Ferron facts for kids

Ferron Foisy (born Deborah Foisy on June 1, 1952), known as Ferron, is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and poet. She is famous for her thoughtful songs and has been a big influence on other musicians like Ani DiFranco and the Indigo Girls. Many music critics compare her songwriting skills to famous artists such as Van Morrison and Bob Dylan. Ferron is known for her important role in the "women's music" movement, which helped many female artists share their work.

Early life and beginnings

Ferron was born in Toronto, Canada, and grew up near Richmond, British Columbia. She started playing guitar when she was 11 years old. At 15, she left home. She went to an alternative high school in Vancouver and finished in 1973.

Ferron remembers her family playing music. She heard guitars, banjos, and accordions. This made music feel like fun and love to her. She started writing songs at age 10 but didn't save them until she was 18. Her first saved song was "Who Loses." She performed this song in 1975 at a benefit for a feminist publishing house in Vancouver. This was her first professional show.

In 1971, Deborah Foisy changed her name to Ferron. A friend had a dream where she was called Ferron, which means "iron and rust" in French. Later in life, Ferron found out she has Métis ancestry. She has spoken about her pride in her First Nations and Canadian heritage.

Music in the 1970s and 1980s

While living in Vancouver, Ferron started her own record label called Lucy Records. She released her first album, Ferron, in 1977. It was recorded simply, but all 1,000 copies sold out quickly.

After two self-produced albums, she teamed up with Gayle Scott. Gayle became her manager and helped her produce more albums. They also started concert tours across the United States. In 1980, Ferron released Testimony, her first professionally made album. This album became very popular, especially in the women's music community. The song "Testimony" became an anthem for many. It was even used in the TV show The L Word.

Her 1984 album, Shadows on a Dime, got great reviews. Rolling Stone magazine gave it four out of five stars. They called Ferron "a culture hero" and the album "a thing of beauty."

Music in the 1990s and beyond

In 1985, Ferron received a grant to improve her music skills. She took a break from touring and recording for several years. During this time, she worked as a carpenter's assistant and a day care worker. She returned to music in 1990 with the album Phantom Center. This album featured backing vocals from a young Tori Amos. Later, in 1995, a new version of the song "Stand Up" on the album included vocals by the Indigo Girls.

Between 1992 and 1994, Ferron released three more albums on her own label, Cherrywood Station. Her 1993 album, Driver, was highly praised by critics. It was even nominated for a Juno Award in 1995. After this success, Ferron signed with Warner Bros. Records. She released Still Riot in 1996. Warner Bros. also re-released Driver and Phantom Center.

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

In the late 1990s, Ferron continued to tour and teach songwriting workshops. She also focused on self-produced projects. She released Inside Out (1999), which featured covers of songs from the 1950s to 1970s. This album helped support the Institute for Musical Arts (IMA), which teaches and supports women and girls in music. She also published books of her poems, including THe (h)UNGeR POeMs and Catching Holy.

In 2004, Ferron returned to British Columbia to create Turning into Beautiful. This album brought together musicians from her earlier successful projects. She also began re-releasing her older albums as "Collected Works."

Ferron has taught songwriting classes at various places, helping others develop their musical talents. She also helped open a retreat center for women called The Fen Peace and Poetry Camp. Ferron believes that artistic expression is very important. She says that art helps people connect with their souls and stay true to themselves.

In July 2017, Ferron performed at the 40th annual Vancouver Folk Music Festival. She led the festival's final performance, with other artists and the audience singing along to her famous song "Testimony."

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

• 2002: Ferron was in Radical Harmonies, a movie about the history of women's music. It was directed by Dee Mosbacher.
• 2009: Ferron: Girl on a Road, a movie about her music career, was released. It was shown at film festivals and on TV.

Printed works

• Not A Still Life Songbook. (1993)
• "Courting the Muse: Thoughts on the Art of Songwriting." (1994)
• THe (h)UNGeR POeMs. (1997, 2000)
• Catching Holy. Poems 2006–2008. (2008)

See also

In Spanish: Ferron (cantautora) para niños