Photo. Kate Campbell

Kate Campbell, a talented singer-songwriter, crafts music that beautifully captures the spirit of Southern culture, history, and storytelling. Born in Louisiana and raised in Mississippi and Tennessee, she is the proud daughter of a Southern Baptist minister. Her upbringing immersed her in the South's rich tapestry of complexities, charms, and struggles. These experiences, coupled with her faith, have shaped her academic and artistic journey, deeply influencing her songwriting.

After high school, Campbell enrolled at Samford University, where she studied music and history. After graduating from Samford in 1983, she pursued a master’s degree in history at Auburn University, studying under highly regarded Southern historian and fellow Samford alum, Wayne Flynt. Her academic background enriches her music, as she weaves a historian's perspective into her music, blending historical narratives with her lyrics. She often incorporates whimsy and humor, adding a captivating dimension to her storytelling.

In 2008, she donated her personal papers to Samford’s Special Collection department. Her collection includes music, news articles, and journals from her time as a student at Samford throughout her songwriting career. In one journal, she notes that one of her freshmen classes was cancelled due to low enrollment, allowing her time to get a job at the Davis Library, earning $3.10 an hour, the minimum wage in 1980. Later, she worked for Vice President and Dean of Students, Martha Ann Cox, in a prestigious role that was offered to only select students.

Image. Handwritten lyrics, Jesus and Tomatoes

Her song Jesus and Tomatoes (listen on YouTube) is a charming example of one of her songs that blends humor with deeper themes. The song tells the story of a tomato that grew with a divine image, drawing attention from the community.

Over the years, Campbell has returned to Birmingham and Samford to share her stories and songs. In 2008, during Samford's homecoming, she and Wayne Flynt performed Live at the Library. During the library event, Dr. Flynt read a passage from To Kill a Mockingbird, by another notable Alabamian. Campbell then performed her song Sorrowfree (listen on YouTube), which was inspired by the characters and themes from the novel.