Indigo Girls

The Indigo Girls (Amy Ray and Emily Sailers) are an award-winning folk-rock duo. They met in elementary school and began performing together while in high school as a cover band at parties and talent shows. Eventually the two reconnected at Emory University (after a brief separation while attending different colleges) and began writing original music, releasing a six-track EP in 1985. Their first full-length album Strange Fire followed in 1987.

After signing with Epic Records in 1988, their eponymous sophomore album arrived the following year, featuring their first Hot 100 hit (and signature song) “Closer To Fine”. Within seven months, the album was certified gold by the RIAA so Epic rushed to re-release Strange Fire, adding a cover of the 1960s Youngbloods hit “Get Together” that was featured on the television show The Wonder Years.

As of 2013, the Indigo Girls had been nominated for several Grammy awards (winning one) and sold over 7 million records, with six of their albums being certified gold or above. They are also known for their activism in many social and political concerns like Native American land rights, environmental issues, gun safety, death penalty abolishment, and gay and lesbian rights.