Janis Ian
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Janis Ian (born April 7, 1951) is a Grammy-winning American songwriter, singer and multi-instrumental musician. Born Janis Eddy Fink in a Bronx hospital, she changed her name while still a child. She had a successful singing career in the 1960s and 1970s. She wrote and sang her first hit single at age 15, the song "Society's Child", which told the story of an interracial romance forbidden by the narrator's parents. She also legally emancipated herself from her parents at age 15. Her most successful single was "At Seventeen", released in 1975, a bittersweet commentary on adolescent cruelty and teenage angst, as reflected upon from the maturity of adulthood. She has also managed a sustained career as a songwriter.
She is an outspoken critic of the RIAA, a record industry organization which she sees as acting against the interests of musicians and consumers. As such, she has willingly released several of her songs, including the popular "Walking in the Rain", for free download from her website (see below for a link).
Besides being an award winning singer/songwriter, Ian writes science fiction. Her works have been published in an assortment of anthologies and she is co-editor, with Mike Resnick, of Stars: original stories based on the songs of Janis Ian, published in 2003. Ian married her long-time partner Patricia Snyder on August 27, 2003.
Discography:
- Billie's Bones (2004)
- Janis Ian Live: Working Without a Net
- god & the fbi (2000)
- Hunger (1997)
- Revenge (1995)
- Breaking Silence (1993)
- Uncle Wonderful (1983)
- Restless Eyes (1981)
- Night Rains (1979)
- Janis Ian (1978)
- Miracle Row (1977)
- Aftertones (1976)
- Between The Lines (1975)
- Stars (1974)
- Present Company (1971)
- Who Really Cares (1969)
- The Secret Life of J. Eddy Fink (1968)
- For All the Seasons of Your Mind (1968)
- Janis Ian (1967)
External links:
- http://www.janisian.com/
- Getting the facts straight about Janis Ian (http://www.janisian.com/ephemera.html)
- Interview with Janis Ian by Jan Vanderhorst (http://www.towerofbabel.com/sections/music/troubadours/janisian/)
Janis Ian's comments on the music industry:
- Janis Ian's critique of the RIAA's policies (http://www.janisian.com/article-internet_debacle.html)
- Janis Ian interview (http://interviews.slashdot.org/interviews/02/09/23/133228.shtml?tid=141) on Slashdot
- USA Today: Music industry spins falsehood (http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20021023/4557245s.htm)fr:Janis Ian