Born in 1945, Morna Anne Murray, Companion of the Order of Canada, started life as the town doctor’s daughter in the coal mining community of Springhill, Nova Scotia.  Like many others she took voice and music lessons as a young girl, but went on to earn a degree in Physical Education at University of New Brunswick and became a Phys Ed teacher in PEI.

However, while at college, Murray had auditioned as a singer for a CBC TV program called Singalong Jubilee and although not offered the position, she received a call from the producers for a second audition a full two years later and this time landed a spot.

Murray left her teaching position and in time moved to Toronto after landing a solo record deal in 1968. Her first album, “What About Me” also featured her first single (of the same name) and was a substantial hit in Canada, but it was her second album “This Way is My Way” in 1969 that featured the song that made her an international star.

Written by Canadian songwriter Gene MacLellan (who also wrote “Put Your Hand in the Hand”), “Snowbird” reached Number 23 on the UK Singles Chart and topped the Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart for six weeks (it was Number 8 on the Singles Chart) becoming the first American Gold record ever awarded to a Canadian female solo artist.

Having since sold more than 54 million albums, Anne Murray is often cited as the woman who paved the way for other Canadian female success stories such as Céline Dion, Sarah McLachlan and Shania Twain.  A longtime golf enthusiast, she also made history in 2003 when she became the first woman to score a hole-in-one at the Kaluhyat Golf Course’s Par 3, 17th hole in upstate New York.  A few years later she was widely cited as the world’s best female celebrity golfer.

LISTEN TO TODAY’S SELECTION – Thursday 27 December 

Snowbird

 Beneath this snowy mantle cold and clean

The unborn grass lies waiting for its coat to turn to green

The snowbird sings the song he always sings

And speaks to me of flowers that will bloom again in spring

When I was young my heart was young then, too

Anything that it would tell me, that’s the thing that I would do

But now I feel such emptiness within

For the thing that I want most in life’s the thing that I can’t win

 Spread your tiny wings and fly away

And take the snow back with you

Where it came from on that day

The one I love forever is untrue

And if I could you know that I would

Fly away with you

The breeze along the river seems to say

That he’ll only break my heart again should I decide to stay

So, little snowbird, take me with you when you go

To that land of gentle breezes where the peaceful waters flow

Spread your tiny wings and fly away

And take the snow back with you

Where it came from on that day

The one I love forever is untrue

And if I could you know that I would

Fly away with you

Yeah, if I could I know that I would fl-y-y-y-y away with you