combs covered her song "Fast Car".
February 4, 2024: Performance with Luke Combs at the Grammy Awards
During the 66th Grammy Awards on February 4, 2024, Tracy Chapman joined Luke Combs onstage to sing "Fast Car".
Mentioned in this timeline
Luke Combs is an American country music singer-songwriter Raised in...
Nicki Minaj born Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty is a highly influential...
The Billboard Hot is the primary music chart in the...
Africa is the second-largest and second-most populous continent comprising of...
A car or automobile is a wheeled motor vehicle designed...
Music is a cultural universal involving the arrangement of sound...
Trending
54 minutes ago Lynn Whitfield stars in Blumhouse thriller, 'The Chi' returns for season 7.
54 minutes ago Britney Spears' 'Oops!... I Did It Again' Album: Anniversary Celebrations and Cover Shoot Rumors
54 minutes ago John Daly withdraws from PGA Championship and Regions Tradition, citing health issues.
2 hours ago Rubio on Hannity: Praising President's Peace Efforts, Vatican Trip for Pope's Inauguration.
3 hours ago Dean Huijsen Transfers to Real Madrid from Bournemouth for £50m Until 2030
3 hours ago Rutger Bregman: Saving elites from wasted lives, avoiding finance and consulting jobs.
Popular
Jupiter the fifth planet from the Sun is the Solar...
Michael Jordan also known as MJ is an American businessman...
Cristiano Ronaldo often nicknamed CR is a highly decorated Portuguese...
Ariana Grande-Butera is an American singer songwriter and actress recognized...
Pope Francis is the current head of the Catholic Church...
Ronald Reagan the th U S President - was a...