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Anne Murray

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Pop/country singer

Anne Murray is one of Canada’s most successful vocalists. She scored her first hit in 1970 with "Snowbird," which made her the first Canadian woman ever to sell one million copies of a song. Murray has since had many other smashes on both the country and pop charts, including "Danny’s Song" and "You Needed Me," and her long and fruitful career has also yielded her twenty-two Juno Awards, four Grammy Awards, and three awards from the Country Music Association.

Murray was born Morna Anne Murray on June 20,1945, in Springhill, Nova Scotia, Canada. The daughter of a doctor and a nurse, and the only girl in a family of six, she had a happy childhood except for the trauma of mining disasters which occasionally devastated Springhill. "It was horrifying," Murray recalled for Edwin Miller of Seventeen. "Many of my girlfriends had their fathers killed. Just standing at the pit head, waiting for days on end for them to find people. You’re not aware of it at the time, but it has a profound effect on you. Growing up in that environment made me fairly strong."

Murray’s smalltown Canadian environment also drove her to entertain herself with music. "After a long winter," she confided to Miller, "people are ready to slash their wrists waiting for spring. … The people along the entire coast amuse themselves singing." Her parents recognized her talent during family sing-alongs, and paid for approximately eight years of piano lessons and three years of voice training. Murray had to travel one hundred miles every Saturday to get to her singing teacher. Of course, like most young people of her generation, she also listened to the radio. Her influences ranged from Rosemary Clooney to Odetta, from Dusty Springfield and Peter, Paul and Mary to Buddy Holly and the Beatles.

But as a teenager Murray did not have enough faith in her vocal abilities to depend upon them for her livelihood, and after graduating from high school she decided to enter college to become a physical education teacher. While earning her bachelor’s degree from the University of New Brunswick, however, she auditioned for a Canadian summer replacement television program called "Sing-Along Jamboree." She came close to winning a spot in the show’s chorus, but the producers decided they already had enough altos. Two years later, though, when Murray had already taken a job as a high-school gym teacher on Prince Edward Island, Bill Langstroth, the host of "Sing-Along," urged her to try out again. By 1967 she was a regular soloist on the show, and quickly "became Canada’s country music sweetheart," in the words of Bob Levin of Maclean’s.

Murray appeared barefoot and sang country and folk-flavored tunes, and Canadian fans warmed to her

strong voice and wholesome image. In 1968 she recorded an album on the Canadian label Arc.

Brian Ahern, one of the producers of "Sing-Along," believed Murray could be successful on an international level as well, and he encouraged her to seek a recording contract with a label that had a U.S. affiliate. Capitol of Canada met those requirements and was eager to sign the young singer. Her first two albums for them were sufficiently well-received in Canada, but did not get much attention in the United States. But "Snowbird," a song written by another "Sing-Along" regular and recorded as the B-side of what they thought would provide a hit for Murray, brought her to the notice of U.S. audiences. It raced up both the pop and country charts in 1970, and Murray was an international star. Ironically, "Snowbird" brought Murray controversy as well. "Some people called it a drug song!" she exclaimed to Miller. "I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t even know what cocaine was! A guy wrote it because he was walking alone on a beach in the spring and there was snow around and birds."

Though Murray continued her efforts after "Snowbird," she went for three years without another major hit. Her fears of being a "one-hit wonder" were greatly alleviated when "Danny’s Song," written by the songwriting team of Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina—also veterans of "Sing-Along"—proved successful with both pop and country audiences in 1973. The following year, she scored with another Loggins and Messina tune, "Love Song." Even with these triumphs, however, Murray was becoming frustrated with her career. Attempts to spice up her image and give her a more sophisticated appeal went nowhere, and in 1975 she went into semi-retirement after marrying former "Sing-Along" host Bill Langstroth. In 1976, Murray gave birth to her first child, William; a daughter, Dawn, followed three years later.

But while she concentrated on starting a family, Murray also did some studio work, and recorded what is perhaps her biggest hit, "You Needed Me." The song’s phenomenal success encouraged Murray to return to the limelight after its 1978 release—it netted her both a Juno and a Grammy for best female pop vocalist. With the awards came a new self-confidence. Murray admitted to Christopher Petkanas in High Fidelity that at first she was daunted by her fellow 1978 Grammy nominees—stars such as Donna Summer, Olivia Newton-John, Carly Simon, and Barbra Streisand—and asked herself "What the hell am I doing in this category? Those singers are in show business." But the Canadian songstress finally came to terms with her own abilities. "I listened to my performance [on ’You Needed Me’]," she told Petkanas, "and realized that I can sing as well as the next girl."

Since the breakthrough of "You Needed Me," Murray has produced a flurry of pop and country smashes, including 1979’s "Shadows in the Moonlight," "I Just Fall in Love Again," and "Broken-Hearted Me" and 1980’s remake of the Monkees’ "Daydream Believer," and "Could I Have This Dance," a single from the film Urban Cowboy. Her concerts continue to attract large crowds in both Canada and the United States, even though she tries to schedule her appearances and recording sessions to allow her at least four days a week with her husband and children. In 1986, Murray again went for a more sophisticated pop sound with the album Something to Talk About —as she concluded for Levin, "I’m doing what I think is right…. I want to reach as many people as I can."

