- BY LEE VALENTINE SMITH

    Performing Songwriter Magazine will feature Caroline in NOV ’05 issue as “DIY SPOTLIGHT” for “ARE WE THERE YET MAMA?” and picked both Live Bait, (1995) and Butler Field, (1997), as one of the top 12 “DO IT YOURSELF” independent CDs. CA truly embodies the meaning of an independent musician – acting as her own manager, booking, publicity and travel agent, in addition to production and mastering of her own latest CD. She works hard promoting her music by performing at major festivals, theaters, music series, house concerts, live radio and features in national and international press. Caroline is a featured performer for ‘Spotlight on Songwriters’, aired in USA and Europe; “Acoustic Café” radio show, heard on 60 commercial radio stations in the US as well as 800 Voice of America Stations around the world. An hour-long “Caroline Aiken Special” aired statewide on Ga. Public Broadcasting in 2004. She owns “Glutton For Publishment” record label, and has produced 6 independent Caroline Aiken CDs, as well as a 2001 CD ROM for the Atlanta Dogwood Festival.

  Her finger picking style won an invitation to Stuttgart Germany Guitar Seminar, May 2006, which gives her the honor of being the first woman invited to teach at this event.

      Atlanta Magazine calls Caroline the “BEST ACOUSTIC ARTIST” (June 2003 GA MUSIC pictorial feature) and includes her full page picture next to Curtis Mayfield, Gladys Knight, The Black Crowes, the Indigo Girls, IndiArie, and many more. 

  Atlanta’s Piedmont Review Magazine features Caroline with Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland on the cover in 2003. (See website for photo)

     Caroline’s honors include performances opening for Mother’s Finest and the B52s at the GA Music Hall of Fame as well as her own shows at the hall (2004-06), her very own display box in the Atlanta Hard Rock Café’s ‘Atlanta Rhythm Section’ Room (2003). Invited to perform at the Troubadour in LA with Martin Sexton by the National Songwriter’s Association in 1998.  The Coca Cola Awards nominated her as the best acoustic guitar player/vocalist in Atlanta (1993-4).

    In 2004, She received a prestigious endorsement from Martin Guitars and Strings, and won a 1000 CD manufacturing certificate from Discmakers through CAMPJAM In The Pines/ NJ. Voila- “Are We There Yet Mama?” was born.

       Her performances, direct and sincere, are known for emanating a high level of infectious energy, and those that have heard her perform live, leave wanting more.  Her genre spans many styles, from rock/blues/folk/country, piano ballads to finger style guitar picking, all accompanied by her rich and soulful voice. She is an accomplished and diverse musician, being at home on both guitar and piano.

       2005 has seen the live recording “Are We There Yet Mama”; the completion of the 2005 Atlanta Dogwood Festival; a driving tour with many shows and radio play across the USA; headlining the famed Kerrville Folk Festival with Freebo, (early years bass payer for Bonnie Raitt), and Joel Tepp, (LA guitarist and multi-instrumentalist).

     2004 saw the completion of a 30,000 mile USA driving tour, crossing the country 4 times during April-Oct, performing over 150 shows, followed by a 5 week European tour in Nov and Dec.

       Her career spans 36 years, starting on the coast of Georgia with musical influences from Emma Lee Ramsey of the Georgia Sea Island Singers. In 1969, she found herself in NY playing in her first rock band “Father Time”, then touring in California during the early 70's, followed by performing in South America from ’73 -‘74, to the streets and venues of Seattle in the mid 70's, heading East to Greenwich Village in the early 80's and finally full circle, back in Atlanta. Since 1986 her base has been Atlanta where she is has received numerous accolades. She has caught the ears and hearts of everyone who hears her, including Bonnie Raitt. She opened shows for Bonnie in 1985, and Bonnie performed on Caroline’s first recording in 1988, Line Of Vision.  In 2002 and 2003 Bonnie Raitt introduced Caroline to the Austin and San Antonio scene.

        Caroline heard the Indigo Girls in 1980 in an alley behind Good Old Days in Atlanta practicing a CSNY song. When she put a third part harmony on it - they became friends. CA invited them on to her stage when they were 16-17 years old and sang on the Indigo Girls’ first recording (song-FINLANDIA) and toured with them nationally in 1992 – 1994 and 1997. In ’95, she played four separate roles in JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, starring the Indigo Girls.

     In addition to her busy tour schedule, Caroline was the Entertainment Director for the Atlanta Dogwood Festival from 1992-1994 and 1996-2005.  She brought the Dogwood Music to state-wide and national awareness by booking regional and national acts such as Dave Mason, Chuck Leavell, Vassar Clements, B52s’Cindy Wilson, Martha Reeves, Derek Trucks, Mother’s Finest, many Grammy-winners and Rock and Roll Hall of Famers.

       Caroline is also a talented and gifted teacher and has taught her courses “Zen And The Art Of Performance”; “Songwriting In Your Sleep” and “Guerilla Guitar Works” at many venues, colleges, music stores, festivals, and one on one. She has  taught at Summer Songs / CA. Swannanoa Gathering / N.C., South Florida Folk Festival, Lamb’s Songwriters’ Retreat / Michigan. Caroline will be teaching this May 2006 at the Schorndorf Guitar Festival, this will make her the first female ever invited to teach and perform at this prestigious event. 

See www.carolineaiken.com for booking info, tour listing and CD releases.

After 30+ years of performance under her belt, with musicians like Muddy Waters, Randy Newman, Bonnie Raitt, Allen Toussaint, Leo Kottke, Taj Mahal, John Prine, Hot Tuna, Janis Ian, Rory Block, Indigo Girls, Sea Island Singers, Art Garfunkle, John Hammond Jr., Mother's Finest, David Bromberg, Louden Wainwright III, 38 Special, Little Feat Reunion, Doc Watson, Dave Mason, Arlo Guthrie, Dave Mason, Jerry Jef Walker, Steve Forbert , Dan Fogelberg, and many others, Caroline says "Now it feels like flying."   Caroline has served as an inspiration for a generation of artists, including the Indigo Girls. Her live performances are astonishing and she is known for her ability to "Jaw drop a crowd" with her soaring dark hued voice, spellbinding guitar work and her powerful stage presence.