About Ann

Songwriter, singer, guitarist Ann Reed has been performing for more than 40 years with her rich, dark-chocolate voice, storytelling from the human experience, and songs that find a permanent place in the heart. Of course some of her songs and stories might end up closer to your funny bone — a little irreverence never hurt anyone. Ann has toured North America coast to coast, doing concerts, clubs, festivals, and she's met wonderful fans and made friends all along the way.

The basics: Ann is a Minnesota native. She began teaching herself how to play the guitar at the ripe old age of 12 and has been a performer for her entire adult life. Growing up with two older brothers, she was influenced by whatever they were listening to — Kingston Trio, early Joni Mitchell, Vanilla Fudge, Cream, Buffalo Springfield, Beach Boys, Beatles, Pete Seeger — plus the writers and singers of her parents' era: Cole Porter, George and Ira Gershwin, Ella Fitzgerald, Rosemary Clooney. Mary Travers — of Peter, Paul and Mary fame — was the first singer Ann heard who sang low, just like her. Validation!

Ann wrote and performed Heroes: A Celebration of Women Who Changed History and Changed Our Lives, a theatrical presentation produced by Minnesota Public Radio. And in a departure from her usual repertoire, she developed Nothing But Class: The Songs of Dorothy Fields, honoring the first woman to be honored with a songwriting Oscar.

Those who have heard Ann in concert know she has a knack for telling a good story and will be delighted by her first novel, Citizens of Campbell, a story about a small Iowa town, the unlikely but lifelong friendship of two World War II veterans, and the richness that comes from a simple life. Along with her writing pals Gail Hartman and Kate Tucker, Ann created a book of short-form poetry called: The Less Said: A Collection of Short-Form Poetry.

The custom 12-string guitar that Ann plays is now older than some people in her audience. It was built by luthier Charlie Hoffman of Minneapolis. (Origin of the word "luthier," by the way, is from "lute" and bears no relationship to the profusion of Lutherans who live in Minnesota.)

Ann is a COMPAS Roster Teaching Artist in their Artful Aging program, writing and singing with seniors who are in assisted living or memory care. (For more information about the COMPAS Artful Aging program please visit: www.compas.org/artful-aging)

You may have heard her on countless radio stations across the U.S. or on your very own iPhone. Better yet, you may have attended one of Ann's concerts, where her rich vocals, masterful guitar work, and keen wit are center stage.