Anne Murray facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anne Murray
CC ONS |
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Murray in 1971
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Morna Anne Murray |
| Born | June 20, 1945 Springhill, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Origin | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 1967–2008 |
| Labels |
|
Morna Anne Murray (born June 20, 1945) is a famous Canadian singer. She sang pop, country, and adult contemporary music. Anne Murray sold over 55 million albums around the world. Her career lasted more than 40 years.
She won four Grammys, which are big music awards. One Grammy was for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1979. Anne Murray was the first Canadian female solo singer to reach number one on the U.S. music charts. She was also the first to get a Gold record for her song "Snowbird" in 1970.
Many people say she helped other Canadian female artists become famous. These include k.d. lang, Céline Dion, and Shania Twain. Anne Murray is well known for her 1978 hit song "You Needed Me". This song was number one in many countries. She was also the first woman and first Canadian to win Album of the Year at the 1984 Country Music Association Awards. This was for her album A Little Good News.
Besides her Grammys, Anne Murray won many other awards. She received 24 Juno Awards, which is a record. She also won three American Music Awards and three Country Music Association Awards. She has been honored in many music halls of fame. These include the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
In 2011, Billboard magazine listed her as one of the top 10 adult contemporary artists ever.
Contents
Anne Murray's Early Life and Education
Morna Anne Murray was born in Springhill, Nova Scotia, Canada. Her father, Dr. James Carson Murray, was the town's doctor. Her mother, Marion Margaret Murray, was a nurse. Anne has five brothers.
She showed interest in music from a young age. She studied piano for six years. By age 15, she began taking voice lessons. She traveled every Saturday for singing lessons. One of her first performances was "Ave Maria" at her high school graduation in 1962.
After high school, Anne Murray went to Mount Saint Vincent University. She later studied Physical Education at the University of New Brunswick. In 1966, she became a physical education teacher. She taught for one year in Summerside, Prince Edward Island.
Anne Murray's Music Career
How Anne Murray Started Singing
In 1965, Anne Murray sang on a student record called "The Groove." She sang two songs: "Unchained Melody" and "Little Bit of Soap." Later, she tried out for a TV show called Singalong Jubilee. She did not get a singing part at first.
After singing in local places, she became a teacher. But then, she was cast on Singalong Jubilee. She became a regular on the show. The show's music director, Brian Ahern, told her to move to Toronto. He thought she should record her own album. Her first album, What About Me, came out in 1968.
Becoming Famous: The 1970s and 1980s
Her first album's main song, "What About Me," was a big hit in Canada. In 1969, she joined Capitol Records. Her second album, This Way Is My Way, came out that year. It had the song "Snowbird" which made her famous. "Snowbird" became a number one hit in Canada.
"Snowbird" also became a surprise hit in the U.S. It reached number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1970. It was her first of eight number one Adult Contemporary hits. "Snowbird" was the first Gold record given to a Canadian artist in the United States. Because she was so successful, she appeared on many TV shows. She became a regular on The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour.
During the 1970s and 1980s, she had many hit songs. These songs were popular on both pop and country charts. Some of her hits include "Danny's Song" (1972), "You Won't See Me" (1974), and her biggest hit "You Needed Me" (1978). Other popular songs were "I Just Fall in Love Again" (1979) and "Daydream Believer" (1980). She also sang "Could I Have This Dance" from the movie Urban Cowboy (1980).
Anne Murray sang "O Canada" at the first American League baseball game in Canada. This was on April 7, 1977, for the Toronto Blue Jays game. She also sang it before the first World Series game in Canada in 1992. She sang "The Maple Leaf Forever" at the last game at Maple Leaf Gardens.
Her last big hit on the Hot 100 chart was "Now and Forever (You and Me)" in 1986. This song was also number one on both American and Canadian country charts.
Later Career: The 1990s and 2000s
Anne Murray's last song to chart in the U.S. was "Everyday" in 1991. In 1999, she released What a Wonderful World. This album was very popular and sold over a million copies. Her last song to chart in Canada was "What a Wonderful World" in 2000.
In 2007, Anne Murray announced her final big tour. She toured the U.S. and Canada in 2008. Her last public concert was in Toronto on May 23, 2008.
Her album Anne Murray Duets: Friends & Legends came out in 2007. On this album, she re-recorded her hits with other singers. These included Céline Dion, Shania Twain, and Nelly Furtado. Her daughter, Dawn Langstroth, also sang with her. The album was very successful in Canada and the U.S.
