b. 26 May 1957, San Francisco, California, USA. From early childhood Olsen took an interest in music, learning to play piano and guitar and also singing. As time passed, she added numerous other instruments, including dulcimer, piano, steel guitar, concertina and saxophones. Her musical taste proved to be eclectic, but she especially favoured folk music and the blues, with here and there some light, jazzy touches. After relocating to Los Angeles in the mid-80s, Olsen began to be more widely heard and appreciated. In 1985, she visited Texas where she won a songwriting competition at the Kerrville Folk Festival with a song for battered women, "I'm Keeping This Life Of Mine". It was at this festival that she encountered Michelle Shocked, with whom she made her first appearance on record (Short Sharp Shocked). Through the late 80s and into the 90s, Olsen developed her audience base throughout North America and also toured internationally.

Listen to Kristina Olsen at Finetune.

• (1997)  Live From Around The World
• (1995)  Hurry On Home

• Hard Day Yesterday
• I Don't Care What You Say
• I Just Want You To Hold Me
• In My Arms
• Better Than TV

• Carrie Newcomer
• Nanci Griffith
• Loudon Wainwright III
• Bruce Cockburn
• John Gorka
• Rory Block
• Lucinda Williams
• Sarah McLachlan
• Dave Van Ronk
• David Massengill
• Donovan
• Frank Christian
• Christine Lavin
• Freedy Johnston
• Kristen Hall
• Laura Love
• Leonard Cohen
• Pierce Pettis
• Si Kahn
• Ron Sexsmith

• Gubre
• stan58