Anne Murray is the first Canadian singer to win Album of the Year in 1984. It was she who paved the way for the international show business of Celine Dion, Shania Twain and other compatriots. Since before that, Canadian performers in America were not very popular.
Way to glory Anne Murray
The future country singer was born on June 20, 1945 in the small town of Springhill. Most of them were engaged in coal mining. The girl's father was a doctor, and her mother was a nurse. The family had many children. Ann had five more brothers, so her mother had to devote her life to raising children.
The little girl has been interested in music since she was 6 years old. She first took piano lessons. By the age of 15, Ann traveled by bus to the nearby city of Tatamaguch on her own to learn the basics of vocals. At her high school prom, she boldly took the stage in front of an audience singing Ave Maria.
Then she studied at the university, choosing the faculty of physical education. After graduating, she got a job as a physical education teacher at a school in Summerside, where she worked for a year. And during the summer holidays she performed in Primorye. While still a student, she recorded two songs as part of a student project. True, there was a misunderstanding, and the name of the future star was indicated on the disc with an error.
Successes and achievements of Anne Murray
Ann was offered a role in the popular TV show Singalong Jubilee. True, at first she was not as a singer. There, a music editor drew attention to a talented girl. He helped her release her debut solo album, What About Me.
The record was released in Toronto in 1968 and was well received by the audience. Despite the fact that the disc contained several cover versions, the lead single What About Me was written specifically for the young talent. It was constantly played on Canadian radio. Very soon, Ann Murray signed a contract with the recording company Capitol Records.
The singer's second album This Way Is My Way, released in the fall of 1969, was also very popular. The main track Snowbird became not only the first hit in Canada, but also conquered the US charts. The disc went gold in America. It was the first time in history that a resident of Canada managed to achieve such success.
The singer was even nominated then for the Grammy Award as the best performer. But in 1970, fortune did not smile at the girl. Although subsequently she held the prestigious statuette in her hands four times, winning in various categories as a vocalist, country performer, and even in pop style.
Anne Murray was so popular that she was literally "torn apart" by offering all sorts of shows. She took part in several television projects at once and became a regular participant in the American telenovela Glen Campbell.
Anne Murray's work since the 1970s
During 1970-1980. songs of the performer occupied the leading positions in the charts of pop music and country music. She was entrusted with singing the national anthem at her debut American League baseball game in 1977 (in Toronto).
In autumn 2007, the artist announced a farewell tour. In the spring of the following year, she performed on tour in the United States of America. Then in Canada, ending his career with a performance at the Toronto Sony Center. The most popular hits of the country singer were included in the album Anne Murray Duets: Friends & Legends.
Throughout her singing career, since 1968, the star has released 32 studio albums and 15 compilations.
Anne Murray's personal life
Ann Murray married Bill Langstroth, producer and host of the television program Singalong Jubilee, in 1975. In a marriage with an interval of three years, son William and daughter Don were born. At the age of 10, the girl suffered from anorexia nervosa. But after a course of treatment, she managed to overcome this terrible disease.
Don followed in the footsteps of her mother, becoming an artist, in addition, she was seriously interested in painting. Mom and daughter recorded several compositions sung by a duet, and even in 2008 they released a joint disc "Anne Murray's Duets: Friends and Legends".
When the children grew up, the couple broke up, and in 2003 Langstroth died. After the birth of the children, Ann Murray settled in Markham. He lives there now.
Charity Ann Murray
In 1989, the Ann Murray Center opened in Springhill, which contains a collection of things from the famous Canadian and her CDs. Tourists visited this place with pleasure, and the proceeds from the activities of the museum were directed to the city treasury.
In 2004, the memory of the star's parents was immortalized. Ann Murray was actively involved in the opening of the Dr. Carson and Marion Murray Community Center. The money was collected by the whole world, wanting to build a skating rink to replace the one that collapsed in 2002 (during a hockey match with children). The new ice arena can accommodate 800 spectators.
In addition, the singer actively participated in raising funds for other projects, including a charity golf club. It was there that she received the honorary title of the best golfer among female celebrities. She surprised those present with accurate throws of the ball into the hole.
Anne Murray devoted four decades of her life to a creative career. During this time, 55 million copies of her albums were sold. In addition to four Grammy awards, she has 24 Juno awards, as well as three American Music Awards. Her star is not only on the Walk of Fame in Canada, but also in Hollywood.