Selected discography

Singles; on Capitol Records
"Snowbird," 1970.
"Cotton Jenny," 1972.

"What About Me?" 1973.
"Send a Little Love My Way," 1973.
"Danny’s Song," 1973.
"You Won’t See Me," 1974.
"Love Song," 1974.
"Just One Look," 1974.
"He Thinks I Don’t Care," 1974.
"Son of a Rotten Gambler," 1974.
"Things," 1976.
"Walk Right Back," 1978.
"You Needed Me," 1978.
"I Just Fall in Love Again," 1979.
"Shadows in the Moonlight," 1979.
"Broken-Hearted Me," 1979.
"Could I Have This Dance?" 1980.
"Daydream Believer," 1980.
"I’m Happy Just to Dance With You," 1980.
"It’s All I Can Do," 1981.
"Now and Forever (You and Me)," 1986.
Also recorded singles "Another Sleepless Night," "Just Another Woman in Love," and "A Little Good News."

Albums; on Capitol Records
Snowbird, 1970.
Anne Murray, 1971.
Talk It Over in the Morning, 1971.
Annie, 1972.
Love Song, 1974.
Country, 1974.
Highly Prized Possession, 1974.
Together, 1975.
Keeping in Touch, 1976.
Let’s Keep It That Way, 1978.
New Kind of Feeling, 1979.
I’ll Always Love You, 1980.
A Country Collection, 1980.
Anne Murray’s Greatest Hits, 1980.
Where Do You Go When You Dream, 1981.
Something to Talk About, 1986.
Anne Murray’s Greatest Hits, Vol. 2, 1989.

Sources
Maclean’s, October 20, 1980, April 7, 1986.
People, December 17, 1979.
Seventeen, April 1980.
AMG AllMusic Guide: Pop Artists:

Anne Murray

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  • Genres: Country

Biography

Nova Scotia-born Anne Murray built her musical influences from the pop sounds that her parents listened to (Rosemary Clooney, Perry Como) and the Top 40 sounds that AM New York radio stations piped into Canada (Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, Brenda Lee). Originally she intended to work as a physical education instructor, but she continued to pursue an interest in music. After she was turned down for a spot on a national TV show called Singalong Jubilee, she received a call from the show's producer two years later. He offered her a chance to make records, and when she agreed, she found herself with a million-selling crossover single in 1970, "Snowbird." Murray was frequently at odds with the trappings of success -- she even performed barefoot in Las Vegas -- and when she got married in 1975, she seemingly dropped out of the business. With her family established, she started working in 1978 with a new producer, Jim Ed Norman, who returned her to prominence with "Walk Right Back" and the million-selling follow-up, "You Needed Me." Throughout the late '70s and early '80s, Murray successfully walked the line between country and pop with a rich alto voice and a knack for romantic material.

As a child in Nova Scotia, music was always one of Murray's hobbies. While she was enrolled at the University of New Brunswick studying physical education, she auditioned for a spot on the Halifax-based weekly CBC television series, Singalong Jubilee, but she wasn't hired because they already had an alto singer. Following the rejection, Murray graduated from college and began teaching physical education at the high-school level. Two years after the initial Singalong Jubilee audition, the show's producer, Bill Langstroth, called her with the information that a new television show, Let's Go, needed an altoist. After some persuasion, Murray agreed to join the program, although she did not give up her teaching job. For the next four years, she sang on Let's Go, eventually striking up a professional relationship with the program's musical director, Brian Ahern.

Murray began her career as a recording artist in 1968. Early that year, she was still teaching when she received a call from Ahern, asking her to record for the independent label Arc. Accepting the offer, Murray recorded and released her debut album, What About Me, that year. The record was well-received and popular for an independent album, thereby earning the attention of Capitol Records, whose Canadian division signed her to a long-term contract in 1969. The following year, her debut single for the label, "Snowbird," became an international hit, reaching the Top Ten on both the country and pop charts in America, while reaching the British Top 40. Following the success of "Snowbird," Murray moved to Los Angeles, where she began to regularly appear on Glen Campbell's syndicated television show. However, she didn't like the Californian lifestyle, and she quickly returned to Canada.

Over the course of 1971, it looked like "Snowbird" would be Murray's only big hit, since none of her follow-up singles gained much attention; only "A Stranger in My Place" cracked the Top 40. A cover of Gordon Lightfoot's "Cotton Jenny" in early 1972 returned her to the higher regions of the country Top 40, peaking at number 11, while its follow-up, "Danny's Song," became a Top Ten hit on both the pop and country charts in early 1973. Following two minor country hits, she returned to the Top Ten early in 1974 with "Love Song." The single was followed by two Top Ten country hits -- the number one "He Thinks I Still Care" and "Son of a Rotten Gambler." Following those two success, Murray spent a number of years struggling to crack either the pop or country Top 40; during this time, she concentrated on raising a family (she married Bill Langstroth and had a son) more than her musical career.

