Polly Jean Harvey, more known as PJ Harvey, turned 53 today.
Born in 1969 in Dorset, England, AllMusic calls her “the most challenging singer/songwriter to emerge in the ’90s, with brutally honest lyrics that match well to a progression of raw musical styles.” She started out her musical career at an early age and began writing songs as a teenager. In 1991 she joined forces with bassist Steve Vaughn and drummer Robert Ellis to form the band PJ Harvey. The trio released their debut, Dry, in 1992, but during the tour of its sequel, Rid of Me (1993), the group split, leaving Harvey on her own.
Harvey went on with a successful solo career releasing the solo albums To Bring You My Love (1995) and Is This Desire? (1998), which turned her into one of the most important female names in alternative music. Harvey’s landmark album Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea (2000) was awarded the Mercury Prize, a feat she repeated with her biggest commercial thus far, Let England Shake (2011), making her the only artist to receive the prestigious award twice.
Beyond that, Harvey has received eight Brit Award nominations and six Grammy nominations, not to mention two further Mercury Prize nominations. In 2011 she was awarded for her Outstanding Contribution to Music at the NME Awards.
Happy birthday, Polly Jean! Stay sharp, radiant, and genius!
• Read also PJ HARVEY – LET ENGLAND SHAKE.
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Sources: Tidal, AllMusic, Wikipedia, The Guardian.
Featured image via Patricia Blanchet.
