Erin Hill
Quick Facts
Biography
Erin Hill is an American harpist, singer, songwriter and actress. Her Celtic album hit #1 on the Billboard World Music Chart and she has played and sung with Kanye West, Cyndi Lauper, moby, Sinead O’Connor, Enya, a-ha, Randy Newman, Jewel, Josh Groban, and many other celebrities, as well as Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, and for royalty.
As an actress, she has appeared on Broadway, film, and television, most notably as the Pretty White Girl Who Sings Dave’s Thoughts on Comedy Central’s Chappelle's Show. She originated the roles of Kate Mullins in Titanic on Broadway, and of Lulu in the Sam Mendes/Rob Marshall revival of Cabaretand appears on both Original Broadway Cast recordings. She played Sandra Mescal in the Tim Robbins film Cradle Will Rock and appears on the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. She is an actor, composer and screenwriter in the film Clear Blue Tuesday, about which the New York Times said: "Erin Hill, as a giddy, harp-playing Trekker, stands out… The best and funniest scene in the film is Ms. Hill's".
The Los Angeles record label Cleopatra Records has released three of Hill’s albums, starting with Harp Town in 2016. Harp Town features Hill’s harp and voice arrangements of songs by artists such as Rihanna, Radiohead, The Beatles, Sinatra, Leonard Cohen, Edith Piaf, Adele, Lady Gaga, Smashing Pumpkins, Kansas, Alicia Keys, Roxy Music, and Kate Bush. Cleopatra also released Hill’s album Christmas Harp, and her album of originals, Girl Inventor.
Hill is an avid science fiction fan and a regular performer at Dragon Con in Atlanta, and her "Lookout, Science" and "Giant Mushrooms" music videos were featured in the Dragon Con Independent Film Festival.USA Today premiered her sci-fi music video "Lookout, Science". Her westie dog MacLeod (named for the main character in the film Highlander) is a frequent co-star in her music videos.Her three electric harps are named V’ger (from Star Trek), Klaatu (from The Day the Earth Stood Still), and Ylla (from The Martian Chronicles).
Hill was featured in an HBO Game of Thrones promo, playing the Game of Thrones theme on her harp. She won an Independent Music Award for her song "Stun," from her Girl Inventor album. and she did Original Music and Sound Design for the Drama Desk Award-nominated That Play: a Solo Macbeth.Hill is also the voice and harp behind Tafne, a central character in the Android video game The Legacy of Barubash.Hill has also played her harp several years for the US Open Tennis Championships in the exclusive Hospitality Pavilion. Newsday has called her "the dangerously enjoyable Erin Hill."
In 2019, she debuted her show “Harp Oddity: The Music of David Bowie,” featuring Hill’s arrangements of Bowie tunes on vocals and electric harp, along with her band.
Discography
- I'm So Glad by Erin Hill (March 2019) Gridley Records. Erin Hill: songwriter, vocals, harp, percussion
- Pirate Jane (feat. Erin Hill)” by The Peter Ulrich Collaboration (March 2018) City Canyons. Erin Hill: vocals, bass.
- Girl Inventor by Erin Hill (July 2017) Cleopatra. Erin Hill: songwriter, vocals, harp, keyboards, bass.
- Christmas Harp by Erin Hill (October 2016) Cleopatra.Erin Hill: vocals, harp, arrangements.
- Harp Town by Erin Hill (May 2016) Cleopatra.Erin Hill: vocals, harp, arrangements.
- Tempus Fugitives by The Peter Ulrich Collaboration (April 2015) City Canyons. Erin Hill: songwriter, vocals, harp, bass.
- Dark Daddy (feat. Erin Hill)” by The Peter Ulrich Collaboration (November 2014) City Canyons. Erin Hill: songwriter, vocals, harp, bass.
- World of Nickhoo by The Dream Jam Band (April 2014) Dream Jam Productions. Erin Hill:vocals, harp
- Let It Snow by Jewel (September 2013) Somerset Group, Ltd.Erin Hill: harp
- Clear Blue Tuesday (Soundtrack for the Original Musical Movie) (August 2010) by Various Artists. Sh-K-Boom Records. Erin Hill: songwriter, vocals, harp, bass.
