Favorite Canadian Musicians: Anne Murray (#5)

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Happy Friday! Hope your air conditioner is working well if you live anywhere in two-thirds of the U.S. It’s probably hot in Canada, too. Our neighbors to the north just celebrated a birthday, and to celebrate that I’m counting down my favorite Canadian performers. Here’s one that at least everyone knows about..... #5: Anne Murray When John Roberts did a list of people he felt belonged in the Country Music Hall of Fame he included Anne Murray. I would include Anne Murray. When someone’s popularity and fame transcends their genre, they definitely meet the criteria for being famous. Wow, what a voice. She’s been at it since the mid-60s, too, when she was a cast member of a Canadian TV show Singalong Jubilee, where she was first noticed. After a Canadian album yielded success and a hit (“What About Me”) she was signed to Capitol Records. Then came “Snowbird.” The late 60s/early 70s were good times for Canadians to invade the U.S. “Snowbird” was the first record by a Canadian female artist to sell a million copies in the U.S. That established Murray as a major force in country (the “countrypolitan” sound of the era was well-suited for what Murray had to offer), pop, and “easy listening” (now known as “adult contemporary”). Her long string of hits includes “You Needed Me,” “A Little Good News” (a song that resonates today, nearly 40 years after its release), “Could I Have This Dance,” “Just Another Woman in Love,” and even hits with covers of songs like “Cotton Jenny” and “Daydream Believer.” Obviously, Canada has awarded their singing snowbird, giving her the Order of Canada and induction into both the Canadian Music and Canadian Country Music Halls of Fame. Maybe one day the U.S. will catch up. Anne Murray Born Morna Anne Murray June 20, 1945 Springhill, Nova Scotia One of my favorite songs that Anne recorded, originally done by the Hollies and written by Jon Voight’s brother Chip Davis: