Sara Hickman
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Sara Hickman

Austin, Texas, United States | INDIE

Austin, Texas, United States | INDIE
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"Midwest Record on "The Best of Times""

THE BEST OF TIMES
Texas Artists Performing the Music of Sara Hickman/various: If you aren’t in Texas, Hickman is someone that probably fell off your radar 15 years ago when she had to wind up buying her unreleased masters back from Elektra when the label went through an abrupt sea change. If you are in Texas, you know she’s as beloved as Gary P. Nunn, who you also don’t know if you aren’t in Texas. The crème of Texas musicians, with Willie Nelson on the opening track, gather round to lend their voices to this benefit album that brings Hickman back into focus and raises money for arts education in Texas schools in an effort spear headed by Hickman. Way more sizzling than the usual tribute/fundraiser album, all we can say is ‘damn you record business for marginalizing this unbridled talent and depriving us all these years’. Fans of real, deep heartfelt songwriting have some serious catch up to do and should pick this set up pronto. Killer set without a wasted note across 2 cds. - Midwest Record


"CMT News on "The Best Of Times""

Willie Nelson’s elegant rendition of “Simply” kicks off The Best of Times, a two-disc tribute to Texas singer-songwriter Sara Hickman. The 38-song compilation also features admirers such as Shawn Colvin, Robert Earl Keen, Rhett Miller and many more. Proceeds will benefit Theatre Action Project, a nonprofit organization that brings art, music and theater to central Texas schools. Hickman has served as the official state musician of Texas. - CMT.com


"Review of "The Best Of Times""

In May 2010 Sara Hickman was named “Official State Musician of Texas.” And while she may not be quite as well-known as the last musician to hold that title, Willie Nelson, this tribute will go a long way toward raising her profile.
Hickman has released 17 albums since she began her career in 1988, but The Best Of Times stands apart as the first anthology of other artists performing her songs. And what a list of performers it is. Of course, Willie Nelson leads off, passing the baton with his rendition of “Simply,” complete with a guitar solo that is as near perfect as guitar solos get. Other guitar-centric highlights include a razor’s edge solo by After Math on “Larger Than Life,” Shawn Colvin’s delicate fingerpicking on “Time Will Tell,” and Charlie Sexton’s chimey guitar work on Trish Murphy’s version of the title song. Also onboard are Ruthie Foster, Edie Brickell, and Robert Earl Keen.
The album project was conceived as a benefit for one of Hickman’s favorite charitable organizations, the Theater Action Project. In the liner notes, she talks about working with T.A.P. in schools, witnessing “how they help children fall in love, not only with the arts, but with themselves.”
A well-constructed anthology like this works in two ways. It attracts new fans to a particular artist’s work while leading the fans of that artist to other like-minded artists. The Best Of Times succeeds on both counts with great songs mated with fine performances by other Texas musicians. It’s Lone Star heaven. — SS - Vintage Guitar Magazine


"GRAMMYs On The Road At Austin City Limits With Gomez And Sara Hickman"

September 30, 2011 -- 12:35 pm
GRAMMY.com

The Recording Academy Texas Chapter played host for GRAMMYs On The Road At Austin City Limits Music Festival during the festival's 10th anniversary from Sept. 16–18 at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas. The Chapter conducted exclusive backstage interviews with artists performing at the festival, including British pop/rock five-piece Gomez and country rock singer/musician Sara Hickman.

Gomez bassist Paul Blackburn and guitarist Tom Gray discussed their songwriting process, the biggest moments of their career and musical influences.

"We never get stuck in a formulaic process," said Gray regarding songwriting. "That's part of what we're about — avoiding formula and avoiding cliché and genre as a band."

Formed in 1996 in Southport, England, Gomez consists of Ian Ball (vocals/guitar), Blackburn, Gray, Ben Ottewell (vocals/guitar), and Olly Peacock (drums). The band's debut album, 1998's Bring It On, earned them the Barclaycard Mercury Prize for album of the year. That same year Gomez made their U.S. debut on tour opening for Eagle-Eye Cherry. Their sophomore effort, 1999's Liquid Skin, went platinum in England and made the Top 30 on Billboard's Heatseekers Albums chart. Several albums followed, 2002's In Our Gun, 2004's Split The Difference and 2006's How We Operate, the latter two garnering the band two consecutive spots on the Bilboard 200. Three years later Gomez released A New Tide, which shot to No. 5 on Billboard's Independent Albums chart and the band was described by Paste magazine as having yet to "succumb to anything resembling blandness." Gomez' most recent release, 2011's Whatever's On Your Mind, was co-produced by Phantom Planet's Sam Farrar and peaked in the Top 40 on Billboard's Rock Albums chart.

Hickman discussed her musical beginnings, using music for advocacy, her experience as a member of the Texas Chapter Board, and advice for aspiring musicians.

"I love GRAMMY U," said Hickman. "I feel like we really serve a need that's underserved here in Texas and across the nation."

A founding member of the Texas Chapter, Hickman is a graduate of the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston. She received a bachelor of arts degree in painting from the University of North Texas before releasing her debut album, 1988's Equal Scary People. The following year Hickman landed a recording contract with Elektra Records and the label reissued the album. Her sophomore effort, 1990's Shortstop, featured the Billboard Adult Contemporary hit "I Couldn't Help Myself." In 1994 Hickman released the fan-funded Necessary Angels. Several albums followed, including 1998's Two Kinds Of Laughter and 2000's Spiritual Appliances, the latter of which spotlighted Hickman as producer. Hickman's latest studio release is 2010's Absence Of Blame. Aside from music, Hickman is involved with numerous charities, addressing issues such as abused and neglected children, breast cancer research, AIDS, women's issues, and homelessness.

Come back to GRAMMY.com next week for more exclusive backstage interviews from GRAMMYs On The Road At Austin City Limits.

Click on the "GRAMMYs On The Road At Austin City Limits" tag below for links to other GRAMMY News stories in this series.
- Grammy.com


"Texan Has Heartfelt Message In Music"

As a teenager, Sara Hickman, the Texas singer-songwriter who performs at the Levitt Shell on Sunday night, learned the habit of public service from her grandmothers, one of whom gave time at a local hospital. Following her lead, young Hickman would volunteer in the hospital gift shop or, when she was old enough, as a candy striper.

But it wasn't until she turned 15 that she learned the true impact that philanthropy could have on lives. Hickman, who describes herself then as a "shy and lonely" teen strumming her guitar in the hallways of her high school as she struggled with her parents' divorce, was approached one day by her vocal teacher about performing for local groups. One of those gigs turned out to be at a teen psychiatric unit, playing for kids not that much different from herself.

"There was a lot of angry kids, but I stood up in the front and I sang and they all calmed down," she remembers. "They really were grateful that I came out and sang to them, and I was so surprised. I left realizing that music could be therapeutic. Before, I'd just been writing songs just 'cause I liked writing songs, but that totally changed my world view of what music could do."

It's not surprising then that when Hickman was named State Musician of Texas last year, a strictly honorary, one-year post in which she had been preceded by Willie Nelson and recently succeeded by Lyle Lovett, she decided to transform the post into an agent for change.

"I was like, 'I don't do anything?' And they said, 'No,' " Hickman recalls of being offered the honor. "I was like, well, 'You obviously don't know who you just made State Musician of Texas. I can't just sit around and have that title and not utilize it for something that helps the general public.'"

In her year as state musician, Hickman undertook two initiatives. Family Time Rocks was a trio with musicians Jason Molin and Gray Parsons that toured Texas libraries with a show that encouraged families to spend quality time together under the motto "Families who create together do great together."

The other project is the just-released CD, The Best of Times, a star-studded, two-disc set that features artists like Nelson, Shawn Colvin, Rhett Miller of the Old 97s, the Brave Combo, and Robert Earl Keen performing Hickman's songs. Proceeds from the record, available at bestoftimescd.com, go to benefit the Theater Action Project.

"The Theater Action Project takes art, music and theater back into central Texas schools, since our legislature cut arts funding," says Hickman. "So I used the title they gave me to replace something which they actually cut."

Hickman had little trouble rounding up artists to perform on Best of Times, all of whom were eager not just to help a good cause but also honor an artist who has quietly become one of the state's best and most respected songwriters.

