PBS has a very interesting video on Carrie Newcomer:

http://video.pbs.org/video/2365295276/

Her Wikipedia article reveals a lot of interesting things about her, partly explaining why her songs are so interesting to me. I'd guess she's the best-known Quaker musician alive, and she's involved in all sorts of social justice activities.

She was born in Michigan in 1958, and I think she now calls herself a Hoosier from Indiana.

One other thing - her album covers are some of the most interesting ones in the business. Take a look at them at her Website:

http://www.carrienewcomer.com/

I became familiar with Carrie Newcomer's work when I was working with editors Peter Blood and Annie Patterson on the Rise Again Songbook (Peter and Annie are Quakers). We've included three Carrie Newcomer songs in the book:

• I Believe
  
• The Gathering of Spirits (my favorite Carrie Newcomer song)
  
• If Not Now

Take a listen to these three songs. I think you'll appreciate her insights. She does some of the most thoughtful and thought-provoking music I've heard in recent years.

-Joe-