Murray entered her period of greatest commercial success in 1978, as a cover of "Walk Right Back" climbed to number four on the country charts, followed shortly afterward by "You Need Me," her biggest hit since "Songbird"; the single reached number four on the country charts and topped the pop charts, going gold by the end of the year. For the next eight years, she had a virtually uninterrupted string of Top Ten country hits, highlighted by nine number one hits: "I Just Fall in Love Again" (1979), "Shadows in the Moonlight" (1979), "Broken Hearted Me" (1979), "Could I Have This Dance" (1980), "Blessed Are the Believers" (1981), "A Little Good News" (1983), "Just Another Woman in Love" (1984), "Nobody Loves Me Like You Do" (1984), and "Now and Forever (You and Me)" (1986). Murray prospered during the era of urban cowboy, since her music drew as much from pop and easy listening as it did from country.

Murray's sales began to decline in the latter half of the '80s, primarily due to the shifting tastes of the country audience, which was beginning to seek out harder-edged new traditionalist performers. Nevertheless, she maintained a dedicated following during the late '80s and '90s through her occasional recordings ("Feed This Fire" became a surprise Top Ten hit in the summer of 1990) and her concerts. Murray recorded her first live album in 1997 and released What a Wonderful World in 1999. Five years later, she released I'll Be Seeing You in Canada; the album arrived in the United States as All of Me in 2005. Murray returned in 2007 with Duets: Friends and Legends. ~ Tom Roland, Rovi
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Anne Murray

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For other people named Anne Murray, see Anne Murray (disambiguation).
Anne Murray

Murray in the 1970s
Background information
Birth name Morna Anne Murray
Born (1945-06-20) June 20, 1945 (age 66)
Springhill, Nova Scotia, Canada
Origin University of New Brunswick
Genres Country, pop, adult contemporary
Occupations Singer
Instruments Vocals, guitar
Years active 1968 – present
Labels Arc, Capitol, Captiol Nashville Liberty, SBK, EMI Canada, Straight Way, Manhattan
Website annemurray.com

Morna Anne Murray CC ONS (born June 20, 1945) is a multiple award-winning Canadian singer in pop, country and adult contemporary music whose albums have sold over 54 million copies.[1][2][3]

Murray was the first Canadian female solo singer to reach #1 on the U.S. charts, and also the first to earn a Gold record for one of her signature songs, "Snowbird" (1970).[4] She is often cited as the woman who paved the way for other Canadian international success stories such as Céline Dion, Sarah McLachlan and Shania Twain.[5][6] She is also the first woman and the first Canadian to win "Album of the Year" at the Country Music Association Awards for her 1984 album A Little Good News.

Murray has received four Grammy Awards, 24 Juno Awards (she holds the record for the most Junos awarded to an artist), three American Music Awards, three Country Music Association Awards and three Canadian Country Music Association Awards. She has been inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, the Juno Hall of Fame, The Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Hit Parade Hall of Fame. She is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame Walkway of Stars in Nashville, and has her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles and on Canada's Walk of Fame in Toronto.[7]

In 2011, Billboard ranked her number 10 on their list of the 50 Biggest AC Artists Ever.[8]

Contents

Early life

Morna Anne Murray was born June 20, 1945, in the coal-mining town of Springhill, Nova Scotia. Her father, James Carson Murray, was the town doctor and her mother, Marion Margaret Murray, was a registered nurse who focused her life on raising her family and community charity work. Murray was raised as the only girl in a family of five brothers - David, Daniel, Harold, Stewart and Bruce.[9]

After expressing an early interest in music, she studied piano for six years; by age fifteen, she began taking voice lessons. Every Saturday morning, she took a bus ride from Springhill to Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia, for her singing lesson with her teacher, Karen Mills. One of Murray's earliest performances was of the religious song "Ave Maria" at her high school graduation in 1962.[10]

Following high school, Murray attended Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax for one year. She later studied Physical Education at University of New Brunswick in Fredericton. After receiving her degree in 1966,[11] Murray taught physical education at a high school in Summerside, Prince Edward Island for one year.

Murray married Bill Langstroth on June 20, 1975, and gave birth to two children: William, in 1976, and the better-known of her children, Dawn Langstroth, in 1979, a singer/songwriter and artist who has recorded with her mother a number of times, including the duet "Let There Be Love" in 1999 for Murray's What A Wonderful World album. Anne and Dawn were featured in a mother-daughter duet of "Nobody Loves Me Like You Do" on Murray's hit 2008 U.S. CD (released in late 2007 in Canada), Anne Murray Duets: Friends & Legends, Murray's highest-charting release in nine years.

Early career

In 1965 Anne Murray appeared on the University of New Brunswick student project record "The Groove" (500 pressed). She sang two songs on the record - "Unchained Melody" and "Little Bit of Soap". On the label her name was misspelled "Anne Murry".[12]

While at university, Murray was encouraged to audition for the 1960s CBC musical variety television show Singalong Jubilee, but Murray was not offered a singing position. Two years later she received a call from Singalong Jubilee co-host and associate producer, Bill Langstroth, and was asked to return for a second audition. Following that second audition, Murray was cast for the show.