.jpg)
Anne Murray retired from singing and performing after 2008. She said she wanted to stop while she was still singing well. She has not changed her mind about retiring.
Anne Murray on Television
Anne Murray had many popular TV specials in the U.S. and Canada. She appeared on famous shows like The Johnny Cash Show, Sesame Street, and The Muppet Show. She was also on Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
In 2005, her Canadian TV special Anne Murray: The Music of My Life was watched by over 7 million Canadians. In 2008, her Family Christmas special had 4.2 million viewers. In 2021, a documentary film about her, Anne Murray: Full Circle, was shown on TV.
Anne Murray's Personal Life
In 2009, Anne Murray released her autobiography, All of Me. She went on a book signing tour. She is a Catholic. Her nephew, Paul Murray, was the lead singer of a band called Sandbox.
Family Life
In 1975, Anne Murray married Bill Langstroth. He was a music producer. They had two children, William (born 1976) and Dawn (born 1979). Dawn is also a singer-songwriter. She has recorded songs with her mother many times. Anne and Bill separated in 1997 and divorced in 1998. Bill Langstroth passed away in 2013.
Anne Murray lived in Thornhill, Ontario, for over 40 years. In 2019, she moved back to her home province of Nova Scotia. She now lives in Halifax.
Giving Back to the Community
Anne Murray has always stayed connected to her hometown, Springhill, Nova Scotia. The Anne Murray Centre opened there in 1989. It shows many items from her life and career. The center helps bring tourists to the area. It also helps people learn about music from Nova Scotia and Canada. All the money it earns helps create jobs for local people.
She also helped build the Dr. Carson and Marion Murray Community Centre in Springhill. This center is named after her parents. It has an ice rink, a walking track, and other rooms for the community.
Anne Murray has supported many charities. She was the Honorary National Chairperson for the Canadian Save The Children Fund. She also worked with Colon Cancer Canada. In 2009, the first Anne Murray Charity Golf Classic raised over C$150,000.
In 2010, Anne Murray was one of eight Canadians who carried the Olympic flag. This was during the opening ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
Hobbies and Interests
Anne Murray loves to play golf. In 2003, she made history by getting a hole in one at a golf course in New York. In 2007, Golf For Women magazine called her the world's best female celebrity golfer.
Anne Murray's Music Albums
Since 1968, Anne Murray has released 32 studio albums. She also has 15 compilation albums.
- Studio albums
|
|
|
Anne Murray's Awards and Honors
Anne Murray won four Grammys, three American Music Awards, and three CMA Awards. She also won a record 24 Juno Awards.
In 1995, she received a Governor General's Performing Arts Award. This is Canada's highest honor for performing artists.
In 2002, Country Music Television (CMT) ranked her number 24 on their list of the "40 Greatest Women of Country Music."
She was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1975. In 1984, she became a Companion of the Order of Canada. This is the second highest honor for a Canadian citizen. She was also one of the first people to receive the Order of Nova Scotia in 2002.
In 2006, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame gave her the Legacy Award. This was for her support of Canadian songwriting.
On June 29, 2007, Canada Post released a special Anne Murray stamp. She was honored along with other Canadian musicians.
In 2016, Mount Saint Vincent University gave Anne Murray an honorary degree.
Grammy Award Nominations and Wins
- 1970 – Nominated for Best New Artist and Best Contemporary Vocal Performance, Female, for "Snowbird"
- 1973 – Nominated for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female, for "Danny's Song"
- 1974 – Won Best Country Vocal Performance, Female, for Love Song
- 1978 – Nominated for Record of the Year, "You Needed Me"; Nominated for Best Country Vocal Performance, Female, "Walk Right Back"; Won Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female, for "You Needed Me"
- 1979 – Nominated for Best Recording for Children, Anne Murray Sings for the Sesame Street Generation
- 1980 – Won Best Country Vocal Performance, Female, for "Could I Have This Dance"
- 1983 – Won Best Country Vocal Performance, Female, for "A Little Good News"
- 1984 – Nominated for Best Country Vocal Performance, Female, for Heart Over Mind; Nominated for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, for "Nobody Loves Me Like You Do"
Billboard Top 100 Year-End Rankings
- 1970 - "Snowbird" - #42
- 1973 - "Danny's Song" - #36
- 1974 - "You Won't See Me" - #54; "A Love Song" - #80
- 1978 - "You Needed Me" - #63
- 1979 - "I Just Fall in Love Again" - #72
- 1980 - "Daydream Believer" - #61; "Broken Hearted Me" - #92
See also
In Spanish: Anne Murray para niños
