iSound

Emmylou Harris was born on April 2, 1947 to a military family who were stationed in Birmingham, Alabama. Soon after her birth, her family was re-located to North Carolina. In her teenage years, her family moved once again. This time to Woodbridge, Virginia. Harris graduated as valedictorian from her local, public high school. After receiving a dramatic scholarship to University of North Carolina: Chapel Hill, Harris began to study music. While at university, Harris taught herself to play songs by Bob Dylan and Joan Baez. She then started a duo-group with friend and classmate, Mike Williams. Harris decided that she wanted to pursue a career in music. So, she dropped out of the University of North Carolina and moved to New York City.

While in New York, Harris was disappointed to discover that Folk music no longer possessed the popularity it previously had. Although upset, the singer did not give up. Instead, she began to tour on the Greenwich Village concert circuit. She be...