Happy Birthday, Natalie Merchant! 🎶 What's one of your favorite 10,000 Maniacs songs or Merchant solo tunes? 🎶 Born in Jamestown, NY on October 26, 1963, Merchant grew up surrounded by music and began singing for the band Still Life in 1981. Shortly after they became 10,000 Maniacs and Merchant released 9 albums with them before leaving the band in 1993. As a solo artist She has released 9 studio albums and still tours regularly. Along with teaching arts & crafts to the underprivileged children in NY, Merchant released the digital album Cabinet of Wonder in August, a collaboration with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chicago Children’s Theatre, a collection of 17 songs and accompanying videos reimagining Mother Goose rhymes for a new generation.