Ferron facts for kids

Ferron Foisy (born Deborah Foisy on June 1, 1952), known by her stage name Ferron, is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and poet. She is famous for being one of Canada's most respected songwriters. Her music has been a major influence on many artists, including Ani DiFranco, Mary Gauthier, and the Indigo Girls.

Ferron is a key figure in the women's music movement. Her songwriting is often compared to famous musicians like Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, and Leonard Cohen.

Early Life and First Songs

Ferron was born in Toronto, Canada, and grew up near Richmond, British Columbia. She learned to play the guitar when she was 11 years old and left home at 15 to start her own life. She went to an alternative high school called Total Ed in Vancouver and graduated in 1973.

Music was always a part of her family. She remembered, "my mother's French Canadian family played music. I heard guitars and banjo and accordion... music meant fun, meant love and laughter." She began writing songs at age 10 but didn't save them at first. The first song she saved was written in 1970, and she performed it in 1975 at a benefit event.

In 1971, she changed her name from Deborah to Ferron. The name came from a friend's dream. "Ferron" is similar to the French words for iron and rust. Later in life, Ferron learned she has Métis (a person of mixed Indigenous and European ancestry) heritage.

Building a Music Career

While living in Vancouver, Ferron started her own record label called Lucy Records. In 1977, she released her first album, Ferron. It was recorded with simple equipment, but all 1,000 copies sold out fast.

After her second album, Backed Up (1978), she began working with Gayle Scott, who became her manager. Together, they produced her next albums and organized tours across the United States.

Her 1980 album, Testimony, was her first to be professionally produced. It became very popular, especially in the women's music community. The title song, "Testimony," was even featured on the TV show The L Word.

In 1984, her album Shadows on a Dime received four out of five stars from Rolling Stone magazine. The magazine called her a "culture hero" and said the album was "a thing of beauty."

A Career of Growth and Influence

In 1985, Ferron received a grant from the Canada Arts Council to improve her music skills. She took a break from touring and worked other jobs, like a carpenter's assistant and bartender.

She returned to music in 1990 with the album Phantom Center. It featured background vocals from a young Tori Amos. Because of this, the album is now a collector's item. In 1995, the album was re-released with a new version of the song "Stand Up," featuring the Indigo Girls.

Between 1992 and 1994, Ferron released three more albums. Her 1994 album, Driver, was praised by critics and was nominated for a Juno Award. This success led to a record deal with Warner Bros. in 1996. They released her album Still Riot, but she left the label in 1997 to release her music independently again.

In 1996, Ferron received the OUTmusic Award for Lifetime Achievement for her contributions to music.

Later Work and Teaching

Throughout the late 1990s, Ferron continued to tour and teach songwriting workshops. She released a covers album called Inside Out in 1999 to benefit a non-profit group that supports women and girls in music. She also published a handmade book of poems.

In 2004, she released the album Turning into Beautiful. In 2008, she released Boulder, which featured guest artists like Ani DiFranco and members of the Indigo Girls. Her most recent album, Lighten-ing, came out in 2013.

Besides performing, Ferron has taught writing classes at several institutes. She also helped open a retreat center in Michigan for women. She believes that art is a powerful way to express the soul. "To me it's a revolutionary act to continue keeping your artist soul alive," she says.

In 2017, Ferron performed at the 40th Vancouver Folk Music Festival. She led the final song of the festival, her famous anthem "Testimony," with many other artists on stage.

Discography

• Ferron (1977)
• Backed Up (1978)
• Testimony (1980)
• Shadows on a Dime (1984)
• Phantom Center (1990)
• Not a Still Life (1992, live)
• Resting With the Question (1992)
• Driver (1994)
• Still Riot (1996)
• Inside Out (1999)
• Impressionistic (2002, compilation)
• Turning into Beautiful (2005)
• Boulder (2008)
• Girl on a Road (2011, live)
• Lighten-ing (2013)

Film and Books

Film Appearances

• 2002: Ferron was in Radical Harmonies, a documentary about the history of women's music.
• 2009: A film about her life, Ferron: Girl on a Road, was released.
• 2012: The film Thunder, which she co-directed, was shown at a film festival.

Published Works

• Not A Still Life Songbook (1993)
• THe (h)UNGeR POeMs (1997)
• Catching Holy. Poems 2006–2008 (2008)

See also

In Spanish: Ferron (cantautora) para niños