Staff Alumni Spotlights Alumni Statistics Alumni Groups Tiger Troops Spirit Alumni Benefits Around Auburn Auburn Traditions

ALUM Spotlight Kate Campbell '86

The songs of Kate Campbell are poignant reflections of life in the Deep South, performed with a beautifully melodic voice in a variety of musical styles: country, gospel, and folk. Daughter of a Baptist pastor, Kate was born in New Orleans and grew up in rural Mississippi and Nashville, Tennessee. Her foundation in music began in the church singing hymns and learning harmonies in the choir. Kate also credits her knack for storytelling to her father's weekly sermons. "He'd been a history major, as I would be later, and he'd use historical anecdotes, Bible stories, humor, and personal family stories. He also used a lot of alliteration and repetition; the way he used sound also led me toward music." She took lessons in piano and the clarinet, and at age 12 she started playing an acoustic guitar. It was Dolly Parton who was her first major music influence with songs like "Daddy Was an Old Time Preacher Man" and "Coat of Many Colors." Kate has been highlighted on NPR's "Morning Edition" and "World Cafe" as well as other national radio programs. Kate performs live all over the eastern half of the U.S. as well as in the U.K. and Ireland where she has a strong fan base. Visit www.katecampbell.com for tour date information and listen to sound clips from her numerous cds.

Q. How did your career as a singer-songwriter begin?

A. I've actually been writing and singing since I was a little girl but didn't start recording and touring until I was about 30 (10 or so years ago now)! Auburn was very important in this process because when I began to put together what I learned about writing history with song writing I truly found my "voice."

Q. What's the best part of your career?

A. I think the best part of my career is all the people I've met along the way and places I've been that I probably would not have if it wasn't for the music.

Q. What were some memorable moments from any of your previous performances?

A. There have been many special moments along the way but so far what tops the list is performing live with Ballet Memphis while they danced to my music. A very close second was having the privilege of singing in Atlanta at the Ebenezer Baptist Church where Martin Luther King, Jr. was a pastor.

Q. How would you advise someone interested in embarking on a career in music? A. I think the best advice I could give would apply to other careers as well: Follow your heart but be persistent until you find your place. Don't assume you are going to be "discovered" overnight. Most people in the arts have worked for many years at their craft and built relationships along the way until eventually finding their audience. Q. What does the Auburn spirit mean to you? A. The Auburn Spirit to me is about "place." It has been twenty years since I graduated but my life would not be the same without my Auburn experience. I recently met an Auburn graduate at a concert in England. We had never met before but immediately made a connection because we'd both been to Auburn!