Pieta Brown (53) is the daughter of beloved folk singer-songwriter Greg Brown with whom she reunited after a rather bohemian lifestyle following her parents’ separation when she was 2 years old. At the time she was just launching her career. Shortly after, her father married the folk singer-songwriter Iris Dement, who became her stepmother and with whom she has worked over the years. She released her first album in 2002 (at nearly 30), co-produced by Bo Ramsey (more below), who was introduced to her by her father; she went on to record eight more albums, including the just-released and rather wonderful Dreamin’ Of. In a checkered recording career she has been with a number of record labels, including independently, the most successful being Red House, who released three of her albums. In 2019, she moved to Righteous Babe Records, a label owned by Ani DiFranco. Her new album, a more polished and perhaps pop-infused folk album was also released on that label. AUK’s Andrew Leffley reviewed the album here. Most of her albums have been critically praised. She has appeared as a guest on many albums and worked on several collaborations, including tributes to Greg Brown and Peter Case. She also has had several high-profile guests on her albums, such as Mark Knopfler, Calexico and DavidLindley. And she is now married to….
Bo Ramey, now in his seventies, who is a highly regarded record producer and a world-class guitarist though perhaps he remains under the radar for many listeners. As a producer, he has also played on albums by Pieta Brown, Greg Brown, Iris Dement, Lucinda Williams and Jeffrey Foucault where his eloquent guitar playing has sounded in total empathy with the tone of the songs (take a listen to Foucault’s Ghost Repeaters for reference). He has also produced and played on albums by The Pines, a very fine indie-roots band from Minneapolis whose members include Ramsey’s son, Benson. In addition, he has also released 10 solo albums, the last one being in 2016. Ramsey’s guitar playing is hauntingly evocative, nothing flashy, just what he calls ‘spooky guitar’. You should explore The Pines albums to experience his atmospheric guitar playing, but as an example, take a listen to one of Pieta Brown’s earliest songs, to be found on her 2008 EP Flight Time. It explores the sadness of continually running into one’s ex in a small town from which there is seemingly no escape
