Sue Young
Austin, Texas, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2014 | INDIE
Music
Press
**** "Often close to Tish Hinojosa in the way she expresses herself and therefore essential for people who appreciate the sensitive and beautiful.The jazz inspired "Future One And Only", Latino flavoured "La Guitarra" and Americana and country influenced songs like the title track, "Black Water", "String of Pearls" and "Further Down The Road" marks Young's musical breadth on an album that quickly becomes a pleasure [to listen to]."
-- Björn Bostrand - Popgeni
"strong catchy melodies (even a touch of THE CARPENTERS during a song like “Futher down the road”). Sue has got a fantastic clean voice which give the words extra meaning and memorable melody. 11 songs are included and it is a pleasure to listen to Sue’s melodic calm acoustic pop/rock. Definitely a great singer/songwriter who you should see live on stage."
-- Gabor Kleinbloesem - Strutterzine
"Also among sophisticated feats of songwriting we rank the dreamy title track and "Further Down The Road," (not to be confused with the almost same blues song) with wonderful inimitable dobro player Lloyd Maines is a bluegrass gem."
--Cis Van Looy - Review for "Gliding" CD - Keys And CHORDS
"Sue Young is one of the most versatile, heartfelt singer/songwriters around. And she proves that again on her new album, 'From the Mother-Songs of the Sacred Feminine'. "
David Steinberg
Albuquerque Journal - Albuquerque Journal
What a lovely record! I'm really enjoying getting to know it and will be playing lots more from it in the weeks/months to come."
- Mark Michaelis, Acoustic Harmony, WGDR
"[River Of Life is] a beautiful, soulmaking album."
Gerrie Blake
Women's Voices
KUNV-FM
Las Vegas, NV - KUNV FM
Ms. Young wields a versatile command of modern musical triggers (including rock, pop, folk and jazz) as well as a hell of an angelic voice.
Kate X Messer - Austin Chronicle
Ms. Young is clearly experienced in working with children and understands how to communicate with pre-schoolers and elementary level students. She is both a polished performer and an educator - a combination which makes her truly well qualified to work as an artist-in -the-schools.
--Melissa Javors - St. Luke's Episcopal School
It was fascinating to watch her completely captivate the (English speaking) audience as she skillfully wove the Spanish translations into all of her stories.
--Marie M West, Youth Specialist - North Loop Branch Library, Austin TX
Her audience size ranged from 40 to 800. She performed in two diverse locations and was able to adapt her program to the audience size. The audience participation was great and her warm, quiet personality worked like magic with the kids.
--Gail Van Zanten - Woodlands Living Arts Council, The Woodlands TX
"Dear Ms. Young,
Thank you for telling us a story and for teaching us some Spanish also. I loved the part about The Tiger and The Armadillo. I also loved the part when we were in story like when we were the bees, mosquitos, wasps. I loved the songs you sang. The Legend of the Quetzal was fantastic to my family because I told it to them. My sister and I both loved your songs and stories."
--Chloe, 3rd Grade - McDougle Elementary, Houston TX
...Young is a rare find. She's a true Spanish-language Raffi. In other words, whe writes and/or arranges traditional Spanish-language songs in a way that hooks both parents and kids.
--Ben Tavera King - San Antonio Express News
"Thanks so much again for your spectacular performance at Evergreen. We all loved it and are still talking about it!"
--Janna Wood
- Evergreen Elementary, Shelton, WA
We had a wonderful time. You are a wonderful story teller - such life and expression. The children and adults loved it. The workshops were everything I hoped for and more. The drama/storytelling activities were right on target for the children and they had a blast. Thank you so much."
-- Katherine Walker
- Beach Musuem Of Art, KSU, Manhattan, KS
Discography
"Gliding" - 2012 Motherlotus Records
"The Legend Of the Quetzal - Tales and Tunes of Latin America" - Children's CD - 2007 Motherlotus Records
"River of Life" - Music CD - 2003 Motherlotus Records
"From The Mother" - Music CD - 1998 - Motherlotus Records
"Live At the Outpost" - Music cassette - 1992 Pajaro Libre Music
"El Gusanito - The Caterpillar" - Children's cassette - 1991 Pajaro Libre Music
"Canta Conmigo - Sing With Me" - Children's cassette - 1990 Pajaro Libre Music
Photos
Bio
Sue's 2012 release "Gliding" brings her full circle back to her folk and singer songwriter roots. The album was nominated for 2013 Texas Music Award for Female Vocalist of the Year and it includes "Black Water" - a song about the 2010 BP Gulf oil spill. "Black Water" was a winner in the 2012 Discoveries Playlist Competition. "Gliding" has been called "dreamy", "catchy" and "essential for those who appreciate the sensitive and beautiful".
Sue grew up in a big, music-loving family. Her mother played the piano, her father played baritone ukelele and tenor guitar, all five children played an instrument, and everyone sang. Sue started on ukelele at age 8, moved to guitar at 11, and has been singing and playing ever since. Music heard in her home while growing up included the Beatles, Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Wonder, Jimi Hendrix, Stan Getz, Bach, and Rogers and Hammerstein.
The Youngs moved around, but mainly lived out west- in Seattle, Washington, Salt Lake City, Utah and in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In 1977-78, Sue spent a year in Quito, Ecuador studying at University of New Mexico's Centro Andino. It was a magical time full of adventure and learning. She traveled around South America and fell passionately in love with Latin American music and culture. She began performing in clubs around this time and continued after returning to the States. She worked as a solo and in a duo in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. She also sang with a trio that did folk music of North and South America, and with Govinda, a jazz-rock fusion band, where her vocal style was once compared to "Appalachian scat".
Sue moved to Austin, Texas in 1985 to be part of the live music scene. She wound up teaching music and Spanish to children and that led to a new career as a children’s songwriter and storyteller. Sue has delighted audiences at schools, libraries and festivals around the US, and her 2007 CD Release “The Legend Of The Quetzal – Tales and Tunes Of Latin America” received a Parents’ Choice Silver Honor Award and a Creative Child Seal Of Excellence. She wrote the 2009 and 2011 Texas Summer Reading Club theme songs, and she has been a member of the Texas Commission For The Arts since 1994.
The Austin years have seen Sue grow and mature as an artist and a writer. The Albuquerque Journal calls her "one of the most versatile, heartfelt singer/songwriters around." A four time Kerrville New Folk Finalist, she's opened shows for such luminaries as Lyle Lovett, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Jesse Winchester, Townes Van Zandt and Kenny Rankin. She sings at concerts, coffeehouses and churches in Austin and throughout Texas and beyond. The Austin Chronicle describes her CD "From the Mother" as "lush and loving…executed with care and genius… an angelic voice". Her 2003 CD release "River of Life" was called “a beautiful, soul making album”.
Sue's next release will be a duo EP with Rusty Nelson due out in the fall of 2014, "Back Road Love".
Band Members
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