Kate Lee O'Connor

Kate Lee O'Connor (born Kate Lee Gurnow on September 27, 1992, in Webster, New York)[2] is a Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and fiddler. She is a co-lead singer, writer, and instrumentalist for the bluegrass band, O'Connor Band with Mark O'Connor, whose album, Coming Home, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top Bluegrass Albums chart in August 2016.[3] In 2019, she signed with Compass Records as half of the duo, O'Connor Lee, with Forrest O'Connor.[4]

Kate Lee O'Connor
Birth nameKate Lee Gurnow[1]
BornWebster, New York
GenresCountry, Americana, Bluegrass, Folk, Adult Contemporary, Pop
Occupation(s)Musician, singer, violinist, songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, Violin
LabelsCompass Records, Rounder Records
Websitekateleeoconnor.com

Biography

O'Connor started playing violin at age nine. Her teachers exposed her to both classical and Americana fiddle music. At age eleven she was asked by Jack Metzger from the Fiddlers of the Genesee to form a group with him, "Kate Lee with No Strings Attached" in which she sang, played violin, and eventually performed her own original material. The band roster included Chuck Boda, Ben Ford, and John Irvine.[5]

O'Connor attended Webster Schroeder High School[6] and graduated magna cum laude from Belmont University in 2014. Soon after, she began touring with singer-songwriter Forrest O'Connor as a duo called Wisewater.[7] In 2015, she founded the O'Connor Band with Forrest, Mark O'Connor, and Maggie O'Connor, and their album on Rounder Records, Coming Home, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Bluegrass Albums chart.[8] Coming Home won the Grammy award for "Best Bluegrass Album" at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards in 2017.[9]

In 2009, she was a winner of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO), Search for a Star competition, and her original song, "On Your Way," was orchestrated by director Jeff Tyzik.[1][6][10][11][12]

She provided lead vocals and violin on two Mark O'Connor Band singles produced by Zac Brown, "In My Blood" written by Kalisa Ewing and Forrest O'Connor, and "Casino" written by Natalie Hemby.[13] Mark O'Connor Band was the opening act for Zac Brown Band's "Down the Rabbit Hole" Tour in 2018.[14]

Recordings
  • 2018 "Casino" single produced by Zac Brown for Mark O'Connor Band.[15]
  • 2018 "In My Blood (feat. Zac Brown)" single produced by Zac Brown for Mark O'Connor Band.[16]
  • 2017 O'Connor Band Live album[17]
  • 2016 O'Connor Band's Coming Home album with Rounder Records [8]
  • 2014 Wisewater's The Demonstration EP
  • 2013 A Lonely Lullaby EP
  • 2009 "When You Dream" single released for the Granting Dreams Foundation[18]
  • 2009 Kate Lee Live In Concert CD and Kate Lee Live On Stage DVD released featuring the live performance from PBS WXXI's television program, On Stage
  • 2008 On Your Way CD released, featuring seven original songs & one live track from the Bluebird Café in Nashville, TN[19]
  • 2007 "In the Mirror" single released for The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
  • 2007 Are We There Yet? EP released[20]

References
  1. "Search for a Star Winners Make RPU Debuts". Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. May 8, 2009. Retrieved 2011-08-17.
  2. "Are We There Yet?". Copyright Encyclopedia. Advameg. 2006-07-03. Retrieved 2012-08-22.
  3. "The O'Connor Band's 'Coming Home' debuts No. 1 on Billboard Bluegrass Albums Chart | Shore Fire Media". Shore Fire Media. Shorefire.com. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  4. "Compass Records Signs Duo O'Connor Lee". Archived from the original on 2019-12-13. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
  5. "Kate Lee Music Biography". KateLeeMusic.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-13.
  6. Siegelman, K. (September 23, 2009). "Chance Meeting Inspires New Song". Webster Community News. Archived from the original on 2010-04-20. Retrieved 2011-11-11. Kate Lee, a student at Webster Schroeder High School, ... performed one of her own compositions with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
  7. "Delighful Duo Wisewater Delivered an Excellent Show | No Depression". Archived from the original on 2016-10-05. Retrieved 2016-10-03.
  8. "Mark O'Connor Comes Home with the O'Connor Band | No Depression". Archived from the original on 2016-10-05. Retrieved 2016-10-03.
  9. "The O'Connor Band Win Best Bluegrass Album at 2017 Grammy Awards". Theboot.com. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  10. "(Upstate New York Song Contest) Winners". Black Dog Recording Studios. August 28, 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-08-28.
  11. "Symphony Showhouse 2008 - Special Events". Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. May 28, 2008. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-17.
  12. "08-09 Guest Artist Information > Search for a Star 2 Soloists". Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Retrieved 2011-08-17.
  13. Band, Mark O'Connor. "Mark O'Connor Band Releases New Single "In My Blood" Featuring Zac Brown". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
  14. "Zac Brown Band Dusts Off Two Tom Petty Covers With O'Connor Band". JamBase. 2017-10-09. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
  15. "Casino by Mark O'Connor Band on Amazon Music - Amazon.com". www.amazon.com. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
  16. In My Blood (feat. Zac Brown) - Single by Mark O'Connor Band, 8 June 2018, retrieved 2019-03-18
  17. "O'Connor Band - Live!". Discogs. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
  18. "Kate Lee Writes song for Granting Dreams". GrantingDreams.org. Archived from the original on 2011-07-26.
  19. "Kate Lee - With No Strings Attached". CD Baby.
  20. "Kate Lee with No Strings Attached". Dynamic Music Store. Archived from the original on 2011-01-04.
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