About TRET FURE / Biography
Tret Fure began her career at the age of 16, singing in coffeehouses and campuses in the Midwest. At 19, she moved to LA in hopes of obtaining a record deal. Within a year she was performing as guitarist and vocalist for Spencer Davis, touring with him and penning the single for his album Mousetrap. She went on to record her own album Tret Fure in 1973, on MCA/UNI Records, with the late Lowell George of Little Feat as her producer. With the success of that release, she opened for such bands as Yes, Poco, and the J Geils Band.
A prolific artist in the contemporary singer-songwriter arena, Tret Fure has released 18 albums and CDs over the course of her 51-year career. Her new CD, Lavender Moonshine has just been released in late 2023. In addition to being a gifted songwriter, Fure has engineered and produced countless recordings by a variety of artists, including her own work.
In the early ’80s, Tret moved to the independent side of the industry discovering the blossoming genre known as Women’s Music. She recorded with and produced some of the best of women’s music including mixing the legendary Meg & Cris at Carnegie Hall (1983). She worked as a duo with Cris Williamson throughout the ’90s, producing, engineering and releasing three CDs together. Now after nine acoustic releases on her own label, Tomboy girl Records, she has re-established herself in the folk world.
Career Highlights
Some highlights from her career:
- 2023 – Tret was awarded the Phil Ochs Award in recognition of her music and her activism for social and political justice.
- 2022 – Finalist in the USA Songwriting Competition with Tret’s new song, “Home You Go”.
- 2021 – #1 song “Roses in November” from the CD Roses in November (2018) for the month of November in the FAI FOLK CHART.
- 2021 – #14 Album for the year with Stone by Stone. #9 song for the year with “Monuments” and #25 artist of the year.
- 2021 – 2nd place winner in A Still Small Voice 4U songwriting competition with the song “Louder Than the Guns”.
- 2021 – #1 song “Monuments” from the CD Stone by Stone (2020) for the month of February in the FAI FOLK CHART.
- 2020 – 1st place winner in A Still Small Voice 4U songwriting competition with her song “Monuments”.
- 2018 – #1 song “Lessons From Home Plate” from the CD Roses in November (2018) for the month of June in the FAI FOLK CHART.
- 2017 – 2nd place winner in the Musicians United to Protect Bristol Bay songwriting contest for her song “The Fishermen of Bristol Bay” (2015).
- 2015 – Rembrandt Afternoons (2015) was chosen by the acclaimed folk music show Midnight Special as their album of the week.
- 2011 – Winner of the Women in the Arts Phyllis Roark Memorial Award for Philanthropy.
- 2009 – Winner of the Women in the Arts Janine C Rae Award for the Advancement of Women’s Culture.
- 2009 – Voted Pride In The Arts Favorite Female/Lesbian Musician.
- 2004 – Winner of the South Florida Folk Festival Singer/Songwriter Competition in 2 out of 3 categories, Best Overall and Best Up-Tempo Song.
- 2004 – Winner of the Women in the Arts Jane Schliessman Award for Outstanding Contributions to Women’s Music.
- 1990 – Voted both Best Guitarist and Best Engineer in a Reader’s Choice poll in Hot Wire: The Journal of Women’s Music & Culture.
In addition to touring and recording, Tret teaches guitar and songwriting individually and in workshop settings. She paints pet portraits on commission and, an accomplished cook, Fure has also published a cookbook, Tret’s Kitchen, featuring her own recipes. Along with bridging the marketing, production, music and art worlds, Tret served for 6 years as President of Local 1000, The Traveling Musicians Association – a union geared toward helping traveling musicians find security and longevity.
Tret is truly a Renaissance Woman!