Carl Finch of the Denton polka-rock band Brave Combo discovered Hickman on a public-access television show, and in 1989 he produced her first record, Equal Scary People. The New York Times praised the record, comparing her to Rosanne Cash and Jesse Winchester and singling out her audacious acoustic cover of James Brown's "It's A Man's, Man's, Man's World."

The indie release did so well that Hickman was soon picked up by Elektra Records, which re-released it and put out her two follow-ups, Shortstop, which features her biggest hit, "I Couldn't Help Myself," and Sara Hickman. By the time of her fourth record, 1994's Necessary Angels, the late '80 female folk explosion had been supplanted by grunge, and Hickman found herself dropped, forced to buy back her own record in order to release it.

"The label president really wanted me to be more sexualized," she says of her struggles with a major label. "I think they were hoping I'd be the girl-next-door version of Tracy Chapman with a little bit of Mary Ann from 'Gilligan's Island.'"

Since then, however, Hickman has survived -- if not thrived -- on her own. After making a couple of records for independents, she started her own label, Sleeveless, releasing nine albums, including three acclaimed albums of children's songs. She has also been aggressive about marketing her music, popping up in ads for Wal-Mart and Southwest Airlines among others.

With her tenure as state musician now ended, Hickman is looking forward to making a new album, a follow to last year's Absence of Blame, a record inspired by her work to abolish the death penalty in Texas.

"It's disheartening to think people would cheer anyone dying," says Hickman, reflecting on the cries of approval heard at a recent Republican presidential debate when Texas Gov. Rick Perry's record of executing more prisoners than any other governor was announced. "I think it's a somber thing. No matter who it is, it should never be celebrated." - GoMemphis.Com


Discography

Discography

* 1988 45 Single "How Can It Be" b/w "As Much As Me"
* 1989 Equal Scary People (re-released on Elektra)
* 1989 Legacy compilation cd on Windham Hill
* 1990 Shortstop produced by David Kershenbaum (Tracey Chapman, Joe Jackson) and Sara
* 1994 Necessary Angels produced by Sara Hickman, Mark Hallman and Paul Fox
* 1997 Misfits a collection of "odds and ends" from her musical career
* 1998 Newborn songs for parents to sing to their children
* 1998 Two Kinds of Laughter produced by Adrian Belew
* 2000 Spiritual Appliances
* 2000 One Flower to the Left (limited edition)
* 2001 Toddler 31 songs/stories, 30 seconds to 2 minutes in length, multiple languages, geared towards movement, singing and engaging kids learning to walk and talk
* 2001 This Christmas Wish (limited edition)
* 2002 Ready to Pop (limited edition live bootleg)
* 2003 Faithful Heart songs of love
* 2003 I Am Going On A Journey DVD: 6 hours of Sara performing on stage and tv, with rare footage of her cable access show
* 2003 Big Kid 26 hilarious/thought-provoking songs, stories and poems
* 2006 Motherlode two-disc set of songs: from universal woe to finding faith in one's own song. Undercurrents of frustration, love, sex, hope, saints, children, little birds and the garden. With guest artists Shawn Colvin, Kelly Willis, Jimmy La Fave, Ruthie Foster
* SPRING 2010 Absence of Blame songs of sorrow and redemption
* SPRING 2010 Big Bird, Little Bird animated children's DVD entitled which will also include 15 parenting tips from Sara herself
* FALL 2010 Family Time Rocks! family oriented album of songs/ideas for families to create together and be great together
* FALL 2010 Best of Times compilation cd of Sara's songs performed by 30 Texas artists, including Willie Nelson, Marcia Ball, Asleep at the Wheel, Shawn Colvin, Edie Brickell and The New Bohemians, Ruthie Foster and many others. Proceeds from Best of Times will go to help two non-profits that provide art, music and theatre programs to Texas school children.

Photos

Bio

Who is Sara Hickman?

Let's start with May 2010
Sara will become the next Official State Musician of Texas, following in the footsteps of the legendary Willie Nelson, and she plans on using this title to help families create together and bring art programs into public schools.

But, at the very beginning...
Age 7: Sara got a guitar. She named it Martha.
Age 8: Sara wrote/performed her first song on stage, winning first place from the Daughters of the American Revolution.

