Erin Kathleen Hill is an American harpist, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and actress. Her Celtic album hit #1 on the Billboard World Music Chart and she has played and sung with Kanye West, Cyndi Lauper, Moby, Sinéad O'Connor, Enya, a-ha, Randy Newman, Jewel, Josh Groban, and many other celebrities, as well as Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, and for royalty.
As an actress, she has appeared on Broadway, film, and television, most notably as the Pretty White Girl Who Sings Dave's Thoughts on Comedy Central's Chappelle's Show. She originated the roles of Kate Mullins in Titanic on Broadway, and of Lulu in the Sam Mendes/Rob Marshall revival of Cabaret and appears on both Original Broadway Cast recordings. She played Sandra Mescal in the Tim Robbins film Cradle Will Rock and appears on the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. She is an actor, composer and screenwriter in the film Clear Blue Tuesday, about which The New York Times said: "Erin Hill, as a giddy, harp-playing Trekker, stands out… The best and funniest scene in the film is Ms. Hill's".
The Los Angeles record label Cleopatra Records has released three of Hill's albums, starting with Harp Town in 2016. Harp Town features Hill's harp and voice arrangements of songs by artists such as Rihanna, Radiohead, The Beatles, Sinatra, Leonard Cohen, Edith Piaf, Adele, Lady Gaga, Smashing Pumpkins, Kansas, Alicia Keys, Roxy Music, and Kate Bush. Cleopatra also released Hill's album Christmas Harp, and her album of originals, Girl Inventor.
Hill is an avid science fiction fan and a regular performer at Dragon Con in Atlanta, and her "Lookout, Science" and "Giant Mushrooms" music videos were featured in the Dragon Con Independent Film Festival. USA Today premiered her sci-fi music video "Lookout, Science". Her westie dog MacLeod (named for the main character in the film Highlander) is a frequent co-star in her music videos. Her three electric harps are named V’ger (from Star Trek), Klaatu (from The Day the Earth Stood Still), and Ylla (from The Martian Chronicles).
Hill was featured in an HBO Game of Thrones promo, playing the Game of Thrones theme on her harp. She won an Independent Music Award for her song "Stun," from her Girl Inventor album. and she did Original Music and Sound Design for the Drama Desk Award-nominated That Play: a Solo Macbeth. Hill is also the voice and harp behind Tafne, a central character in the Android video game The Legacy of Barubash. Hill has also played her harp several years for the US Open Tennis Championships in the exclusive Hospitality Pavilion. Newsday has called her "the dangerously enjoyable Erin Hill."
In 2019, she debuted her show “Harp Oddity: The Music of David Bowie,” featuring Hill's arrangements of Bowie tunes on vocals and electric harp, along with her band.
Discography
I'm So Glad by Erin Hill (March 2019) Gridley Records. Erin Hill: songwriter, vocals, harp, percussion Pirate Jane (feat. Erin Hill) by The Peter Ulrich Collaboration (March 2018) City Canyons. Erin Hill: vocals, bass. Girl Inventor by Erin Hill (July 2017) Cleopatra. Erin Hill: songwriter, vocals, harp, keyboards, bass. Christmas Harp by Erin Hill (October 2016) Cleopatra. Erin Hill: vocals, harp, arrangements. Harp Town by Erin Hill (May 2016) Cleopatra. Erin Hill: vocals, harp, arrangements. Tempus Fugitives by The Peter Ulrich Collaboration (April 2015) City Canyons. Erin Hill: songwriter, vocals, harp, bass. Dark Daddy (feat. Erin Hill) by The Peter Ulrich Collaboration (November 2014) City