Natalie Merchant

2019 Recipient of the John Lennon Real Love Award

Natalie Merchant’s literate and socially conscious songs have established her among the preeminent artists in pop music. Upon learning that she was chosen as the 2019 John Lennon Real Love Award Honoree, Natalie issued the following statement: 

“John and Yoko’s activism had a profound impact upon me as a child. Through their ingenious war protests they challenged the entire world to reflect upon itself. In my estimation, ‘Imagine’ remains the most powerful three minutes and eight seconds of music ever recorded. It contains a vision of our highest aspirations in the most concise language and simple melody. John and Yoko realized that popular art and celebrity could be used to push society closer toward equity and compassion. I’ve tried to follow their example throughout my life, as an artist and citizen.” 

Natalie was the third child born to young Catholic parents in Jamestown, New York in 1963, the same year the Beatles first U.S. single was released. Her parents faithfully bought her every Beatles album and the songs from them were the soundtrack of her childhood. Although shy and quiet, Natalie responded passionately to music, singing in church and school, and learning to play piano by age seven. 

At age seventeen, Natalie became the singer/lyricist of the band 10,000 Maniacs and was moved to write songs based on the struggles in her own recession-crippled, Rust Belt town. In the late 1980’s, 10,000 Maniacs achieved worldwide commercial success with their albums, In My Tribe and Blind Man’s Zoo. In 1993, after releasing two more albums with 10,000 Maniacs, Natalie left the band to pursue a solo career.  

Natalie’s first solo album, Tigerlily (1995), with its collection of unadorned and intimate songs, sold five million copies. With Tigerlily, she continued to write outside of the traditional box of pop subject matter with songs about gifted children, urban alienation, and the death of River Phoenix. 

Tigerlily was by followed by Ophelia (1998), Motherland (2001), The House Carpenter’s Daughter (2003) and Leave Your Sleep (2010), earning Natalie the continued admiration and affection of fans around the world. 

In 2012, Natalie spearheaded the making of Dear Governor Cuomo, a concert film that contributed to the success of the anti-fracking movement, and in 2013, after learning of the death of a woman near her home caused by domestic violence, she directed a documentary called Shelter: A Concert Film to Benefit Victims of Domestic Violence. 

Currently, Natalie is involved in The Mother Goose Project, a four-year artist residency with the Hudson Valley based non-profit Commission on Economic Opportunity to develop a music, poetry and movement curriculum for Head Start preschool children based on traditional rhymes, songs and games. 

Throughout her entire career, Natalie has been dedicated to supporting humanitarian causes and non-profit organizations, including The Center for Constitutional Rights, Doctors Without Borders, Tibet House, Planned Parenthood and many others. 

About Natalie, Yoko Ono wrote, “With her beautiful songs, social activism, and support of charitable causes, Natalie Merchant has truly brightened our world and our hearts. Natalie’s outspokenness on the environment, domestic violence, and special-needs children shines much needed light on these vitally important issues.”