Sarah McLachlan facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Sarah McLachlan OC OBC
McLachlan in July 2010
Background information
Birth name	Sarah Ann McLachlan
Born	(1968-01-28) January 28, 1968 (age 57) Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Genres	Pop rock
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter
Instruments	Vocals piano guitar ukulele harp
Years active	1987–present
Labels	Nettwerk Arista Verve

Sarah Ann McLachlan (born January 28, 1968) is a famous Canadian singer and songwriter. By 2015, she had sold over 40 million albums around the world. Her best-selling album is Surfacing (1997). For this album, she won two Grammy Awards and four Juno Awards. Sarah McLachlan also started the Lilith Fair tour. This special music festival featured many talented female musicians.

Early Life and Family

Sarah McLachlan was born on January 28, 1968, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. She was adopted by the McLachlan family.

As a child, Sarah was part of Girl Guides of Canada. She loved music from a very young age. She started playing the ukulele when she was only four years old. She also learned classical guitar, classical piano, and singing. She studied at the Maritime Conservatory of Music.

When she was 17, Sarah was still in high school. She was the lead singer of a rock band called The October Game. After their first concert, she was offered a music contract. This was with Nettwerk, an independent record label. Her parents wanted her to finish high school first. She also studied for a year at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. Two years later, she signed with Nettwerk.

In 1997, Sarah married her drummer, Ashwin Sood, in Jamaica. Her mother passed away in December 2001. Sarah then had her first daughter, India, in April 2002. In June 2007, she had her second daughter, Taja. Sarah and Ashwin Sood divorced in 2008.

Music Career and Albums

Early Albums: Touch and Solace

After signing with Nettwerk, Sarah moved to Vancouver, British Columbia. There, she recorded her first album, Touch, in 1987. This album was very successful. It included the song "Vox." She also went on her first national concert tour.

Her 1991 album, Solace, became a big hit in Canada. It featured popular songs like "The Path of Thorns (Terms)" and "Into the Fire." This album also marked the start of her work with Pierre Marchand. He has produced many of her albums and sometimes helped her write songs.

Breakthrough Success: Fumbling Towards Ecstasy and Surfacing

McLachlan at a 1993 benefit for Clayoquot Sound

Her 1993 album, Fumbling Towards Ecstasy, was an instant hit in Canada. A piano version of her song "Possession" was even used in the Due South TV show soundtrack. Over the next two years, Fumbling Towards Ecstasy became popular worldwide.

In 1997, Sarah released Surfacing. This is her best-selling album so far. It earned her two Grammy Awards in 1998. She won for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Building a Mystery" and Best Pop Instrumental Performance for "Last Dance." She also won four Juno Awards. Surfacing reached number one in Canada and number two in the US. It has sold over 16 million copies globally.

The song "Angel" from Surfacing was featured in the movie City of Angels. The movie's soundtrack also became very popular. Another song, "Full of Grace," was used in TV shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Dawson's Creek. In 1999, Sarah recorded the song "When She Loved Me" for the Toy Story 2 movie soundtrack. She performed it at the Academy Awards ceremony.

After her mother's passing and the birth of her first daughter, Sarah took a break from music. She focused on being a mom.

Later Albums: Afterglow and Wintersong

Sarah returned to music with her album Afterglow in November 2003. The single "Fallen" came out before the album. Other songs like "Stupid" and "World on Fire" were also released. Afterglow topped the Canadian charts and debuted at number two in the US. It has sold millions of copies.

In October 2006, Sarah released a Christmas album called Wintersong. It included 11 new recordings of classic holiday songs. She covered songs by Joni Mitchell and John Lennon. The album also featured her own song, "Wintersong." Wintersong was very popular and sold over a million copies in the US. It was nominated for a Grammy Award and a Juno Award.

McLachlan performing in 2009

Recent Music: Shine On and Wonderland

In 2014, Sarah McLachlan released her album Shine On. This album was inspired by her father's death. It was her first album with Verve Records. Shine On debuted at number four on the US Billboard charts. In 2015, she won a Juno Award for Adult Contemporary Album of the Year for Shine On.

