Personal Background and Musical Roots
Tracy was born and spent her youth and young adulthood in North Carolina (Wilmington and Raleigh). She is now based in Madison, WI where she lives with her husband, Allen. She's been called "North Carolina's gift to Wisconsin."
Comer began a focus as a solo entertainer, including her original vocal and instrumental music, in the 1990s. She had already at that point had involvement with folk, pop/rock, choral and theater music, jazz, country, bluegrass, Celtic music, and many things in between.
Having started her music journey in chidhood as a self-taught pianist, her talent and passion for music were recognized by a favorite aunt and by school teachers who combined to encourage and facilitate her musical education, with the former (the late Jane Stephens -- hence Tracy's use of her own middle name as tribute) providing both funds and transportation to lessons, recitals, and competitions.
She began performing as a young teen, starting out accompanying her school choir (before having had formal lessons) and worked as a church musician while still in junior high, and also learned the craft of accompanying for musical theater and for vocalists and instrumentalists along the way, thanks to the encouragement of her music teachers. She quickly became in demand as an accompanist. She started playing for weddings using piano and guitar as a teen. Later as a young adult she also began studying cello, progressing quickly. Soon after she playing professionally as a solo cellist and chamber musician and began arranging music for small instrumental groups.
Tracy studied music at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro, Peace College, East Carolina University, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison (graduate level). She has an extensive musical background that includes advanced study in classical piano, cello, theory, and musicology, plus private instruction in violin, voice, and guitar, drums, and more recently bass guitar.
She began performing as a vocalist (primarily with guitar and sometimes keyboard) in the 1990s and began writing songs soon after, establishing herself fairly quickly in the singer-songwriter and folk communities in her home area and into the midwest. She has also composed, conducted and arranged for choirs, handbells, and instrumental ensembles and composed a contempoary liturgical setting. In the 2000s, she has branched out to performing with small groups and bands of various types/genres, from Folk/Americana to New Country to Yacht Rock and Classic Rock.
"...One thing I really appreciate as an audience member...is when I find out that the performer's words and actions on stage match exactly how they are away from an audience. There are many genuine folk artists in the midwest. I recently sat down to spend time with two of the finest...Tracy Jane Comer grew up in North Carolina and her roots of ingrained respect and hospitality (as well as a hint of accent) come through her conversation and music as well. Her background in music, her computer aptitute, and her positive approach to life have all contributed to an increasingly successful folk music career. Onstage she humbly switches instruments as she sets up the next song with some personal background. Her respect for the audience and unassuming nature indicate how it is she would like to be seen: as a talented multi-instrumentalist and vocalist who is rightly matched with her competent business sense and who is aptly using her God-given talents fruitfully."
-Terry Corr, in introduction to feature article/interview with Tracy in Midwest Folk magazine, Winter 2004 issue
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"This singer/songwriter is key to moving the whole darn genre forward. Her sound is mature and soaked with talent throughout…"
- Smother.Net Ezine