Long before her “Fast Car” duet with country singer Luke Combs stole the Grammy Awards on Sunday night, singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman performed at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead.
Chapman first took to the Me&Thee stage in 1986, giving the audience a rare opportunity to witness the early stages of an illustrious career.
In 1985, Marblehead resident Anthony Silva discovered Chapman when he heard her performing in Harvard Square. She was a sophomore at Tufts University.
“I crossed the street, and she’s busking. I mean, she’s a street singer, a street performer. And there she is performing,” Silva recalled. “I immediately asked her after she was done if she would play our coffeehouse up in Marblehead. And she immediately agreed.”
Chapman went on to play three shows at Me&Thee, and after her last in 1988, she signed with Elektra Records six months later, ultimately going on to win four Grammy Awards.
Silva said Chapman’s debut album showcased her unique blend of folk, rock and soul. Her lyrics addressed real-life issues, resonating deeply with audiences. The album’s impact was solidified when Chapman won the Grammy for Best New Artist in 1989, a testament to the powerful and distinct nature of her musical contributions.
“Fast Car” emerged as Chapman’s iconic song, captivating listeners with its compelling narrative that many found relatable, Silva said. Combs breathed new life into “Fast Car” on his 2023 album “Gettin’ Old.” His version climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Silva said it was Chapman’s early appearances in Marblehead that hinted she was destined for fame.
“The minute she opened her mouth, the entire audience snapped their heads up to attention, riveted,” Silva said, remembering the audience response at her first show. “Instantaneous standing ovation. Wows. Cheers. Applause instantaneously.”
Chapman was overcome with emotion by the enthusiastic reception. She embraced Silva and began sobbing into his shoulder. It was one of her first paid indoor concerts.
“She’d been to open mics — that’s different,” Silva said. “That’s playing with other musicians. But for a paid audience, a paid gig? And she went back out and did two or three encores.”
Decades may have passed, but both the song and the performer remain relevant by tapping into universal human emotions, Silva said.
“I was in tears,” Silva said of Sunday’s performance. An hour after it was televised, Silva said her original 1988 recording of “Fast Car” shot to No. 1 on Amazon’s download charts thanks to renewed interest.
“Can you imagine a song being so popular decades after?” Silva asked. “A new generation being moved by those lyrics?”
Chapman could sell out shows at venues of any size today, Silva said.
Asked if he would invite her back, Silva replied without hesitation: “We’d have her back in a minute.”
