Cheryl Wheeler
A folk singer whose wry, poignant songs about ordinary life and sharp social observations have quietly defined a generation of acoustic music.
Born 1951 (age 75)·American folk singer and songwriter·Birthday: July 10·Baby Boomers
Biography
Cheryl Wheeler emerged from the fertile New England folk scene of the 1970s, armed with a guitar, a clear, expressive voice, and a songwriter's eye for the details others miss. She didn't chase pop stardom but built a steadfast career through relentless touring and a deep connection with her audience. Her performances are legendary for their dynamic range, swinging from laugh-out-loud funny songs about potato bugs and grumpy neighbors to devastatingly tender ballads about love and loss. While her name might not headline stadiums, her influence is profound; her songs have been recorded by stars like Suzy Bogguss and Garth Brooks, weaving her perspective into the fabric of American music. Wheeler's thirteen albums form a chronicle of a thoughtful, often hilarious life lived off the mainstream grid, making her a beloved secret handshake among folk aficionados.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Cheryl was born in 1951, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Cheryl Was Born
The biggest hits of 1951
#1 Movie
Quo Vadis
Best Picture
An American in Paris
#1 TV Show
Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
Cheryl's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1951Born
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1956Started school
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1964Became a teenager
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1967Could drive
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1969Could vote
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1972Turned 21
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1981Turned 30
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1991Turned 40
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2001Turned 50
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 60
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 70
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 75 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Wrote 'Addicted', a top 10 country hit for Suzy Bogguss in 1993.
- Her song 'Aces' was famously covered by Garth Brooks, appearing on his multi-platinum album 'Ropin' the Wind'.
- Released over a dozen studio albums, maintaining a consistent and respected output in the folk genre since the late 1980s.
- Built a decades-long career primarily through extensive touring and direct engagement with live audiences across the United States.
Did You Know?
She is known for her hilarious and lengthy spoken-word introductions to songs during her live performances.
Wheeler is an avid gardener and often writes about nature and the outdoors.
She took a significant hiatus from recording in the 2000s, focusing on touring, before returning to the studio.
“I don't write songs to be hits. I write them because they're there.”
