Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

PJ Harvey

Role / Field:

English singer-songwriter known for raw, evocative vocals and complex musical arrangements.

Born:

1969-10-09

Century / Era:

1969s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Polly Jean Harvey (born 9 October 1969) is an English singer and songwriter. Primarily known as a vocalist and guitarist, she is also proficient with a wide range of instruments. Harvey began her career in 1988 when she joined local band Automatic Dlamini as a vocalist, guitarist and saxophonist. The band's frontman, John Parish, is still her long-term collaborator.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

In 1991, she formed a trio called PJ Harvey and this began her career as PJ Harvey. The trio released two studio albums called Dry (1992) and Rid of Me (1993) before disbanding, after which Harvey continued as a solo artist. Since 1995, she has released a further ten studio albums with collaborations from various musicians including Parish, former bandmate Rob Ellis, Mick Harvey, and Eric Drew Feldman, and has also worked extensively with record producer Flood. Among the accolades Harvey has received are both the 2001 and 2011 Mercury Prize for Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea (2000) and Let England Shake (2011), respectively, making her the only artist to have been awarded the prize twice. She has also received a BAFTA Award, eight Brit Award nominations, eight Grammy Award nominations and two further Mercury...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Adam Gilchrist — Contemporary (Born in 1969) (1969): Legendary Australian cricketer, redefining the wicket-keeper-batsman role with aggressive flair.
• Adam Riess — Contemporary (Born in 1969) (1969): Astrophysicist known for evidence of accelerating universe expansion via supernovae.
• Adrian Goldsworthy — Contemporary (Born in 1969) (1969): Prominent British historian specializing in the military aspects of Roman antiquity.
• Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan — Shared historical date (10-09 · Died) (705): Fifth Umayyad Caliph who consolidated Islamic rule and reformed the state.
• Aileen Wuornos — Shared historical date (10-09 · Died) (2002): American serial killer known for murdering seven male clients in Florida.
• Alexander McQueen — Historical peer (Born in 1969) (1969): Iconic British fashion designer known for theatrical, boundary-pushing collections.
• Ali Daei — Historical peer (Born in 1969) (1969): Legendary Iranian striker, celebrated for his prolific goal-scoring record in Asian football.
• Abdul Basit 'Abd us-Samad — Historical peer (Died in 1988) (1988): Renowned Egyptian Quran reciter, celebrated for his melodious and emotionally engaging style.
• Abdul Ghaffar Khan — Historical peer (Died in 1988) (1988): Pioneering nonviolent activist and founder of the Khudai Khidmatgar movement.
• Abby Stein — Historical peer (Born in 1991) (1991): Israeli-American author, rabbi, and activist who speaks on faith and gender identity.
• 1969 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1969
• October 9 (10-09) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on October 9

Frequently Asked Questions about PJ Harvey