Canyons. Erin Hill: songwriter, vocals, harp, bass. World of Nickhoo by The Dream Jam Band (April 2014) Dream Jam Productions. Erin Hill: vocals, harp Let It Snow by Jewel (September 2013) Somerset Group, Ltd. Erin Hill: harp Clear Blue Tuesday (Soundtrack for the Original Musical Movie) (August 2010) by Various Artists. Sh-K-Boom Records. Erin Hill: songwriter, vocals, harp, bass. Leave it in the Soup (July 2010) by The Dream Jam Band. Dream Jam Productions, EMI. Produced by Rick Chertoff. Erin Hill: songwriter, vocals, bass, harp, keyboards; arranger on Shoes, co-producer on Melanie the Mermaid Four Leaf Clover by Four Celtic Voices with Celeste Ray & Erin Hill (2009) Gridley Records. Erin Hill: songwriter, vocals, harp, bass. Vapor by Taylor Barton with Wicked Felina (2006) Green Mirror. Produced by G.E. Smith. Erin Hill: co-writer, vocals, harp, guitar, keyboards, hammered dulcimer. The Fantasticks (2006) Ghostlight Records/ Razor and Tie. The new Off-Broadway recording. Erin Hill: harpist. Martha Wainwright by Martha Wainwright (2005) Zoe Records. Erin Hill: harpist. Pyjama Party by Frederic Buchet (2005) Gridley Records. Erin Hill: producer, co-writer, vocals, harp, accordion, hammered dulcimer, analog synths. Frost as Desired by Erin Hill (2002) Gridley Records. Erin Hill: songwriter, vocals, guitars, harp, synths. I See a Great City by Clan Chi (2002) Crisnjoco. Erin Hill: vocalist Pretty Flowers by The Buddy Scott Trio (2002) Gridley Records. Erin Hill: vocals, executive producer. Great Musicals by Various Artists (2001) RCA, BMG Entertainment. Erin Hill: vocals. Cradle Will Rock (1999) RCA. Motion picture soundtrack, directed by Tim Robbins. Erin Hill: vocals. Cabaret (1998) RCA. The new Broadway cast recording, directed by Sam Mendes. Erin Hill: vocals, harp, flute, saxophone. Night of the Hunter (1998) Varèse Sarabande. Erin Hill: vocals. Titanic (1997) RCA Victor. The Original Broadway Cast Recording. Erin Hill: vocals. Honkytonk Highway (1996) Original Cast Recording. Erin Hill: vocals, harp, fiddle, lap steel, guitar, bass, percussion, keyboards, saxophone.
Filmography
Year Film Role Notes 2013 A Day in the Wife Jenna directed by Katie Pawluk 2013 Jerome's Bouquet Good Samaritan #1 directed by Chris Calkins, Bebe Neuwirth 2009 Clear Blue Tuesday Etta Cummins also screenwriter and composer 2009 Red Hook Westie Girl uncredited 2000 Loser Dancer / Lulu uncredited 1999 Cradle Will Rock Sandra Mescal directed by Tim Robbins 1993 24 Frames per Second Susan Tiptree CINE Eagle Award, IAC Gold
Television
Year Title Role Notes2019The Today Show herselfharpist & singer for Meghan Markle2019Good Morning America herselfharpist & singer for Meghan Markle2018Articulate (TV Series)herself – singer, duet with Taylor Macepisode: The Wildest Dreamers 2018Million Dollar Listing New York (TV Series)harpist2015Don't Touch Me, Bro harpist2008The Sunny Side Up ShowErin the Redepisode: Chica's Big Birthday Surprise!2007Live Earth: The Concerts for a Climate Crisisherselfharpist for Kanye West2007Education of Kanye Part 1herselfharpist2007Education of Kanye Part 2herselfharpist2007106 Park & Liveherselfharpist for Kanye West2007MTV Total Request Liveherselfharpist for Kanye West2007American MastersRose of Sharonepisode: Novel Reflections: The American Dream2006Christmas in Rockefeller Centerherselfbackup singer for Enya2004Who Wants to Be a Millionaireherself2 episodes2004Broadway the American MusicalSandra Mescalepisode: I Got Plenty o' Nuttin': 1929–19422003Chappelle's Show Pretty White Lady SingingEpisode 1.2, also wrote the music for the skit1998Late Show with David LettermanLulu1998The 52nd Annual Tony AwardsLuluoriginal Broadway cast of Cabaret1998The Rosie O'Donnell Showherself2 episodes199760 Minutesherself/The Devil's Bride in Randy Newman's Faustepisode: TV Land Legends: The 60 Minutes Interviews1997Macy's 21st Annual Fourth of July Fireworks SpectacularKate Mullins1997The 51st Annual Tony AwardsKate Mullinsoriginal Broadway cast of Titanic 1992 Another World Annie appeared in 7 episodes