On October 21, 2016, Sarah released Wonderland. This was her second Christmas album. It has 13 traditional and modern holiday songs. She performed songs from the album at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and other TV shows.

In 2019, Sarah McLachlan hosted the Juno Awards of 2019. In 2023, she joined other artists to record "What I Wouldn't Do" by Serena Ryder. This was a charity song to help youth mental health. In 2024, she announced a tour to celebrate 30 years of her album Fumbling Towards Ecstasy.

Lilith Fair Music Festival

In 1996, Sarah McLachlan noticed that concert promoters often didn't want to feature two female musicians in a row. She decided to change this. She organized a successful tour for herself and Paula Cole. This led to the idea for Lilith Fair.

The next year, Sarah founded the Lilith Fair tour. She named it after Lilith, a figure from an old Jewish legend.

Lilith Fair was a huge success. In 1997, it earned $16 million, making it the top-grossing touring festival. Over three years, it brought together two million people. It also raised more than $7 million for charities. Lilith Fair was the most successful all-female music festival ever. It helped many female artists become famous. The tour ran in 1997, 1998, and 1999.

In 2010, there were plans for Lilith Fair to return. It was planned for Canada, the United States, and Europe. However, some shows were cancelled due to low ticket sales and other challenges.

Other Music Projects and Appearances

McLachlan performing for Good Morning America in 1998

In 1997, Sarah sang on the Delerium song "Silence." This song became very popular and is known as one of the greatest trance songs. In 2002, she sang a duet with Bryan Adams called "Don't Let Go." It was for the movie soundtrack Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron.

In 2006, Sarah contributed "Ordinary Miracle" to the movie soundtrack for Charlotte's Web. She performed this song at the 2010 Winter Olympics opening ceremony.

McLachlan performing at the 2017 Invictus Games opening ceremony

In 2011, Sarah McLachlan performed "I Will Remember You" and "Angel" at a special ceremony. This event honored the passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93. It took place at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Pennsylvania. In 2019, she sang "O Canada" before a game in the 2019 NBA Finals.

Musical Influences

Sarah McLachlan has shared some of the artists who inspired her music. These include Joan Baez, Cat Stevens, Simon and Garfunkel, Peter Gabriel, and Kate Bush. She also mentioned Brian Eno and the Bulgarian State Television Female Vocal Choir.

Awards and Achievements

Sarah McLachlan recognized by BC Entertainment Hall of Fame in a sidewalk in downtown Vancouver

Sarah McLachlan has won many awards for her music. She has been nominated for 26 Juno Awards and has won twelve of them. In 1998, she won Female Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year for Surfacing. She also won Songwriter of the Year for "Building a Mystery." In 2009, she received the Humanitarian Award.

She has also won three Grammy Awards. She won Best Female Pop Vocal Performance twice, for "Building a Mystery" and "I Will Remember You." She also won Best Pop Instrumental Performance for "Last Dance."

Sarah McLachlan has received many special honors. In 1999, she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. This was for her successful music career, her role in Lilith Fair, and her charity work. In 2001, she was inducted into the Order of British Columbia. In 2012, she was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame. In 2017, she was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. In 2024, she was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Helping Others: Philanthropy

Sarah McLachlan School of Music

Sarah McLachlan is passionate about music education. She funds a program in Vancouver that teaches music to children. This program grew into the Sarah McLachlan School of Music. It offers free music lessons in guitar, piano, percussion, and choir. The goal is to help young people develop a love for music and build their self-esteem. In 2016, the school expanded to Edmonton, Alberta.

ASPCA and Animal Welfare

Sarah McLachlan has strongly supported the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). She appeared in advertisements for the organization. Her two-minute ad, featuring her song "Angel," helped raise millions of dollars for the ASPCA. She also wrote a letter on behalf of PETA to protest Canada's annual seal hunt.

Other Charitable Work

Sarah has contributed to many other charity efforts. In 2005, she took part in a telethon to help with tsunami disaster relief. She also performed at the Live 8 concert in Philadelphia. These concerts aimed to pressure world leaders to fight poverty in Africa. In 2008, she donated a song to a CD helping with tsunami recovery. She is also a member of the Canadian charity Artists Against Racism.