Melissa Lou Etheridge is an American rock singer-songwriter, guitarist, and a gay and lesbian activist. Born to John Etheridge and Elizabeth Williamson, she grew up in Leavenworth, Kansas. She began playing the guitar at the age of eight. After graduating from high school, she attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. She performed in lesbian bars around Los Angeles, and caught the attention of Island Records chief Chris Blackwell. The following years saw her bring out a line of albums and hit singles. She has won two Grammy awards from fifteen nominations. Her first album, “Melissa Etheridge” contained the single, “Bring Me Some Water” which earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female as did “Brave and Crazy”. She received her first Grammy for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female for her single “Ain’t It Heavy” from her album “Never Enough”. The album “Yes I Am” spawned the hits “Come to My Window” which earned her a second Grammy for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female, and “I’m the Only One”, nominated for Best Rock Song. “Your Little Secret” was moderately successful. Her album “Breakdown” was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Album. Her other albums are “Skin”, “Lucky”, “Fearless Love”, and the most recent “4th Street Feeling”.