After a summer of singing in local venues across the Maritimes, Murray began teaching Physical Education at a high school in Summerside, Prince Edward Island. After one year of teaching, she was offered a spot on a television show Let's Go, and returned to Singalong Jubilee.

As a regular member of the "Singalong Jubilee" cast, Murray appeared on the Singalong Jubilee Vol. III soundtrack and Our Family Album - The Singalong Jubilee Cast records released by Arc Records. The show's musical director, Brian Ahern, advised Murray that she should move to Toronto and record a solo album. Murray's first album, What About Me, was produced by Ahern in Toronto and released in 1968 on the Arc label.

Success

Murray's debut album was on the Canadian Arc label, titled What About Me (Arc AS 782). The lead single was the cut of the same name, was written by Scott McKenzie, and was a sizable Canadian radio hit. The project was produced by Brian Ahern, and covered songs by Joni Mitchell, Ken Tobias and John Denver. After a year-long stint on Arc, Murray switched to Capitol Records in 1969 to record her second album, This Way Is My Way, which was released in the fall of the same year. This album featured the single that launched her successful career, "Snowbird", which became a #1 hit in Canada. "Snowbird" became a surprise hit on the U.S. charts as well, reaching #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1970. It was also the first of eight #1 Adult Contemporary hits for Murray. The song led to Murray being awarded the first Gold record ever given to a Canadian artist in the United States (RIAA certified Gold on November 16, 1970).[4] As one of the most successful female artists at that time, Murray became in demand for several television appearances in Canada and the United States, eventually becoming a regular on the hit U.S. TV series The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour.

After the success of "Snowbird", Murray had a number of subsequent singles that charted both pop and country simultaneously. During the 1970s and early 1980s, her hits included Kenny Loggins' "Danny's Song" (1972) (peaked at #7 on the Hot 100) and "A Love Song" (1973); "He Thinks I Still Care" and her Top 10 cover of The Beatles' "You Won't See Me" (1974); her all-time career-peaking #1 Hot 100 hit "You Needed Me" (1978) — oddly, though, the biggest pop and commercially successful hit of her career (and, she claims, her personal favourite song in her entire repertoire) stalled out at #4 on Billboard's country singles chart and #3 on Billboard's U.S. Adult Contemporary chart; "I Just Fall in Love Again", "Shadows in the Moonlight", and "Broken Hearted Me" (all from 1979); her revival of The Monkees' 1967 #1 hit "Daydream Believer" and "Could I Have This Dance" from the Urban Cowboy motion picture soundtrack, both from 1980; "Blessed Are the Believers" (1981); "Another Sleepless Night" (1982); "A Little Good News" (1983); 1984's "Just Another Woman in Love" and "Nobody Loves Me Like You Do" (a duet with Dave Loggins of 1974's "Please Come to Boston" fame and cousin of Murray's frequent songwriter Kenny); and "Time, Don't Run Out On Me" from 1985.

She performed "O Canada" at the first American League baseball game played in Canada on April 7, 1977, when the Toronto Blue Jays played the Chicago White Sox at Exhibition Stadium.[13] Murray reprised the Canadian national anthem prior to Game 3 of the 1992 World Series at SkyDome.[14]

Murray was a celebrity corporate spokeswoman for The Bay, and she also did commercials and sang the company jingle ("You Can Count on the Commerce") for the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC).[15]

Murray's last Hot 100 charting pop hit was "Now and Forever (You and Me)" from 1986; it also was her last #1 on both American and Canadian country charts. Her last charting single in the U.S. was 1991's "Everyday," which appeared in Billboard's Country Singles chart, and her last charting single in Canada was 2000's "What a Wonderful World".

Murray was ranked #24 in Country Music Television's 40 Greatest Women of Country Music in 2002.[16]

Murray is a Companion of the Order of Canada,[17] the second highest honour that can be awarded to a Canadian civilian. She was a recipient of the Order of Nova Scotia in its inaugural year.[18]

In 1996, Murray signed on with a new manager, Bruce Allen, who also has managed careers for Bryan Adams, Michael Bublé, Martina McBride and Jann Arden. She recorded her first live album in 1997 and in 1999, she released What a Wonderful World, a Platinum selling inspirational album,[4] which went to Billboard #1 Contemporary Christian, # 4 Country and #38 on the pop charts. She released Country Croonin' in 2002, the follow-up to her successful 1993 album, Croonin'. In 2004, she released I'll Be Seeing You in Canada only, which features a collection of songs from the early 20th century through to the mid-1940s. The American version, titled All of Me, features a bonus disc containing many of her hit singles, followed in 2005.

