Colin Meloy

Colin Meloy
Colin Meloy in Atlanta, Georgia
Background information
Birth name	Colin Patrick Henry Meloy
Born	October 5, 1974 (1974-10-05) (age 35) Helena, Montana
Genres	Indie rock, Baroque pop, Folk rock
Occupations	Singer-songwriter, guitarist
Instruments	Vocals, Guitar, Bouzouki, Percussion
Years active	1990-Present
Labels	Kill Rock Stars Capitol
Associated acts	The Decemberists, Tarkio, Happy Cactus
Website	Decemberists.com

Colin Meloy in Brussels (2006)

Colin Patrick Henry Meloy (born October 5, 1974) is the lead singer and songwriter for the Portland, Oregon, folk-rock band The Decemberists. In addition to his vocal duties, he performs with an acoustic guitar, 12-string acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bouzouki, and percussion. In 2005, Meloy wrote a 100-page book on The Replacements' third album, Let It Be, released as part of the 33⅓ series.

Personal life

Meloy was born in Helena, Montana. His sister is Maile Meloy, an author often published in The New Yorker. He first attended the University of Oregon before going to the University of Montana, where he majored in creative writing. He then moved to Portland, where he met future bandmates Jenny Conlee and Nate Query. Prior to being in The Decemberists, Meloy was the lead singer and songwriter of Happy Cactus and Tarkio, both indie/folk bands from Montana. On February 24, 2006, Carson Ellis, Meloy's wife (who shares the same birthday) and graphic artist for the Decemberists, gave birth to a son, Henry "Hank" Meloy.

Musical career

In 2005, he went on his first solo tour in support of the self-released six-song EP, Colin Meloy Sings Morrissey, consisting of six Morrissey covers. Only 1000 copies of the album were made and they were sold only on this tour. Meloy did a second solo tour in January 2006, playing with Laura Veirs and Amy Annelle. On this tour, he sold an EP featuring covers of British folk artist Shirley Collins. Performances from the 2006 tour were recorded for a live release.

Meloy contributed an online bonus track for Lavender Diamond on their Imagine Our Love album. He performed a solo version of "Oh No."

Meloy embarked on an extended U.S. tour beginning in April 2008. This coincided with the release of his debut solo album, Colin Meloy Sings Live!, on the Kill Rock Stars label. Singer-songwriter Laura Gibson is the supporting act for the full tour. As with previous EPs, Meloy is selling an EP only available on this run: Colin Meloy Sings Sam Cooke, a collection of five Sam Cooke songs, intimately arranged and performed by Meloy, with Laura Gibson singing harmonies throughout.

Solo discography

• Colin Meloy Sings Morrissey (2005)
• Colin Meloy Sings Shirley Collins (2006)
• Colin Meloy Sings Live! (2008)
• Colin Meloy Sings Sam Cooke (2008)

Meloy contributed vocals on the tracks "Cemetery Row" and "Twilight Distillery" on The Minus 5's 2006 Yep Roc release. Meloy also covered the Elliott Smith song "Clementine" for a compilation of Portland, Oregon artists to support a children's charity. In mid-2006, he contributed the track, "Lazy Little Ada" on the Kill Rock Stars compilation, The Sound the Hare Heard. In 2007, Meloy lent his voice to an episode of Lil' Bush. He has appeared with Charlie Salas-Humara in the music video for "A Pillar of Salt" by The Thermals.

External links

• Decemberists Official Website
• Colin Meloy at Last.fm
• Interview revealing Meloy's full name
• Kevchino review of Colin Meloy Sings Live! link
• Colin Meloy Interview at groundcontrolmag.com - April 2008
• Three Imaginary Girls live show review of Colin Meloy at the Showbox
• Three Imaginary Girls review of Colin Meloy Sings Live
• Some Questions: The Decemberists
• Colin Meloy's Twitter

Notes