As a child in Houston
With a fiber artist mother, a painter for a dad, a soccer playing sister, Sara's world was full of interactive creativity: writing, painting, wild art parties thrown by her parents on occasional weekends, with interesting women in fur coats and long cigarettes, collegiate art students around the piano, everyone singing "Girl From Ipanema," Sara in pajamas, eyes full of enthusiasm.

Teen Years
Sara attended the High School for Performing and Visual Arts, studying vocals and beginning to perform at bank openings, weddings, in psychiatric units, and even at a pizza parlor. She also started getting involved in bands.

College Years
Graduated w/a B.A. in Fine Arts from the University of North Texas/Denton. Set to become an art director, she switched plans when she moved to Dallas, creating her first album, Equal Scary People with Brave Combo founder, Carl Finch, who had seen her on a cable access show.

Multiple awards were won from the Dallas Observer, so Sara landed a deal with Windham Hill, then Elektra. Sara began touring, playing festivals, appearing on VH1, singing on the Tonight Show.

Then... Crash!
Elektra decided to shelve Sara's next project and drop the album. Sara's fans rallied together to help her raise $50,000 to buy the album back. It was a moving testimony to the power of the people.
Community Issues

Sara does a world of good. She's raised hundreds of thousands of $'s for: the Dallas Dance for Life; House the Homeless; Bryan's House; AAIM; PETA; Amnesty International; homeless shelters, SPCA, Mothers' Milk Bank, TCADP; visited Romania to deliver clothing, money and supplies to orphans; and personally raised more than $50,000 for the Hill Country Youth Ranch in Ingram, Texas, a safe haven for severely abused children. The HCYR then opened the Sara Hickman Childrens' Fund, which accepts matching grants and buys musical instruments, dance shoes, and art supplies for the children of the ranch. Sara's involvement in music and art therapy continued through ARTS (Artistic and Recreational Therapies), leading her to perform for children in burn units, AIDS and stroke victims, and in psychiatric units, where she utilized her talents and love to help with the healing process. Lastly, in 2004, Sara was the National Ambassador for Half Price Books visiting hospitals and schools across the U.S., helping to promote literacy where she performed and read to children.
Extras

Sara produced, directed, and filmed her first video, Joy, winning first place in the USA Film Festival; started a side project, Domestic Science Club, a three-part girl group best described as "the Andrews Sisters meet the Roches." This group released two CDs, Domestic Science Club and Three Women.
Touring

Sara's toured with Billy Bragg, Nanci Griffith and Dan Fogelberg. Opened for everyone from Lucinda Williams to John Hiatt to the Decemberists.
Discography

* 1988 45 Single "How Can It Be" b/w "As Much As Me"
* 1989 Equal Scary People (re-released on Elektra)
* 1989 Legacy compilation cd on Windham Hill
* 1990 Shortstop produced by David Kershenbaum (Tracey Chapman, Joe Jackson) and Sara
* 1994 Necessary Angels produced by Sara Hickman, Mark Hallman and Paul Fox
* 1997 Misfits a collection of "odds and ends" from her musical career
* 1998 Newborn songs for parents to sing to their children
* 1998 Two Kinds of Laughter produced by Adrian Belew
* 2000 Spiritual Appliances
* 2000 One Flower to the Left (limited edition)
* 2001 Toddler 31 songs/stories, 30 seconds to 2 minutes in length, multiple languages, geared towards movement, singing and engaging kids learning to walk and talk
* 2001 This Christmas Wish (limited edition)
* 2002 Ready to Pop (limited edition live bootleg)
* 2003 Faithful Heart songs of love
* 2003 I Am Going On A Journey DVD: 6 hours of Sara performing on stage and tv, with rare footage of her cable access show
* 2003 Big Kid 26 hilarious/thought-provoking songs, stories and poems
* 2006 Motherlode two-disc set of songs: from universal woe to finding faith in one's own song. Undercurrents of frustration, love, sex, hope, saints, children, little birds and the garden. With guest artists Shawn Colvin, Kelly Willis, Jimmy La Fave, Ruthie Foster
* SPRING 2010 Absence of Blame songs of sorrow and redemption
* SPRING 2010 Big Bird, Little Bird animated children's DVD entitled which will also include 15 parent