Sarah McLachlan

Although considered part of the recent wave of women singer-songwriters, from 1996–1999 Sarah McLachlan had been integral in showcasing women performers through the Lilith Fair, a summer festival show, which had been called the female Lollapalooza. By 1997, McLachlan was an established star in her native Canada, and a rising star in the United States on the strength of five albums, beginning with Touch in 1989, which yielded the college radio hits “Vox” and “Steaming.” 1994's Fumbling Toward Ecstasy further increased her popularity, selling more than 2 million copies in the U.S. In 1995, she released The Freedom Sessions, a multimedia disc that included unreleased material and interactive videos. Her 1997 release, Surfacing, debuted at number two on the pop charts, received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Album, and produced “Building a Mystery,” McLachlan's first top-ten hit and the winner of the Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Performance. In addition, she was awarded a Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Performance (“Last Dance”). She took several years off from touring and recording, returning with 2003's album Afterglow. She has also participated in the tsunami relief telethon and the Live 8 concerts. She is married to her drummer Ashwin Sood and they have a daughter.