Anne Murray

Background:

Murray made her first solo recording in 1968 and a year later, she scored a huge hit with Gene MacLellan's Snowbird, which sold more that one million copies, making Murray the first Canadian woman to achieve a gold record in the USA. In 1970, Murray broke into the US when she joined singer-guitarist Glen Campbell on his TV show. Murray continued with a string of hits, including Gordon Lightfoot's Cotton Jenny. In 1975, Murray entered a period of inactivity when she married and had her first child. She returned in 1978, with a recording of Walk Right Back

Foreshadowing the careers of Canadian women like k.d. lang and Shania Twain, Anne Murray was the first woman to span both the pop and country charts with singles such as Could I Have This Dance? , A Little Good News and Now and Forever. In 1996, Murray released Anne Murray, which brought her away from the country-tinged albums she was famous for in the past and launched her into the contemporary pop charts, featuring duets with Aaron Neville and Bryan Adams. In 2005, her album of standards I'll Be Seeing You, helped re-establish her as one of the leading female voices in contemporary music.

Overall, Murray has had 11 number one hits on the country charts, 25 of her albums have sold more than 500,000 albums in the USA. As of 2005, her worldwide sales amounted to over 50 million units, including 5.9 million in Canada. In addition to her own solo hits, Anne has enjoyed major duet chart hits with Glen Campbell, Dave Loggins and Kenny Rogers.

Murray's success, more so than any other Canadian performer, was widely a product of television. Her CBC Christmas special attracted 4.2 million viewers and also earned high numbers in reruns.

Murray received her first Grammy award in 1974, for Best Female Country Vocal Performance and has since won three other Grammy awards, along with three American Music Awards, three CCMA Awards and 31 Junos. She was inducted into the Juno Hall of Fame and the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1993. She was awarded the ECMA Special Achievement Award in 2001. In 1980, Murray received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and in 1998 was in the inaugural group on Canada's Walk of Fame. She was awarded the rank of Companion of Canada in 1984.

Anne Murray was the first Canadian woman to establish herself as a viable commercial force on both the country and pop charts, paving the way for future generations. Her success was the result of her intelligent song selection, her husky alto voice and her wholesome good looks.

In 1989 the Anne Murray Museum was opened in her hometown of Springhill, NS, attracting thousands of visitors annually.

For more information on Anne Murray's current activities, please visit www.annemurray.com