Ani DiFranco
| Ani DiFranco | |
|---|---|
Ani DiFranco performing at the Ancienne Belgique in 2007
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Angela Maria DiFranco |
| Born |
September 23, 1970 Buffalo, New York, United States |
| Genres | Folk rock, alternative rock, punk rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer-songwriter, poet |
| Instruments | Guitar, bass guitar, tenor guitar, vocals, percussion, piano |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Labels | Righteous Babe |
| Website | righteousbabe.com |
Ani DiFranco (/ˈɑːniː/; born Angela Maria DiFranco; September 23, 1970) is an American singer, multi-instrumentalist, poet, songwriter and businesswoman. She has released more than 20 albums and is a feminist icon. DiFranco has received positive feedback from critics for much of her career.
Although DiFranco's music has been classified as folk rock and alternative rock she has added punk, funk, hip hop and jazz influences. DiFranco created her own record label, Righteous Babe, giving her significant creative freedom.
DiFranco supports many social and political movements by performing benefit concerts, appearing on benefit albums and speaking at rallies. Through the Righteous Babe Foundation DiFranco has backed grassroots cultural and political organizations supporting causes including abortion rights to gay visibility. She counts famed American folk singer and songwriter Pete Seeger among her mentors.
DiFranco was born in Buffalo, New York, the daughter of Elizabeth (Ross) and Dante Americo DiFranco, who had met while attending MIT. Her father was of Italian descent, and her mother was from Montreal. DiFranco started playing Beatles covers at local bars and busking with her guitar teacher, Michael Meldrum, at the age of nine. By 14 she was penning her own songs. She played them at bars and coffee houses throughout her teens. DiFranco graduated from the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts high school at 16 and began attending classes at Buffalo State College. She was living alone, having moved out of her mother's apartment after she became an emancipated minor when she was 15.
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