Main content

From The Band to The Staple Singers. Country music star Emmylou Harris shares her castaway choices with Sue Lawley. From 2003.

Country rock singer Emmylou Harris is castaway by Sue Lawley.

Born in Alabama in 1947, her musical influences were folk rather than country. Initially, she wanted to be an actress, but, influenced by Joan Baez and Bob Dylan, she turned to singing folk instead and began performing in the bars of Greenwich Village.

But, by the age of 24, it seemed as if her singing career was over - she was a single mother and had returned home to live with her mother, only singing in local bars.

It was a chance encounter that led to her being heard by Gram Parsons - formerly of The Byrds and later The Flying Burrito Brothers. They worked together on two albums and invented what has become country rock - a fusion of folk, country and rock music.

To date she has won 11 Grammys and in 1992 was inducted into the Grand Old Opry. She now writes her own music.

She is three-times divorced and now travels everywhere with her mother.

DISC ONE: Waylon Jennings - Dreaming My Dreams With You
DISC TWO: The Staple Singers - Uncloudy Day
DISC THREE: The Band - Up On Cripple Creek
DISC FOUR: Kate & Anna McGarrigle - Talk to Me of Mendocino
DISC FIVE: Neil Young - The Emperor of Wyoming
DISC SIX: Bruce Springsteen - Mansion on the Hill
DISC SEVEN: Daniel Lanois - The Maker
DISC EIGHT: Ensemble of the Bulgarian Republic - Polegnala E Todora (Theodora is Dozing)

CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Kate & Anna McGarrigle - Talk to Me of Mendocino
BOOK CHOICE: Blank book
LUXURY CHOICE: A library

Producer: Leanne Buckle

First broadcast on ±«Óãtv Radio 4 in December 2003.

12 days left to listen

45 minutes

Last on

Mon 16 Sep 2024 01:00

Broadcasts

  • Sun 17 Jul 2011 10:00
  • Sun 17 Jul 2011 21:00
  • Mon 18 Jul 2011 01:00
  • Sun 15 Sep 2024 06:00
  • Sun 15 Sep 2024 11:00
  • Sun 15 Sep 2024 17:00
  • Mon 16 Sep 2024 01:00

The Desert Island Discs podcast

Subscribe or download individual episodes.

Listen to over 2,000 programmes

Click above to browse castaways, from 1942 to today.

Articles

Read the surprising things we've learned about some stand-out castaways.