By JENNIFER SVENDSEN
Anne Murray has been in demand by the SCERA Shell Outdoor Theater for years. The theater has finally signed the Grammy-winning singer for a concert at 8 p.m. on Monday.
“Anne Murray was at the top of our list when we decided to add celebrity performers to our season several years ago,” said Norm Nielsen, SCERA President. “She is in such demand, however, that it was difficult to arrange her schedule with ours. We’re thrilled to have her in our season.”
Murray has No. 1 pop and country hits, and Nielsen said audiences can expect to hear signature songs such as “Just Another Woman in Love,” “You Needed Me,” “Could I Have This Dance” and “A Love Song.”
Murray was born in the coal mining town of Springhill, Nova Scotia, as the only girl among five brothers. Her singing career began more than 30 years ago on Singalong Jubilee, a CBC television summer series out of Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Her song “Snowbird,” off the album “This Way is My Way,” was her first single released in the United States in 1970. The album became her first American gold record. She was the first Canadian solo female artist to reach that milestone. She has sold more than 30 million copies of her albums and tapes.
“I used to feel guilty that I was making money for something I loved to do,” Murray said in a news release. “Yet over the years I’ve had thousands of letters from people saying my music helped them through a crisis. I’ve even talked to doctors who have used my music during their operations.”
Murray has played to standing room only houses in places such as Carnegie Hall and Radio City Music Hall in New York, the Palladium in London, the National Arts Centre in Ottawa and the O’Keefe in Toronto. She has received four Grammy awards and 31 Juno awards. She also has her “star” at Hollywood and Vine in Los Angeles and Nashville’s Walkway of Stars. She is currently working on her 32nd album, which features her 19-year-old daughter Dawn.
In a news release, she said her philosophy about music is to “find good songs and sing them.” Murray also said her voice is stronger now than it ever has been.
“Her vocal gift is still outstanding. We’re getting an Anne Murray in her prime,” Nielsen said.
Tickets for the concert are $15, available weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the SCERA Center (745 S. State, Orem), or by calling (801) 225-2569 or 225-ARTS. The Murray concert is also part of the Shell season ticket, which includes 11 events including concerts with Maureen McGovern, Gary Puckett and Michael McLean. The ticket also includes musical productions such as “State Fair,””The Music Man” and “Shenandoah.”
