A 1997 A Prairie Home Companion show from Jesse Auditorium, Columbia, Missouri, with singer-songwriter Iris DeMent and acoustic guitarist Leo Kottke.
Highlights include a full-cast parody of “The Princess and the Pea,” Leo Kottke picking “Cripple Creek” and “Corrina, Corrina,” Iris DeMent sings “When My Morning Comes Around” and “The Banks of the Marble,” plus Café Boeuf, Guy Noir, and the latest News. Listen to the show.
Iris DeMent was born on the Arkansas Delta and grew up in California the youngest of 14 children. Her dad played fiddle; her mother dreamed of singing on the Grand Ole Opry. For a family that saw its share of hard times, music was a necessity of life, not just a pastime. Since launching her career in the early 1990s, Iris has become one of the most celebrated artists of her generation.
With his quick wit and astounding virtuosity, guitarist Leo Kottke has amassed a huge and loyal following since making his debut album in 1969: 12-String Blues, recorded live at the Scholar coffeehouse in Minneapolis. Then came major-label releases Mudlark and the seminal 6- and 12-String Guitar. More recent recordings include Noon, a collaboration with bassist Mike Gordon, a founding member of the band Phish.
