Emily Robison (nee Erwin) was born on August 16, 1972, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. She is the youngest of the three Erwin girls, and has proved to be a very talented musician. She and her sister, Martie, were both started on classical violin at a very early age. However, it was Martie that took to the violin, and Emily seemed to be more interested in other instruments, especially the banjo, which she picked up at the age of ten. She also taught herself to play acoustic guitar and dobro and can also play bass and accordion. Along with Martie and two other women, Emily founded the original Dixie Chicks band. Emily and the band have since been propelled to super-stardom, carried by the sisters' undeniable musical talent and the outstanding vocal abilities of Natalie Maines. The sisters have vowed to stay together no matter what, and have also guaranteed to stay true to their country roots.