In 2006 Murray received a tremendous honour when the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame chose her and Leonard Cohen as recipients of the Legacy Award for their extraordinary contributions to and support of the Canadian songwriting industry. Murray was recognized for her unfailing support of Canada’s songwriters, through her performances and her recordings.[19]

On June 29, 2007, Canada Post issued the limited edition Anne Murray Stamp. She was recognized along with three other iconic Canadian recording artists: Paul Anka, Gordon Lightfoot and Joni Mitchell.[20]

Murray's final studio album Anne Murray Duets: Friends & Legends, was released in November 2007 in Canada and January 2008 in the U.S. The album comprises 17 tracks that include many of Murray's biggest hits over her four-decade career, re-recorded as duets with other established, rising, and – in one case – deceased female singers. These artists included Canadian superstars Céline Dion and Shania Twain along with other fellow Canadians k.d. lang, Nelly Furtado, Jann Arden, a CD-closing French-language duet with Québec's Isabelle Boulay, and Murray's daughter, Dawn Langstroth; Australia's decades-long veteran Olivia Newton-John; Nashville's Emmylou Harris, Martina McBride, Shelby Lynne, and pop/country/contemporary Christian crossover artist Amy Grant; songwriting and recording legend Carole King; influential folk-rock duo Indigo Girls; Irish sextet Celtic Woman; Britain's late blue-eyed soul legend and close personal friend of Murray's, Dusty Springfield; and a duet of her landmark, career-establishing #1 hit from 1970, "Snowbird," with world's biggest selling soprano, Sarah Brightman.

Anne Murray Duets: Friends and Legends was recorded in four cities - Toronto, Nashville, New York and Los Angeles. According to Billboard magazine, the album reached #2 on the Canadian pop album charts and was certified Double Platinum in Canada after merely two months, representing sales of over 200,000 units. Anne Murray Duets: Friends and Legends was the second-highest debuting CD on the Billboard Top 200 albums chart for the week ending February 2, 2008. It entered the chart at #42, making it her highest-charting U.S. CD release since 1999's What a Wonderful World, which peaked at #38 on the Top 200 and was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[4] Also for the week ending February 2, 2008, the CD debuted at #8 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart and at #3 on its Top Internet Albums chart.[21] Murray was nominated for the 2008 Juno Award for Album of the Year and Pop Album of the Year.[22][23]

Murray's album What a Wonderful World was re-released in July 2008 in North America as a 14-song package. A new Christmas album, titled Anne Murray's Christmas Album with bonus DVD was released in October 2008, and Sony BMG Music released an Elvis Presley Christmas album, titled Elvis Presley Christmas Duets, on October 14, 2008 featuring a virtual duet of "Silver Bells" with Anne Murray.[24][10]

According to Linda Thompson (Elvis Presley's girlfriend from 1972–1976), Presley was a fan of Murray.[25][26]

On October 10, 2007, Murray announced that she would embark on her final major tour. She toured in February and March 2008 in the U.S., followed by the "Coast-to-Coast – One Last Time" tour in April and May in Canada.[27][28] Anne Murray's final public concert was held at the Sony Centre in Toronto on May 23, 2008.[29][30]

On August 25, 2008 Murray appeared on the popular TV program Canadian Idol as a mentor.[31]

On February 12, 2010, Murray was one of the eight Canadians who carried the Olympic flag during the opening ceremonies of the XXI Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.[32]

TV work

Murray has had five highly-rated US specials on CBS (over 40 million viewers each), countless Canadian specials on CBC (such as Anne Murray in Nova Scotia, Intimate Evening with Anne Murray, Anne Murray RSVP, A Special Anne Murray Christmas, Legends & Friends, Greatest Hits II, What A Wonderful World, Ladies Night Show, Anne Murray in Walt Disney World and Anne Murray's Classic Christmas) and has appeared on Solid Gold, Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Dean Martin Summer Show, Singalong Jubilee, Dinah!, The Today Show, Dolly!, The Mike Douglas Show, Christmas in Washington, Boston Pops, The Helen Reddy Show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, 20/20, CNN, Perry Como's Christmas in New Mexico, The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, Night of a 100 Stars, Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, The Pat Sajak Show, Royal Canadian Air Farce and Good Morning America. Her 2005 CBC special Anne Murray: The Music of My Life broke ratings records for a Thursday night, with more than 7 million Canadian viewers tuned in. The guests on her TV specials have included Julio Iglesias, Patti LaBelle, Céline Dion, Bryan Adams, Dusty Springfield, Bananarama, Dionne Warwick, John Denver, k.d. lang, Kris Kristofferson, Barenaked Ladies, Alan Thicke, Roch Voisine, Glen Campbell, Valerie Harper, Ruth Buzzi, Rita MacNeil, Andrea Martin, The Rankin Family, Diana Krall, Dawn Langstroth, Jann Arden, and Miss Piggy. The record for the highest-rated variety special in Canadian television history is Anne Murray's Family Christmas, which garnered a 43 per cent share on CBC with 4.2 million viewers.[33]

Autobiography

In January, 2009, Alfred A. Knopf Canada announced that Murray, in collaboration with author Michael Posner, would be writing a memoir of her private life and 40-year career in show business. The autobiography, titled All of Me, was released on October 27, 2009.[34] The autobiography is a self-portrait of Canada’s first great female recording artist. All of Me documents Murray's life, from her childhood in the tragedy-plagued small coal-mining town of Springhill, Nova Scotia, to her success on the world stage. The book remains on Canada's non-fiction best sellers list.