- Leave it in the Soup (July 2010) by The Dream Jam Band. Dream Jam Productions, EMI. Produced by Rick Chertoff. Erin Hill: songwriter, vocals, bass, harp, keyboards; arranger on Shoes, co-producer on Melanie the Mermaid
- Four Leaf Clover by Four Celtic Voices with Celeste Ray & Erin Hill (2009) Gridley Records. Erin Hill: songwriter, vocals, harp, bass.
- Vapor by Taylor Barton with Wicked Felina (2006) Green Mirror. Produced by G.E. Smith. Erin Hill: co-writer, vocals, harp, guitar, keyboards, hammered dulcimer.
- The Fantasticks (2006) Ghostlight Records/ Razor and Tie. The new Off-Broadway recording. Erin Hill: harpist.
- Martha Wainwright by Martha Wainwright (2005) Zoe Records. Erin Hill: harpist.
- Pyjama Party by Frederic Buchet (2005) Gridley Records. Erin Hill: producer, co-writer, vocals, harp, accordion, hammered dulcimer, analog synths.
- Frost as Desired by Erin Hill (2002) Gridley Records. Erin Hill: songwriter, vocals, guitars, harp, synths.
- I See a Great City by Clan Chi (2002) Crisnjoco.Erin Hill: vocalist
- Pretty Flowers by The Buddy Scott Trio (2002) Gridley Records. Erin Hill: vocals, executive producer.
- Great Musicals by Various Artists (2001) RCA, BMG Entertainment. Erin Hill: vocals.
- Cradle Will Rock (1999) RCA. Motion picture soundtrack, directed by Tim Robbins.Erin Hill: vocals.
- Cabaret(1998) RCA. The new Broadway cast recording, directed by Sam Mendes. Erin Hill: vocals, harp, flute, saxophone.
- Night of the Hunter (1998) Varese Sarabande.Erin Hill: vocals.
- Titanic (1997) RCA Victor. The Original Broadway Cast Recording. Erin Hill: vocals.
- Honkytonk Highway (1996) Original Cast Recording. Erin Hill: vocals, harp, fiddle, lap steel, guitar, bass, percussion, keyboards, saxophone.
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | The Today Show | herself | harpist & singer for Meghan Markle |
| 2019 | Good Morning America | herself | harpist & singer for Meghan Markle |
| 2018 | Articulate (TV Series) | herself – singer, duet with Taylor Mac | episode: The Wildest Dreamers |
| 2018 | Million Dollar Listing New York (TV Series) | harpist | |
| 2015 | Don't Touch Me, Bro | harpist | |
| 2008 | The Sunny Side Up Show | Erin the Red | episode: Chica's Big Birthday Surprise! |
| 2007 | Live Earth: The Concerts for a Climate Crisis | herself | harpist for Kanye West |
| 2007 | Education of Kanye Part 1 | herself | harpist |
| 2007 | Education of Kanye Part 2 | herself | harpist |
| 2007 | 106 Park & Live | herself | harpist for Kanye West |
| 2007 | MTV Total Request Live | herself | harpist for Kanye West |
| 2007 | American Masters | Rose of Sharon | episode: Novel Reflections: The American Dream |
| 2006 | herself | backup singer for Enya | |
| 2004 | Who Wants to be a Millionaire | herself | 2 episodes |
| 2004 | Broadway the American Musical | Sandra Mescal | episode: I Got Plenty o' Nuttin': 1929–1942 |
| 2003 | Chappelle's Show | Pretty White Lady Singing | Episode 1.2, also wrote the music for the skit |
| 1998 | Late Show with David Letterman | Lulu | |
| 1998 | The 52nd Annual Tony Awards | Lulu | original Broadway cast of Cabaret |
| 1998 | The Rosie O'Donnell Show | herself | 2 episodes |
| 1997 | 60 Minutes | herself/The Devil's Bride in Randy Newman's Faust | episode:TV Land Legends: The 60 Minutes Interviews |
| 1997 | Macy's 21st Annual Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular | Kate Mullins | |
| 1997 | The 51st Annual Tony Awards | Kate Mullins | original Broadway cast of Titanic |
