I had a beautiful time in Scotland, where I went to speak at the World Parkinson Congress, and did some radio promotion in the UK where Blix Street released a brand new compilation of songs I've recorded from my early days in college with the Irish band The Hags, then Connemara, Hazlewood, and up to the 5th solo cd release "My Life".

I am so in love with the land in Scotland.  It speaks of a history deeper than I am used to in my now suburbanized turf.  The creeks and streams tumble in sylvan gorges and curve around live oaks and bracken in a most enchanting way.  One day on a creekside ramble I was shadowed by a white swan for a long stretch. 
The Scots are a good-natured people, based on my survey, and their wit and poetry go with me everywhere now. 

I was right surprised at the research Blix Street (my label) did in the song selection--definitely representing the course of my development as a singer and song interpreter.  The new CD is titled "Sailing" and I hope you'll consider adding it to your collection. 

I'm doing two holiday concerts this December--visit my Concerts page and come out if you can--bring a friend.

Grace has just been named Artist of the Year 2006 by the Washington Area Music Association.  Her CD "My Life" was named Recording of the Year as well as best contemporary folk recording. She was honored with a Special Recognition Award  at the "WAMMIE" awards banquet February 18, 2007.  Visit WAMA's web site for more information.

GRACE GRIFFITH "My Life" Blix Street
 
FANS OF Southern Maryland-bred singer Grace Griffith consider each of her recordings a blessing, and understandably so. After all, it's not often that one encounters a voice as lovely or as affecting as hers. Still, "My Life" stands apart and above, as one haunting and soulful performance follows...

The full article may be viewed here.

Grace Griffith says Parkinson's disease inspires her songs of love, appreciation of beauty and deep connections with people and things around her. But the same musical themes go back much further than five and a half years ago, when the Accokeek singer and instrumentalist was diagnosed with the degenerative disease, characterized by tremors and muscular rigidity. When challenged on this point, Griffith clarifies: Parkinson's has caused her to sing songs in the spirit of seizing the day, reflecting an even stronger appreciation of the world around her than before. Recently named Artist of the Year by the Washington Area Music Association, Griffith has been part of the local music scene for more than 20 years. On Saturday at Fort Washington's Harmony Hall Regional Center, she will perform selections that range from Celtic to contemporary folk music. Even if her melodious music hasn't noticeably changed as a result of the disease, Griffith's attitude about it has. "It's made me feel more like I am not going to focus on a certain level of success. What is really meaningful to me is that I can convey positive things to the audience. That's more important to me than any great commercial success," she said. "It used to be after performing that if I didn't feel like I did really well, I would feel terrible. Not only would I feel like I made a fool of myself, but that I'd also ruined my chances of greater success. Now, I'm so happy to be able to being doing it at all that it's a pleasure, even if I don't do as well as I wish I had." For years, Griffith worked as a physical therapist by day and musician by night. She has adopted lessons she used to teach her patients. She often told them that success should be defined in terms of a personal best, rather than by measuring one's achievements against others. "Even though I'm not the guitarist I once was -- sometimes I'm stiff on stage and it's hard to even convey a smile, literally. Even though that's true, the best I can do is a gift," said Griffith, 48, who had to give up her day job because of physical instability and a general lack of energy. Lack of movement also forced her to give up "dabbling" in various instruments, such as Appalachian lap dulcimer, recorder and electric bass. Her symptoms can be worse on some days, so when she presents a solo show such as the one this Saturday, Griffith is accompanied by other musicians, some of whom she knows from various groups she plays with, including Irish Fire and Connemara. Pianist Paul Nahay, Irish multi-string instrumentalist Zan McLeod, hammered dulcimer player Jody Marshall, fiddler Dave Abe and cellist Fred Lider will play alongside Griffith. The Accokeek folk duo Hollyfield & Spruill will also perform. She has long believed that it is more interesting and entertaining to audiences to watch and listen to many people on stage. The more-is-better attitude may result from her upbringing in a big family. As one of 10 children growing up in Southern Maryland, Griffith began singing in her house with her parents and siblings. Because of her family's insistence that she needed a stable career -- and also because she wanted to keep her music as an art instead of a job -- she pursued physical therapy, getting her degree from the University of Maryland Baltimore County. She played in coffeehouses and with various local bands before landing a contract with Blix Street Records in the late 1990s. She has recorded several albums, most recently "Sands of Time," released in 2003. "The peculiar thing for me was that I was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease when things were really coming together for me. I had found my stride and had a confidence that I hadn't had before," Griffith said. "I had a lot of opportunity for travel and promotion and recording, and it happened at the same time, limiting what I could do. And amazingly, it's okay that way. For the most part, I think I am very lucky."

Ariticle in Prince George's Gazette about Grace

Interview with Grace at Collected Sounds

Article about Eva Cassidy and Grace