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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZBERG, Matraca(b 3 Feb. '64, Nashville TN) Singer-songwriter whose soulful style hit the big time. Her mother, Icie Calloway Kirby, was a member of the Calloway Sisters, a quartet on country shows '50s--60s. Family moved to Nashville '62, Icie a successful session singer. Matraca began writing: 'Fakin' Love' a no.1 for T. G. Sheppard and Karen Brooks '82, 'The Last One To Know' for Reba McEntire '87. Signed to RCA '89, scored minor country hits, made impact in Europe with radio hit 'I Got It Bad' '91. Acclaimed debut album Lying To The Moon '90 fell between country and pop; second Nashville album scrapped and re-recorded in LA as The Speed Of Grace '94 was promoted as a rock album. She suddenly broke through, won a CMA award '97 for 'Strawberry Wine', the ultimate losing-your-virginity song; album Sunday Morning To Saturday Night '97 was described by Stewart Lee (in the Sunday Times) as having 'captivating, literate, melodic songs [which] have somehow escaped both mainstream C&W's homogenised sheen and cloying fake folksiness'. |