December In Vermont by Diane Zeigler

" (The Music Matters)

Despite the acclaim Zeigler has received as a songwriter, her career has taken an erratic path that reflects the multiple challenges facing a mother trying to choose between career and family. Her 1995 debut CD 'Sting of the Honeybee' (Rounder/Philo) was met with broad critical praise across the country, (nominated for Boston Music Award, and placing on the Top 10 album lists at both The Boston Globe and WUMB Radio. but before she could hit the road to support it, Zeigler learned that she was pregnant with her first child. She took a 3 year hiatus from music, gave birth to two children, and then re-emerged on the national folk scene in 1999, picking up where she left off by winning awards at Kerrville, Rocky Mountain, and Telluride festivals.

Her 2nd CD "These Are The Roots" fared well with critics also, and was recently awarded the 2002 Best New Folk Album award at the Just Plain Folks Music Awards, held in Hollywood, CA in March 2003. In November 2004 Zeigler was lauded again at the same awards ceremony, receiving the 2004 Best New Folk Album award.

Zeigler's songs capture a sense of place and community, informed as they are by the unique landscape of Vermont. Her work is also rooted in her experiences with death and loss. Her 1995 debut CD was dedicated to her brother Jimmy, who died of cancer in 1984 at age 21. On "Paintbrush" she writes of the death of her sister's husband in "It Grew In Front of Me", with harmonies provided by her sibling, daughter, and her husband. Zeigler's songwriting reflects a personal life where the focal point is on family, place, and community. Over the years, Zeigler has developed a writing style that is personal without being confessional, highlighting the universal emotions we all work through. Says the Boston Globe," She has a gift for penning reflective personal anthems that turn hard truths to life-affirming purpose."

In spring of 2004 National Geographic Magazine included Zeigler's song "The Well" (from 'Paintbrush'). from among hundreds of submissions to be featured on the CD "Motherhood around the World", distributed by Sugomusic.com. Her song was the only cut from a continental US artist, and close to 200,000 units were released worldwide on Mother's Day 2004.

The winner of six national songwriting awards, Zeigler's work has been also been featured on many other compilation projects including Christine Lavin's "Stealth Project" and "Follow That Road (Rounder/Philo), Sony's "Bring It On Home", Club Passim's "One More Song" (Rounder/Philo), "Mother's Hope" (CDFreedom.com), MP3.com's "Fenario project, "Yankee Magazine Sampler" (Rounder), among others. Her song "The Legend of Enoch Arden" was featured on the 2002 "Songs Inspired by Literature" CD project along with cuts by Bruce Springsteen, Emmylou Harris, Suzanne Vega, Aimee Mann, Grace Slick, and others. Zeigler also produced the "CREAM OF VERMONT" compilation for the Vermont Arts Council (2002), funded by Cabot Creamery and the VT Dept. of Tourism, featuring the work of some of the finest Vermont musicians.

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