Inheriting her affinity for language and love of music from her father, published poet and professor Miller Williams, country/blues artist Lucinda Williams [ tickets ] began writing at age 6, and started learning guitar six years later. By age 17, she performed her first live show with banjo player and friend Clark Jones.

Taking inspiration from Joan Baez [ tickets ] as well as Leonard Cohen [ tickets ] and Hank Williams [ tickets ], the young musician performed regularly by age 20. It would take two decades for her to find mainstream success--despite attention from insiders like Steve Earle [ tickets ], Emmylou Harris [ tickets ] and Tom Petty [ tickets ]. Critics finally took notice in 1994, after her single "Passionate Kisses" won a Grammy Award for Best Country Song. In 1998, Williams had her biggest breakthrough with the Grammy winning "Car Wheels On A Gravel Road," which went gold.

Williams currently is wrapping up roadwork in support of latest album, "Little Honey," with shows planned for Sunday and Monday (11/16-17) at San Francisco's Fillmore. LiveDaily’s Tim Mosenfelder was at Southern California's Stagecoach festival in the spring of 2007 and caught Williams' set; here are some photos of the artist in action.