Shirley Simms

Shirley Simms
Background information
GenresIndie pop
Occupation(s)Singer
Songwriter
Years active1980s–present

Shirley Simms is an American singer and songwriter known for her work as a member of indie pop band the Magnetic Fields.

In the late 1980s, before Stephin Merritt started the Magnetic Fields, he and Simms formed the short-lived musical project Buffalo Rome, who self-released a cassette during their existence.[1][2] Simms was also a member of the Boston-based band Lazy Susan, along with Therese Bellino and the Magnetic Fields' Claudia Gonson.[3] As members of Lazy Susan, Simms and Gonson wrote the song "Plant White Roses",[4] which appeared on the Magnetic Fields' 1991 album Distant Plastic Trees.[5] An alternate version performed by Simms was later included on Merritt's 2011 compilation album Obscurities.[5]

Simms sang on several tracks on the Magnetic Fields' 1999 album 69 Love Songs.[6] She and Merritt alternated between singing lead vocals on the band's 2008 album Distortion.[7] In addition to her vocal work with the Magnetic Fields, she also sometimes plays ukulele for them.[8]

In a 1999 interview, Merritt described Simms as "the best living female vocalist other than Doris Day".[9]

  1. ^ Khanna, Vish (January 22, 2010). "Stephin Merritt and the Magnetic Fields It's Only Time". Exclaim!. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  2. ^ Ballance, Laura; Cook, John; McCaughan, Mac (September 15, 2009). Our Noise: The Story of Merge Records, the Indie Label That Got Big and Stayed Small. Algonquin Books. p. 126. ISBN 9781565129689.
  3. ^ "Pop and Jazz Guide". The New York Times. July 23, 1999. Archived from the original on December 5, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  4. ^ Thompson, Erik (November 14, 2012). "The Magnetic Fields at First Avenue, 11/13/12". City Pages. Archived from the original on June 22, 2019. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Stosuy, Brandon (September 1, 2011). "Stephin Merritt: Obscurities Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  6. ^ "The Magnetic Fields". The House of Tomorrow. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  7. ^ Heaton, Dave (January 13, 2008). "The Magnetic Fields: Distortion". PopMatters. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  8. ^ Courtney, Kevin (May 2, 2012). "Magnetic Fields". The Irish Times. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  9. ^ Kellner, Amy (September 2, 1999). "Genius of Love". Time Out New York. Retrieved June 22, 2019.