Following the release of her autobiography, All of Me, Murray embarked on a 15-city book signing tour, starting in Nashville on October 27, 2009 and ending in Ottawa on November 24, 2009. The tour also included a special In Conversation interview with Michael Posner at the International Festival of Authors in Toronto on October 30, 2009.[35]

Personal life

In recent years, Murray has faced many personal challenges: her departure from Capitol Records after more than a quarter-century; the apparent suicide of Gene MacLellan, the composer of her first hit single, "Snowbird", which hit #1 in both Canada and the U.S. and virtually established her international singing career overnight; the death of her beloved manager and close friend, Leonard T. Rambeau, from colon cancer; the separation and subsequent divorce from her husband, Bill; her daughter Dawn's battle with anorexia (Dawn and Anne reluctantly did the US talk-show circuit to raise awareness of the deadly affliction);[36] and most recently, the loss of her best friend to cancer (she recorded her 2005 album All of Me as a tribute to her).[10]

She emerged from those personal adversities in 1999 with her best-selling album in 20 years, What a Wonderful World, which was certified Platinum, and her 2002 CD Country Croonin’ was certified Gold by the RIAA.[4] Murray's 2007/2008 Anne Murray Duets: Legends & Friends CD was the second-highest debuting album on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart (U.S.) for the week ending February 2, 2008, and was Murray's highest-charting album in the U.S. since What a Wonderful World was released in 1999. The CD also debuted on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart at #8 and Top Internet Albums chart at #3 for the same week.

The Anne Murray Centre in Springhill, Nova Scotia

Murray has always kept strong ties with her hometown, Springhill, Nova Scotia, located about an hour south of Moncton, New Brunswick, and two hours north of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Anne Murray Centre, located in Springhill, houses a vast collection of memorabilia from both her personal life and professional career in a series of award winning, three-dimensional displays. The Anne Murray Centre, which opened on July 28, 1989, is a registered Canadian charity. As a non-profit association, all the revenue generated from its operation is used to provide employment for local people and for its ongoing maintenance. The Anne Murray Centre has successfully fostered tourism in the area and has promoted awareness of the music of Nova Scotia and Canada.[37]

Anne Murray was also instrumental in the construction of the Dr. Carson and Marion Murray Community Centre in Springhill, Nova Scotia. Murray served as the honorary chair of the fundraising campaign to replace the town arena that collapsed after a peewee hockey game in 2002. Named for her parents, the Dr. Carson and Marion Murray Community Centre sports an NHL-size ice sheet with seating for 800 people, a walking track, multi-purpose room, community room with seating for up to 300, and a gym. The Dr. Carson and Marion Murray Community Centre has become an integral part of the Springhill community since opening on September 15, 2004.[38]

Murray's personal success combined with her visible love and support for Springhill was featured in the article, “Women of Success – Impact on The Economy of Their Hometowns,” in Progressive Choices – Canadian Women In Business magazine (Summer/Fall 2004 edition).

When a devastating tsunami brought tragedy on December 26, 2004, Anne Murray joined other Canadian music stars in the Canada for Asia Telethon, a three-hour, tsunami relief concert broadcast on CBC Television (January 13, 2005) to support CARE Canada’s efforts. Bryan Adams and Murray closed the show with a duet, "What Would It Take".[39]

Murray is also passionate about environmental affairs, and she has been a public supporter of renowned Canadian environmentalist and geneticist Dr. David Suzuki’s Nature Challenge.[40]

Anne Murray has also been involved in a variety of charitable organizations. In addition to being the Honorary National Chairperson of the Canadian Save The Children Fund,[41] she has served as a spokeswoman for many charities throughout her career - most recently Colon Cancer Canada. On May 20, 2009, Colon Cancer Canada launched the inaugural Anne Murray Charity Golf Classic. Over $150,000 was raised through the event.[42]

Murray's father, Dr. Carson Murray, died in 1980 at the age of 72 from complications from leukemia. Her mother, the former Marion Margaret Burke, died April 10, 2006, at the age of 92 after suffering a series of strokes during heart surgery.[10]

A longtime golf enthusiast, Murray made history in October 2003 at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York, by becoming the first woman to score a hole-in-one on the 108-yard, par 3, 17th hole at the Kaluhyat Golf Club.[43]

On May 11, 2007, Golf For Women magazine named Murray the world's best female celebrity golfer, noting her 11 handicap.[44]

Discography

Main article: Anne Murray discography

Since 1968, Murray has had 32 studio albums, 15 compilation albums, 15 of which have either gone multi-platinum, platinum or gold in the U.S. alone.

Awards and honors

Main article: List of Anne Murray awards

Anne Murray is the winner of four Grammy Awards (including one in the pop category), three CMA Awards, and has also won several Juno Awards, American Music Awards, and numerous other awards.

