Canada’s Songbird Anne Murray may have retired in 2007, but her music continues live in Snowbird – the Anne Murray Tribute.
Picking up the musical torch, B.C. chanteuse Laura Gillespie will bring four decades of her favourite artist’s music to the SASCU Rec Centre on March 29.
Gillespie’s idol was the first Canadian female solo artist to attain number one on the American Billboard chart.
With 33 number one singles, Murray has sold more than 53 million albums and is ranked number 10 on Billboard Magazine’s top 50 greatest contemporary artists.
First to sell a gold record in both Canada and the United States, and first woman and Canadian to win album of the year, Murray took home 24 Junos and four Grammy’s during her 40-year career.
Gillespie was brought up in Nova Scotia, about two hours away from where Murray lived and says her mother was a great fan, as were most of her friends’ parents.
“Mom played her music all the time from when I was really young, and I loved it,” Gillespie says, noting she was singing almost as soon as she could talk. “I always thought I sounded a lot like her.”
Gillespie says she is an able mimic and practised Murray’s mannerisms, believing that with some practice, she could offer a fitting tribute to Murray.
The catalyst for the Snowbird tour was meeting the members of her back-up band, who have been playing together for seven years.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do; one of those things you think you’ll never get to do,” says Gillespie with enthusiasm about her new show. “This is awesome, I am so excited about it.”
The multi-media show will take audience members back through four decades of Murray’s hits, career highlights and songs like Cotton Jenny, Could I have this Dance, What About Me and Snowbird – the one that started it all.
Gillespie says the show is a lot more than music, with skits, costume changes and video presentations.
“It’s about how much Anne Murray has done, her walks of fame, all the first things she’s done,” Gillespie adds. “It’s multi-media and informative – some laughs, and interesting little things to keep people entertained.”
Gillespie previously toured across Canada with a band called Flashback, a show that featured the music and costumes of such music notables as Lulu, Linda Ronstadt and Cher, among others.
Describing herself as naturally gifted, Gillespie took lessons at the Conservatory of Nova Scotia and more recently with Sarah McLaughlin’s voice coach, Judith Rabinovitch.
The show takes place at the SASCU Recreation Centre at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 29. Tickets are available at the Rec Centre. Gillespie will have CDs available for sale.
