Cheryl Wheeler - Sue Auclair Promotions

needn't be in a hurry to Nind an actual teacher. I just played guitar and sang with the kids. We put on shows, both at the school
and at a local library and a nursing home. Those kids were brilliant. I loved it. During that time I was also doing local bar gigs at
night and after a few years I felt like I wanted to devote all of my time to playing and writing, so I moved up here to New
England and did that."
She performed at venues around Baltimore and Washington DC before moving to New England in 1976, where she now lives.
She tours extensively. She had a band for a while, but usually performs solo now, or with Kenny White, who often opens and
then accompanies her and sings backup. She often appeared in the On a Winter's Night tour, and was part of the Philo 25th
Anniversary tour.
Her Albums
In 1983, Cheryl released a self produced EP called Newport Songs. Her Nirst two albums Cheryl Wheeler in 1986, and Half a Book
in 1991 were on an independent label, North Star. That company also released a promo tape called Live and Otherwise in 1987.
This was a bonus tape that was sent to anyone who Nilled out a survey form that was included in a number of the North Star
albums.
Her third album, Circles & Arrows, was originally released on Capitol in 1991, but it was dropped almost immediately due to a
political shakeup with the label company. (The people who had promoted her album were let go, and Capitol decided to heavily
promote Garth Brooks)
Her fourth album Driving Home was on Philo in 1993, a division of Rounder, and produced three singles: Almost, Silver Lining,
and 75 Septembers, a song written for her father, and covered by Peter, Paul & Mary on their album Life Lines.
Rounder later reissued Circles & Arrows in 1995, followed by Mrs. Pinocci's Guitar in 1995, Sylvia Hotel in 1999, the compilation
album Different Stripe in 2003, and Ninally Defying Gravity in 2005.
In 2003, Cheryl graciously allowed the creation of No Previous Record, a two-­‐disc album of songs that were never released on a
commercial label. This album consisted of audience, FM, and soundboard recordings, and is restricted to members of her email
list.
In 2009, Cheryl released Pointing at the Sun on her own label, Dias Music. This album includes some of the songs that appeared
on No Previous Record, along with other new songs and a remake of SummerKly.
In 1998 a video of a live concert was released, What Do I Care? I Don't Have Any Kids Construction Company. The Nilm had been
shot a few years before, so that by the time it came out, Cheryl's act had changed enough that people who saw the video would
still see a different show when they went to see Cheryl perform. Unfortunately, this video is out of print, although there are
reports of used versions appearing on amazon.com and eBay.
Her Songs
Cheryl's songs are often emotional portraits of people, leaving you with the impression that you know the characters. You Nind
yourself being dragged into the song rather than standing outside and observing. Other songs by Cheryl are hilarious situation
comedies.
From her songs you can get glimpses about her childhood: "She was a Tom-­‐Boy" ( I Know This Town ) who loved music ( Music
In My Room ).
You can also get glimpses of her adulthood: Her move to New England ( Northern Girl ), her neighbors ( Quarter Moon and His
Home Town ), her surroundings ( When Fall Comes to New England, and The Storm ), and her time on the road ( Rainy Road
Into Atlanta, Lighting Up the Mighty Mississippi, and Sylvia Hotel ).
But the songs that touch people the most are her songs about relationships, such as Arrow, Aces, and But the Days and Nights
Are Long (formerly "Boulder Hotel Room"), and Gandhi/Buddha.