References

  1. ^ "CBC News - Arts - Singer Anne Murray to host Walk of Fame gala". CBC.ca. 2009-08-13. http://www.cbc.ca/arts/story/2009/08/13/walk-fame.html. Retrieved 2010-02-04. [dead link]
  2. ^ Garebian, Keith (2009-11-06). "Review - All of Me, by Anne Murray - The Globe and Mail". Toronto: TheGlobeAndMail.com. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/books/review-all-of-me-by-anne-murray/article1353900/. Retrieved 2010-02-04. 
  3. ^ "Review - Anne Murray takes fans on nostalgic trip". Canada.com. http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=802dd750-1b9b-4bbd-aaf5-8f9ba8fceeb4&k=92944. Retrieved 2010-02-04. 
  4. ^ a b c d e "RIAA - Gold & Platinum". RIAA.com. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinum.php. Retrieved 2010-02-06. 
  5. ^ "Celebrities:Annue Murray". http://www.srfboy.com/james-lucas/celebrities/gm/murray.shtml. 
  6. ^ Christian Lyrics - Anne Murray Biography, Discography[dead link]
  7. ^ "Songwriters Hall of Fame - 2008 Award and Induction Ceremony". SongwritersHallofFame.org. http://songwritershalloffame.org/ceremony/entry/C6006/203789. Retrieved 2010-02-06. 
  8. ^ "Mellow Gold: The 50 Biggest AC Artists Ever". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. http://www.billboard.com/features/the-top-50-adult-contemporary-artists-1005279522.story#/features/the-50-biggest-adult-contemporary-artists-1005279522.story?page=5. Retrieved 2011-07-28. 
  9. ^ "Anne Murray - NNDB.COM". NNDB.com. http://www.nndb.com/people/677/000024605/. Retrieved 2010-02-06. 
  10. ^ a b c d Posner, Michael I.; Murray, Anne (2009). All of Me. Toronto: Knopf Canada. ISBN 0-307-39844-7. http://books.google.com/books?id=dIxVamRWMkcC&printsec=frontcover&dq=isbn:0307398447&cd=1#v=onepage&q=&f=false. Retrieved 2010-02-08. 
  11. ^ Hale, James. "Murray, Anne". The Encyclopedia of Music in Canada. The Historica Dominion Institute. http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/emc/murray-anne. Retrieved 5 January 2012. 
  12. ^ "CHSR 97.9 FM... 49 years of service". CHSRfm.ca. http://www.chsrfm.ca/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1238617041&archive=&start_from=&ucat=&. Retrieved 2010-02-06. 
  13. ^ "On This Day - April 7, 1977 - CBC Archives". Archives.CBC.ca. http://archives.cbc.ca/on_this_day/04/07/. Retrieved 2010-02-07. 
  14. ^ "CNN/SI - 1998 MLB Postseason - 1992 World Series". SportsIllustrated.CNN.com. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/features/1998/wsarchive/1992.html. Retrieved 2010-02-06. 
  15. ^ "Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce". TheCanadianEncyclopedia.com. http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0001297. Retrieved 2010-02-06. 
  16. ^ "The Greatest: 40 Greatest Women of Country Music". Cmt.com. http://www.cmt.com/shows/dyn/greatest_series/76608/episode_countdown.jhtml. Retrieved 2011-03-02. 
  17. ^ Governor General of Canada. "Anne Murray, C.C., O.N.S., LL.D.". gg.ca. Ottawa: Queen's Printer for Canada. http://archive.gg.ca/honours/search-recherche/honours-desc.asp?lang=e&TypeID=orc&id=1220. Retrieved 5 January 2012. 
  18. ^ "Protocol Office - Order of Nova Scotia Past Recipients". Gov.NS.ca. https://www.gov.ns.ca/prot/pastrecipients.htm. Retrieved 2010-02-06. 
  19. ^ "The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame Web Site". CanSong.ca. http://www.cansong.ca/en/inductees/bios.aspx. Retrieved 2010-02-06. 
  20. ^ "Putting its stamp on Canada - Winnipeg Free Press". WinnipegFreePress.com. http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/putting-its-stamp-on-canada-49922632.html. Retrieved 2010-02-06. 
  21. ^ "Jan. 25, 2008 - Anne Murray Duets - Friends And Legends - Debuts #3 on Internet/#8 Country/#42 on Top 200". AllButForgottenOldies.net. http://www.allbutforgottenoldies.net/announcements/2008/01/25/anne-murray-duets-friends-and-legends.html. Retrieved 2010-02-06. 
  22. ^ "2008 Juno Award Nominees - Francomix". FrancoMix.com. http://www.francomix.com/breve-2008_Juno_Award_Nominees-470.html. Retrieved 2010-02-06. 
  23. ^ "CBC News - Music - Anne Murray fears extra nominee could nab Juno". CBC.ca. 2008-03-19. http://www.cbc.ca/arts/music/story/2008/03/19/annemurray.html. Retrieved 2010-02-06. 
  24. ^ "Sony BMG Music Entertainment Announces the Release of 'Elvis Presley Christmas Duets' CD". eMediaWorld.com. http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=120591. Retrieved 2010-02-07. 
  25. ^ Reading Eagle (Reading Eagle Company): p. 37. 24 October 1979. http://news.google.co.uk/newspapers?id=0p8tAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3aAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6404,2976687&dq=anne-murray+elvis-presley+favorite&hl=en. Retrieved 28 April 2010. "Anne Murray never knew it, but while Elvis Presley lived he was her most famous fan. That's the word from Linda Thompson - the Rock 'n' Roll King's girlfriend in the last years of his life." 
