Keywords Popular Singers

Murray made her solo recording debut in 1968; in 1969 Capitol Records released her first hit, "Snowbird." Her US break came in 1970, when she joined singer-guitarist Glen Campbell on his popular TV show. Numerous hits followed for Murray, including a cover of Gordon Lightfoot's "Cotton Jenny" (1972). In 1975, Murray married Langstroth and entered a period of musical inactivity, during which she had the first of two children. She returned to the spotlight in 1978 with a recording of "Walk Right Back," which began a string of high-charting releases stretching into 1986. Foreshadowing the careers of k.d. lang and Shania Twain, Murray easily spanned both the pop and country charts.

Seeking stability for her children, Murray undertook long-term engagements in Las Vegas, alternating with concerts in venues such as Carnegie Hall and Toronto's O'Keefe Centre. Her popularity began to wane in the late 1980s, despite a solid fan base. In 1995, Murray suffered the death of her manager, Leonard Rambeau. Her spirits revived with a 1996 duet with Bryan Adams on "What Would It Take," and a new business relationship with Adams's manager, Bruce Allen; she settled back into a pattern of high-profile performances and recordings at intervals of one or two years.

Murray, Anne
Photo by James O'Mara & Ryan (courtesy EMI Music Canada).

Recordings
Murray's debut solo album, What About Me? (1968), was firmly in the folk idiom, featuring simple guitar-oriented arrangements and compositions by Joni Mitchell and Tom Paxton. Producer Brian Ahern encouraged her move to a larger label with US distribution, and her second album, This Way Is My Way (1969), was released on Capitol Records, containing Gene MacLellan's "Snowbird." Released as the B side of a single, "Snowbird" sold more than one million copies in 1970, making Murray the first Canadian woman to attain a gold record (500,000 units sold) in the US. In 1971, Murray teamed with Glen Campbell for an album of duets, Anne Murray/Glen Campbell, which produced the hit medley "By The Time I Get To Phoenix"/ "I Say A Little Prayer."

Although the 1970s were dominated by album-oriented artists, Murray remained largely a singles artist, becoming best known for her interpretations of songs by composers like Kenny Loggins ("Danny's Song"), Lennon and McCartney ("You Won't See Me") and Randy Goodrum ("You Needed Me"). This trend continued into the 1980s, with Murray topping the pop and country charts with singles like "Could I Have This Dance?" (1980), "A Little Good News" (1983), and "Now And Forever" (1986), while her album output was dominated by hits compilations and Christmas recordings. In 1994, Capitol released Now & Forever, a comprehensive three-CD collection. In 1996, the label released Anne Murray, the singer's 30th album. The album moved Murray away from country-tinged ballads to contemporary pop, featuring duets with Aaron Neville and Bryan Adams. A live recording followed in 1998, and in 2005 an album of standards, I'll Be Seeing You, helped re-establish Murray as one of the leading voices in adult contemporary music. Overall, Murray scored 11 number one hits on the country charts, while 25 of her albums sold more than 500,000 copies in the US. In 2005, her worldwide sales amounted to about 50 million units, including approximately 5.9 million in Canada.

Television
More than perhaps any other Canadian performer in the pre-video era, Murray's success was a product of television. Seasoned by regional appearances in her teens, she moved easily into the limelight on national broadcasts beginning on her 21st birthday, and quickly established herself as a fan favourite with her solo spots on Singalong Jubilee until 1970, and Let's Go, CBC Halifax's pop music show, 1967-8. On 4 Oct 1970, she made her US national debut on The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, on which she was a frequent guest until 1974. On 23 Oct 1970, CBC aired the first of many Anne Murray specials. Throughout the 1970s, Murray was a frequent guest on Canadian and US variety shows and other telecasts. Her 1988 Christmas special for the CBC attracted 4.2 million viewers and was also popular in reruns. In 2005, CBC broadcast a career retrospective, featuring commentary by Murray and highlights from many of her television appearances.

Awards and Recognition
Murray received her first Grammy award in 1974 for best female country vocal performance and has won three other Grammys, along with three American Music Awards, three Country Music Association awards and 31 Juno awards. She was inducted into the Juno Hall of Fame and the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1993, and into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 2002. She was awarded the East Coast Music Association Directors' Special Achievement Award in 2001, and the Legacy Award from the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2006. In 1980, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and in 1998 was among the inaugural group awarded a place on Canada's Walk of Fame in Toronto. She was named an officer of the Order of Canada in 1975, and elevated to the rank of companion in 1984. In 2002, she received the Order of Nova Scotia.

The first Canadian woman to establish herself as a commercial force on the US pop and country music charts, Murray paved the way for a younger generation of singers and cemented her iconic status in the Canadian entertainment business. Her success was the result of a combination of intelligent song selection, her attractively husky alto voice, and wholesome good looks.

Author James Hale

Discography

What About Me? 1968. Arc AS-782

Bibliography

Conn Hughes, Barry. 'Will Anne Murray spoil success?' Canadian Magazine, 25 Jul 1970

Links to Other Sites
JUNO Awards
The online home for the JUNO Awards and the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. Scroll down the page to check out the latest award winners and music clips. Sample the latest JUNO Awards CD. From the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

Canadian Music Hall of Fame
This site features profiles of Canadian artists inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. Check the list of past inductees and then click on the appropriate year in the "Virtual Hall of Fame." A Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) website.

Grammy Awards
Search for your favourite musicians and recordings at the Grammy Awards website.

Anne Murray: 2006 Legacy Award Recipient
A profile of popular Canadian singer Anne Murray. From the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Anne Murray: Canada’s Songbird
Read about the career highlights of Canadian recording star Ann Murray. From Library and Archives Canada.

Anne Murray
The official website for Canadian singing legend Anne Murray.

Ruling the Airwaves: The CRTC and Canadian Content
An audio clip of a 1970 CBC interview with Anne Murray about the emerging Canadian music scene.

Celebrating Canada's 'songbird'
A multimedia CBC feature dedicated to Ann Murray.

Canadian Recording Artists
Images of a series stamps that pay tribute to Canadian recording artists. From the Canada Post website.

Pat Riccio Jr
The website for musician and producer Pat Riccio Jr. Features a bio and photos of Pat Riccio Jr and his father Pat Riccio.

Anne Murray Centre
The website for the Anne Murray Centre in Springhill, Nova Scotia. Check out the latest events and browse the online tour of exhibits devoted to the life and music of Canada's songbird, Anne Murray.