Grew up in Jamestown, NY, which is also the birthplace of Lucille Ball
Volunteered at a summer camp for children with disabilities when she was 15
Left high school early, at age 16, to work in a health-food store and take classes at Jamestown Community College
Became a vegetarian the same year
Joined Still Life, a precursor of 10,000 Maniacs, at age 17 after meeting several of its members through the Jamestown Community College's radio station
Gained a British following with 10,000 Maniacs in 1983 after influential British DJ John Peel began playing "My Mother the War" on his radio show
With 10,000 Maniacs, broke through to popular acclaim in the U
S
in 1987 with the album In My Tribe, which sold more than two million copies
Involved in social activism, working on behalf of such causes as animal rights and homelessness
Has put her time where her mouth is, too: She volunteered at a Harlem homeless shelter for six months after 10,000 Maniacs' Blind Man's Zoo album (1989)
In 1995, released her solo debut album, Tigerlily, which sold more than five million copies in the U
S
Became friends with poet Allen Ginsberg (1926-97) after referencing him in 10,000 Maniacs' "Hey, Jack Kerouac"; and performed Ophelia's "King of May," which she had written for him, at his memorial service
Volunteered at her daughter's school teaching the children about folk music