Stage
Broadway
Year Production Role Notes2001UrinetownHope, Little Sally (understudy)Henry Miller Theater, original cast1998CabaretLuluRoundabout, Henry Miller Theater, original cast, directed by Sam Mendes1997TitanicKate MullinsLunt-Fontanne, original cast
Off-Broadway and regional theater
Year Production Role Notes2026I'm Almost There BAM | I'm Almost ThereHarpist, VocalistBrooklyn Academy of Music2013A Midsummer Night's DreamFirst Fairy/Robin StarvelingClassic Stage Company, starring Bebe Neuwirth, Anthony Heald, Christina Ricci2010Lincoln Center's South PacificHarpist, Rehearsal Pianist1st National Tour (Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle, Toronto, etc.)2010Lil's 90thMusical DirectorLong Wharf Theater, starring Lois Smith2008Lil's 90thDeirdreSundance Theater Lab, starring Lois Smith2006The FantasticksHarpistThe Jerry Orbach Theater, Snapple Theater Center, the Off-Broadway revival2006The Difficulty of Crossing a FieldMrs. WilliamsonRidge Theater, Alexander Kasser Theater opera2004People Are Wrong!TeriVineyard Theatre2002When It's Cocktail Time in CubaAnyaCherry Lane Theatre2001LargoLeilaNew York Stage and Film, also starring Cyndi Lauper, Fisher Stevens2000Spring AwakeningIlseSundance Theater Lab2000Night GovernessChloeMcCarter Theater, world premiere1999A Little Night MusicPetraRepertory Theatre of St. Louis, Great Lakes Theater Festival1996Between the SheetsLillyPlaywright's Collective, world premiere, by Eduardo Machado1995Randy Newman's FaustThe Devil's BrideGoodman Theater, La Jolla Playhouse, and American Place Theater (Lincoln Center workshop)1994RentBrenda, Blockbuster Woman, studentNew York Theatre Workshop1994Night of the HunterRubyVineyard Theatre1993Honkytonk HighwayJenine-KateDon't Tell Mama, Goodspeed-at-Chester, won Bistro Award
Screenwriter
(2010) Fade to White (2009) Clear Blue Tuesday
Soundtrack (film and television) Jes and Lora (Short) (2015) performer: "I'm So Glad", writer: "I'm So Glad" That's What She Told Me (2011) composer. writer: "The Jubilation," "Silver Feet," "No Other You." performer: "The Jubilation", "Silver Feet" Clear Blue Tuesday (2009) writer, performer: "Prologue", "Reckless". co-writer: "Move High" A Mock Time: A Star Trek Wedding (2007) writer: "Intro: Mock's Brain" and "Main Theme: The Bridegroom of Gothos" The Shabbos Bigfoot (2006) writer: "Waking Up and No Other You". Performer: "Waking Up and No Other You" American Desi (2001) writer: "Lolita (Lo and Behold)". "Performer: Lolita (Lo and Behold)" $pent (2000) writer: "Do it Yourself". Performer: "Do it Yourself" Bad Bride (2000) (TV) writer, performer: "Waking Up". So, What's in Jericho? (1999) performer: "Precious Memories" Cradle Will Rock (1999) performer: "Let's Do Something", "The Cradle Will Rock", "Honolulu", "Oh What a Filthy Night Court", "Art for Art's Sake" The 52nd Annual Tony Awards (1998) (TV) performer: "Willkommen" Macy's 21st Annual Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular (1997) (TV) "performer: Lady's Maid" The 51st Annual Tony Awards (1997) (TV) "performer: Ship of Dreams"
References
External links