Vic Chesnutt

Vic Chesnutt was a singer-songwriter from Georgia who began writing songs after being paralyzed by polio at age four. His debut album 'Little' came out in 1990 on Capitol Records, followed by records like 'The Salesman and Bernadette' and 'About to Choke' that developed a following for their direct, unadorned writing.

Songs like 'Flirted With You All My Life' and 'Naughty Fatalist' show how he worked with plain language and simple arrangements, often just voice and guitar. He recorded with musicians including Michael Stipe, Bill Frisell, and Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls, but the focus stayed on the writing itself.

Chesnutt struggled with depression and addiction, and in 2009 he survived a suicide attempt. He kept making records until his death later that year, leaving behind a catalog that feels private and exposed rather than crafted for an audience.