Soozie TyrellViolin • Vocals • Acoustic Guitar
Tyrell is best known most for her warm, scene-setting violin, which became an integral and full-time supplement to the E Street Band with the release of The Rising in 2002. Born in Pisa, Italy to a military father, Tyrell crisscrossed the globe as a youngster, investing herself in music before eventually settling in New York City. Her first spin in the E Street orbit came when she formed the group Trickster with Lisa Lowell and Patti Scialfa and in 1980, she began performing with Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. She spent the ’80s leading her own country band and working with David Johansen’s alter ego Buster Poindexter; yes, that’s her on “Hot Hot Hot.”
Tyrell’s first appearance on a Springsteen album came with Lucky Town, where she contributed backing vocals, and since then she’s appeared on every one of Springsteen’s eleven studio albums—including the non-E Street records. But it was with The Rising that her violin became one of the band’s focal points, particularly on such tracks (and live staples) as “Waitin’ on a Sunny Day” and “Lonesome Day.”
Tyrell was also part of the We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions album and tour band in 2006, making her one of a few E Street members to appear in both groups. Since then—on the Magic, Working on a Dream, Wrecking Ball, High Hopes, and The River tours—she could be found onstage for every number, playing acoustic guitar in addition to violin, and singing some featured duet parts.
Over the years Tyrell has also performed with Sheryl Crow, Shawn Colvin, Train, Elvis Costello, and Scialfa. She released her solo debut, White Lines, in 2003 and in 2014, she was featured on the compilation Songs from a Stolen Spring, which paired Western musicians with counterparts from the countries where the Arab Spring occurred.
Tyrell was also part of the We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions album and tour band in 2006, making her one of a few E Street members to appear in both groups. Since then—on the Magic, Working on a Dream, Wrecking Ball, High Hopes, and The River tours—she could be found onstage for every number, playing acoustic guitar in addition to violin, and singing some featured duet parts.
Over the years Tyrell has also performed with Sheryl Crow, Shawn Colvin, Train, Elvis Costello, and Scialfa. She released her solo debut, White Lines, in 2003 and in 2014, she was featured on the compilation Songs from a Stolen Spring, which paired Western musicians with counterparts from the countries where the Arab Spring occurred.