In 1990, Welton was born as Hannah Ford in
Louisville, Kentucky. In 2002, at the age of 12, Welton began playing professionally in her father's blues band in
Chicago. Welton continued her musical education with a scholarship at the
Chicago College of Performing Arts, studying in the Vocal Jazz Department as well as playing in the school's Latin Ensemble and Big Band Orchestra. The former Hannah Ford married Joshua Welton, who co-produced three Prince albums and guested with 3rdeyegirl performances on keyboard and cowbell.
With Prince and 3rdeyegirl In September 2012, Welton was recruited by
Prince as a guest drummer for the
Welcome 2 Chicago three-show residency after seeing videos of her performing online. Soon after, she appeared as lead drummer of the
New Power Generation for Prince's performance of his song,
Rock And Roll Love Affair on
Jimmy Kimmel Live!'s show on 23 October 2012, as well as in the official music video. Asked by Prince to look for a female guitarist, Hannah, together with her husband Joshua, scouted online and found
Donna Grantis via her videos on
YouTube in late November. She auditioned one week later at
Paisley Park Studios and was subsequently recruited in December 2012. Bassist
Ida Nielsen had been performing with The NPG since October 2010, and the only member of the trio to have previous experience playing for Prince. In December 2012,
3rdeyegirl were formed and went on to tour with Prince on his
Live Out Loud Tour in 2013, and his
Hit and Run Tour from 2014 to 2015. In 2013, Welton was offered a spot in
Prince's backing band
3rdeyegirl with guitarist
Donna Grantis and bassist
Ida Kristine Nielsen. Joshua Welton would also join the tours on percussion. He co-produced Prince's next two albums,
Art Official Age and
Hit n Run Phase One, and co-wrote most tracks on the latter. In 2013, along with Bellevue Suite, Welton released the album
This Far From Sanity (2013). In 2014, 3rdeyegirl released their first and only album,
Plectrumelectrum.
Other works In 2016, Prince died. ==Discography==