SCVB Blog

You’ve heard Fayssoux McLean, even if you haven’t heard of her.  Fayssoux’s beguiling voice was an integral element in some of the finest country music recordings of our time.  Fayssoux sang harmonies all over Emmylou Harris’ legendary early recordings, “Luxury Liner,”  “Quarter Moon in a Ten Cent Town,”  “Elite Hotel,” and “Pieces of the Sky,” and she sang duets with Emmylou on “Spanish is a Loving Tongue” and Green Rolling Hills.”  Given that Emmylou Harris is herself the single greatest and most consequential harmony vocalist in country music history, Fayssoux’s role as Emmylou’s harmony singer of choice should tell you nearly all you need to know.

Fayssoux finally lets the world hear her stunning lead voice on her debut recording, “Early.”  After being out of the music world for many years and teaching in her home town of Spartanburg, SC, a middle school teacher named Peter Cooper called for an interview.  He was writing about the extraordinary musical history of Spartanburg, SC (Pink Anderson, The Marshall Tucker Band, Marshall Chapman, Hank Garland, etc) for his book “Hub City Music Makers”.  When she began singing with him at the book release parties, others responded as well.

Many years later, Cooper is now one of the country’s most respected music journalists, writing for Nashville’s The Tennessean newspaper.  When Fayssoux told him she was ready, he encouraged her to record in Nashville.  She called old friends Emmylou Harris and the Whites to sing harmony with her and Peter, as well as Ricky Skaggs to play mandolin.  She asked Spartanburg native David Ball to play Walter Hyatt’s bass, and sing harmony as well.  Peter brought in Nashville great Lloyd Green to contribute his rarified talents on pedal steel and dobro, as well as Johnny Cash bass player Dave Roe.  She brought heavy duty guitarist Brandon Turner with her who plays on nearly every track and holds his own with the most seasoned Nashville veterans.  

“Charm, elegance, whippoorwills and magnolia dewdrops:  these are the things that come to mind when I hear Fayssoux sing,” says Rodney Crowell, who first met Emmylou Harris in Fayssoux’s living room.

Fayssoux’s singing has drawn the admiration of collaborators like Crowell, Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton and Buddy Miller.

You can hear some of Fayssoux’s music at www.myspace.com/FayssouxMcLean.

Listen to Fayssoux's music here