Anne Hills

by Craig HarrisA stunning soprano tone has made Anne Hills one of contemporary folk music's premier vocalists. But her affinity for choosing unforgettable material and her knack for writing heartfelt original songs have brought her to the upper echelon of her craft. In addition to recording three memorable solo albums, Hills has recorded two duo albums with Cindy Mangsen and three trio albums with Mangsen and Priscilla Herdman. A veteran of the Chicago folk scene of the 1980s, she performed in a legendary trio with folk singers Tom Paxton and Bob Gibson. Her vocals have also been featured on albums by Jim Post, Michael Smith, Livingston Taylor, Artie Traum and Si Kahn.
The third daughter of American missionaries, Hills was born in India and raised in Michigan. While attending the Interlochen Arts Academy, she was a featured soloist with the school's big band, a group that also included Dave Brubeck's son Chris and percussionist Peter Erskine, later of Weather Report. Moving to Chicago in 1976, Hills helped to found Hogeye Music, a folklore center and recording label. Her first three recordings -- The Panic Is On, recorded with Jan Burda, in 1982; 1984's Don't Explain, and a multi-artist Christmas album, On This Day Earth Shall Sing, in 1984 -- were released on the label. Hogeye's catalog and roster of performers, which included Tom Paxton, Cindy Mangsen, Bob Gibson and Andrew Calhoun, was taken over by Flying Fish.
Hills' second solo album, 1988's Woman of a Calm Heart, was produced by Artie Traum and Scott Petito and showcased her interpretative skills with deeply personal renditions of songs by Ilene Weiss, Gregory Simon, Eliza Gilkyson, Jack Hardy, Kris Kristofferson and David Roth. On her third solo album, October Child, produced by Erskine, in 1993, Hills showcased the songs of Chicago-based songwriter Michael Smith. Hills stepped forward as a songwriter on her fourth solo album, Angle of the Light, in 1995, with eight original songs and collaborations with Smith ("Forget-Me-Not") and harp player Jay Ansill ("Lover's Knot").
Hills' partnership with Cindy Mangsen was sparked when she heard Mangsen performing on a Chicago radio show, Midnight Special, in 1977. Their first opportunity to sing together came in 1988 when they were joined by Priscilla Herdman at the Old Songs Festival. In 1990, they released their first trio album, Voices. Their second trio recording, Voices of Winter, followed in 1997. Hills and Mangsen have also recorded two albums as a duo -- Never Grow Old in 1994 and Never Grow Up in 1998.
Hills, who lives in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania with her husband, Mark Moss (the editor of Sing Out! magazine) and their daughter Tamlyn, has balanced her musical career with work as an actress. An Equity actress, Hills has performed in productions of Quilters, Foxfire and The Courtship of Carl Sandburg. In 1995, she composed, performed, and sang (with Jay Ansill) the score of Brian Friel's show Lovers. She helped to produce a multi-artist concert and album, Part of the Village, to benefit the Carole Robertson Center in Chicago, a learning program for children and families in need. In September, 1997, the center presented her with an award for outstanding service and loyalty.
Hills reached her creative apex in 1997; together with illustrator Liz Paxson, she released her first children's book, Dreamcatcher, adapted from her original song. A cassette with her singing the song on one side and her daughter Tamlyn singing it on the other was included with the full-color edition. Hills' musical skills were also showcased on tribute albums of the songs of Pete Seeger (Where Have All the Flowers Gone) and Phil Ochs (What's That I Hear). She capped the year off in December, when she was named Outstanding Female Vocalist by the Kerrville Music Foundation. Paradise Lost and Found followed in 1999.