| 1992 | Another World | Annie | appeared in 7 episodes |
Stage
Broadway
| Year | Production | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Urinetown | Hope, Little Sally (understudy) | Henry Miller Theater, original cast |
| 1998 | Cabaret | Lulu | Roundabout, Henry Miller Theater, original cast, directed by Sam Mendes |
| 1997 | Titanic | Kate Mullins | Lunt-Fontanne, original cast |
Off-Broadway and regional theater
| Year | Production | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | A Midsummer Night's Dream | First Fairy/Robin Starveling | Classic Stage Company, starring Bebe Neuwirth, Anthony Heald, Christina Ricci |
| 2010 | Lincoln Center's South Pacific | Harpist, Rehearsal Pianist | 1st National Tour (Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle, Toronto, etc.) |
| 2010 | Lil's 90th | Musical Director | Long Wharf Theater, starring Lois Smith |
| 2008 | Lil's 90th | Deirdre | Sundance Theater Lab, starring Lois Smith |
| 2006 | The Fantasticks | Harpist | The Jerry Orbach Theater, Snapple Theater Center, the Off-Broadway revival |
| 2006 | The Difficulty of Crossing a Field | Mrs. Williamson | Ridge Theater, Alexander Kasser Theater opera |
| 2004 | People Are Wrong! | Teri | Vineyard Theatre |
| 2002 | When It's Cocktail Time in Cuba | Anya | Cherry Lane Theatre |
| 2001 | Largo | Leila | New York Stage and Film, also starring Cyndi Lauper, Fisher Stevens |
| 2000 | Spring Awakening | Ilse | Sundance Theater Lab |
| 2000 | Night Governess | Chloe | McCarter Theater, world premiere |
| 1999 | A Little Night Music | Petra | Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Great Lakes Theater Festival |
| 1996 | Between the Sheets | Lilly | Playwright's Collective, world premiere, by Eduardo Machado |
| 1995 | Randy Newman's Faust | The Devil's Bride | Goodman Theater, La Jolla Playhouse, and American Place Theater (Lincoln Center workshop) |
| 1994 | Rent | Brenda, Blockbuster Woman, student | New York Theatre Workshop |
| 1994 | Night of the Hunter | Ruby | Vineyard Theatre |
| 1993 | Honkytonk Highway | Jenine-Kate | Don't Tell Mama, Goodspeed-at-Chester, won Bistro Award |
Screenwriter
- (2010) Fade to White
- (2009) Clear Blue Tuesday
Soundtrack (film and television)
- Jes and Lora (Short) (2015) performer: "I'm So Glad", writer: "I'm So Glad"
- That's What She Told Me (2011) composer.writer: "The Jubilation," "Silver Feet," "No Other You."performer: "The Jubilation", "Silver Feet"
- Clear Blue Tuesday(2009) writer, performer:"Prologue", "Reckless". co-writer: "Move High"
- A Mock Time: A Star Trek Wedding (2007) writer: "Intro: Mock's Brain" and "Main Theme: The Bridegroom of Gothos"
- The Shabbos Bigfoot (2006) writer: "Waking Up and No Other You". Performer: "Waking Up and No Other You"
- American Desi (2001) writer: "Lolita (Lo and Behold)". "Performer: Lolita (Lo and Behold)"
- $pent (2000) writer: "Do it Yourself". Performer: "Do it Yourself"
- Bad Bride (2000) (TV) writer, performer: "Waking Up".
- So, What's in Jericho? (1999) performer: "Precious Memories"
- Cradle Will Rock (1999) performer: "Let's Do Something", "The Cradle Will Rock", "Honolulu", "Oh What a Filthy Night Court", "Art for Art's Sake"
- The 52nd Annual Tony Awards (1998) (TV) performer: "Willkommen"
- Macy's 21st Annual Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular (1997) (TV) "performer: Lady's Maid"
- The 51st Annual Tony Awards (1997) (TV) "performer: Ship of Dreams"