  26. ^ Flint, Joseph H.; Nelson, Judy A. (1993). The insider's country music handbook. Gibbs-Smith. p. 232. ISBN 978-0-87905-563-9. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=pin7Ya25sGkC&q=%22Anne+Murray%22+%22Elvis+Presley%22+favorite&dq=%22Anne+Murray%22+%22Elvis+Presley%22+favorite&cd=24. Retrieved 28 April 2010. "Elvis Presley named Anne as one of his favorite female singers." 
  27. ^ Songbird Anne Murray entertains media at suburban home for preview of duets disc[dead link]
  28. ^ "Anne Murray Announced North American 2008 Tour Dates - SoundChronicle". SoundChronicle.com. http://www.soundchronicle.com/concert-news/anne-murray-announced-north-american-2008-tour-dates. Retrieved 2010-02-06. 
  29. ^ "CANOE - JAM! Music - Anne Murray - Concert Review - Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto - April 25, 2008". Jam.Canoe.ca. http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/M/Murray_Anne/ConcertReviews/2008/04/26/5394881-sun.html. Retrieved 2010-02-06. 
  30. ^ "Anne Murray tells her story". EdmontonJournal.com. http://www.edmontonjournal.com/entertainment/Anne+Murray+tells+story/2205684/story.html. Retrieved 2010-02-06. [dead link]
  31. ^ "CTV.ca - Anne Murray to Guest Mentor and perform on Canadian Idol". CTV.ca. http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080729/CI6_Anne_Murray_announced_080729/20080815?s_name=idol2008&no_ads=. Retrieved 2010-02-06. 
  32. ^ Robson, Dan (2010-02-13). "Gretzky lights up Vancouver Olympics". CBC Sports. http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/story/2010/02/12/spo-openingceremony.html. Retrieved 2010-02-13. 
  33. ^ "CTV INC. - So You Think You Can Dance Canada's Top 20 Revealed on CTV, Oct. 1". NewsWire.ca. http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/September2008/29/c9291.html. Retrieved 2010-02-06. 
  34. ^ "Anne Murray - Official Website". AnneMurray.com. http://www.annemurray.com/. Retrieved 2010-02-06. 
  35. ^ "KNOPF CANADA - Knopf Canada Announces National Anne Murray Book Tour". NewsWire.ca. http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/September2009/24/c8337.html. Retrieved 2010-02-06. 
  36. ^ "Emotional Rescue - Eating Disorders and Struggles, Coping and Overcoming Illness, Anne Murray - People.com". People.com. http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20129691,00.html. Retrieved 2010-02-06. 
  37. ^ "The Anne Murray Centre". AnneMurrayCentre.com. http://www.annemurraycentre.com/. Retrieved 2010-02-06. 
  38. ^ "Leisure Services - Town of Springhill, Nova Scotia". Town.Springhill.ns.ca. http://www.town.springhill.ns.ca/leisure-services.html. Retrieved 2010-02-06. 
  39. ^ "The National - Tsunami in Asia inspires musicians to help - CBC Archives". Archives.CBC.ca. http://archives.cbc.ca/emissions/emission.asp?page=27&IDLan=1&IDEmission=736&IDClip=10660. Retrieved 2010-02-07. 
  40. ^ "Anne Murray - singer/songwriter". DavidSuzuki.org. http://www.davidsuzuki.org/NatureChallenge/Get_connected/Ambassadors/Anne_Murray.asp. Retrieved 2010-02-06. 
  41. ^ Billboard - Google Books - Anne Murray Save the Children Fund. Books.Google.com. http://books.google.com/books?id=zyQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT61&lpg=PT61&dq=Anne+Murray+Save+the+Children+Fund&source=bl&ots=Y1L3oD4rru&sig=KuOD1ELi8T4TrWN9mHSBv5RCHJg&hl=en&ei=vfddS8uZNoT6NfjNwYAP&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CBsQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=Anne%20Murray%20Save%20the%20Children%20Fund&f=false. Retrieved 2010-02-06. 
  42. ^ "Colon Cancer Canada - 2009 Anne Murray Charity Golf Classic". ColonCancerCanada.ca. http://www.coloncancercanada.ca/charity_golf_2009.php. Retrieved 2010-02-06. 
  43. ^ "Anne Murray - Anne Murray Scores a Hole In One". ContactMusic.com. http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/story/anne-murray-scores-a-hole-in-one. Retrieved 2010-02-06. 
  44. ^ "Anne Murray - Murray Named Top Female Celebrity Golfer - Contactmusic News". ContactMusic.com. http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/murray%20named%20top%20female%20celebrity%20golfer_1049018. Retrieved 2010-02-06. 

Further reading

  • Millard, Bob (1998). "Anne Murray". In The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Paul Kingsbury, Editor. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 361–2.
  • Grills, Barry (1996) Snowbird: The Story of Anne Murray. Kingston, ON: Quarry Press.
  • Livingstone, David (1981) Anne Murray: The Story So Far. Scarborough: Prentice Hall Canada, Inc.

External links

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