Phoebe Snow facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Phoebe Snow
Background information
Birth name	Phoebe Ann Laub
Born	(1950-07-17)July 17, 1950 New York City, U.S.
Died	April 26, 2011(2011-04-26) (aged 60) Edison, New Jersey, U.S.
Genres	Blues, jazz blues, folk, gospel, jazz, R&B, roots rock, soul
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter
Instruments	Guitar, vocals
Years active	1972–2010
Labels	Shelter, Columbia, Mirage, Elektra, Eagle, House of Blues
Associated acts	Sisters of Glory

Phoebe Snow (born Phoebe Ann Laub; July 17, 1950 – April 26, 2011) was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. She was known for her hit songs like "Poetry Man" and "Harpo's Blues" in the 1970s. She also sang with famous artists like Paul Simon.

Phoebe had a special voice. The New York Times newspaper said her voice was deep and bluesy, and she could sing over four octaves (a very wide range of notes). She also sang many catchy songs for TV commercials in the 1980s and 1990s.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Phoebe Ann Laub was born in New York City in 1950. She grew up in a very musical home. Her parents always played different types of music. These included Delta blues, Broadway show tunes, Dixieland jazz, classical music, and folk music.

Her father, Merrill Laub, was an exterminator. But he also knew a lot about American movies and theater. He loved collecting and fixing old things. Her mother, Lili Laub, was a dance teacher. She had even performed with a famous dance group called Martha Graham.

Phoebe grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey. She finished Teaneck High School in 1968. Later, she went to Shimer College in Illinois, but she did not finish her degree. As a student, she carried her favorite Martin acoustic guitar. She would go to clubs in Greenwich Village to play and sing on amateur nights.

Her stage name, Phoebe Snow, came from an old character. This character was in ads for the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad in the early 1900s. The character, Phoebe Snow, always wore white clothes. This was to show how clean the train line's passenger trains were.

Music Career Highlights

Phoebe Snow's music career began when she was discovered. In 1972, she was singing at The Bitter End club. Denny Cordell, who owned Shelter Records, was very impressed. He signed her to his record label.

First Album and Big Hits

Phoebe released her first album, Phoebe Snow, in 1974. This album included her popular songs "San Francisco Bay Blues" and "Poetry Man". Many other talented musicians played on this album.

"Poetry Man" became a huge hit in 1975. It reached the top five on the Billboard Hot 100 music chart. Her album also made it to the top five on the Billboard album chart. She was even nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Artist. She appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.

Phoebe also opened concerts for famous artists like Jackson Browne and Paul Simon. She sang with Paul Simon on his hit song "Gone at Last" in 1975. She also sang background vocals on his song "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover". Both songs were on Simon's Grammy-winning album Still Crazy After All These Years.

Record Deals and New Sounds

After some disagreements with Shelter Records, Phoebe signed with Columbia Records. Her second album, Second Childhood, came out in 1976. This album had a more jazzy and thoughtful sound. It became a Gold Album, meaning it sold many copies.

Later in 1976, she released It Looks Like Snow, which had a more rock sound. In 1977, she released Never Letting Go. Her album Against the Grain came out in 1978. After this, she left Columbia Records. She later said that taking care of her daughter made it hard to focus on her music career.

In 1979, she toured a lot across the US and Canada. Her cover of the Paul McCartney song "Every Night" was a hit in the UK in 1979. In 1981, she released the album Rock Away.

Singing for Commercials and TV

Phoebe Snow spent a lot of time away from recording new music. She often sang for TV commercials to support herself and her daughter. She sang for companies like AT&T and General Foods.

She also sang the theme song for the first season of the TV show 9 to 5. She also sang the theme song for NBC's A Different World during its first season (1987–88).

In 1988, she had a hit song called "Dreams I Dream" with Dave Mason. It reached No. 11 on the US adult contemporary charts. She released another album, Something Real, in 1989. She also appeared on the Howard Stern radio show many times in the 1990s.

Later Career and Special Performances

In 1995, Phoebe Snow performed in The Wizard of Oz in Concert: Dreams Come True. This was a special concert in New York City. She sang a unique mix of songs from the show. Other famous singers like Jewel and Roger Daltrey also performed.

In May 1998, the Mayor Rudolph Giuliani gave her a Cultural Achievement Award. In 1999, she performed for US President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton at Camp David.

In 2003, Phoebe released Natural Wonder, her first album with new songs in 14 years. She performed at Howard Stern's wedding in 2008. Her Live album (2008) featured many of her popular songs.

Personal Life and Legacy

Phoebe Snow was married to Phil Kearns from 1975 to 1978. She had a daughter named Valerie Rose. Valerie was born with severe brain damage. Phoebe made the brave decision to care for Valerie at home. She did not want to put her in a special care facility.

Phoebe dedicated herself to caring for Valerie. This made her music career very challenging. Valerie passed away on March 19, 2007, at the age of 31. Phoebe continued to take voice lessons and study opera informally.

In her later years, Phoebe Snow lived in Bergen County, New Jersey. She also became a follower of Buddhism.

Phoebe Snow had a cerebral hemorrhage (a type of bleeding in the brain) on January 19, 2010. She went into a coma and faced other health problems. She passed away on April 26, 2011, at age 60 in Edison, New Jersey.

Discography

Albums

Compilations

• 1981: The Best of Phoebe Snow
• 1995: P.S.
• 2001: The Very Best of Phoebe Snow
• 2012: Playlist: The Very Best of Phoebe Snow

Singles

Images for kids

• 

  Print ad for a 1975 concert featuring Jackson Browne and Phoebe Snow.

See also

In Spanish: Phoebe Snow para niños

• Chicago blues