Difranco, Ani (1970–)

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Difranco, Ani (1970–)

American singer and songwriter. Pronunciation: Ani (ahn-knee). Born Sept 23, 1970, in Buffalo, NY; m. Andrew Gilchrist, May 30, 1998.

Rejected offers from major labels, preferring to release her punk- and funk-inspired folksongs on her own label, Righteous Babe Records; sold 1st album Ani DiFranco (1990) from trunk of her car; through Righteous Babe Records, had marketed 2 million of her releases by 1999; had Top-30 releases including albums Little Plastic Castle (1998) and Up Up Up Up Up Up (1999). Additional albums include Not So Soft (1991), Imperfectly (1992), Dilate; More Joy, Less Shame (1996), Reveling/Reckoning (2001), (with Utah Phillips) Fellow Workers (1999) and Evolve (2003).