Laura Smith
Laura Smith is a Canadian folk singer-songwriter. She is best known for her 1995 single "Shade of Your Love", one of the year's biggest hits on adult contemporary radio stations in Canada,[2] and for her adaptation of the Scottish folk song "My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean" which she entitled "My Bonny". She recorded a version of this with The Chieftains, which they erroneously listed as "My Bonnie" on their album Fire in the Kitchen. In December 2010, she received a nod for Song of the Decade from Bill Margeson at LiveIreland for "My Bonny". She has been awarded several nationally recognized awards for her music.
Born and raised in London, Ontario, Smith was encouraged in her early writing by the noted poet Margaret Avison, then writer-in-residence at the University of Western Ontario. She began playing music as well, making her debut in area coffeehouses. She briefly moved to Toronto in 1972, but soon moved to Cape Breton.[1]
Smith released her debut album in 1989. Her second album, B'tween the Earth and My Soul (1996) brought her national acclaim and earned her two East Coast Music Awards (Female Artist, Album of the Year) and two Juno nominations for Best New Solo Artist and Best Roots and Traditional Album. The next year, 1997, she was awarded a Gemini Award for Best Performance in a Performing Arts Program or Series.[1]
She continued to work through the 2000s including two seasons on stage in role of Marilla in Anne and Gilbert, the Musical at the Confederation Centre of the Arts, Charlottetown.[1] However through the decade she suffered three debilitating accidents which resulted in chronic pain. This led to the use of increasingly stronger prescription drugs which eventually led to dependence. She disappeared from the music scene for a time, but by 2010, she was performing again, having overcome her dependency through the adoption of non-narcotic pain treatment therapies. Her story was featured in a radio documentary which aired on CBC Radio One's morning program The Current on February 3, 2010.[3] In 2010 and 2011, she has performed several shows across Canada, touring with Ryan MacGrath.[2]
Discography
Albums
Year |
Album |
CAN |
1989 |
Laura Smith |
— |
1994 |
B'tween the Earth and My Soul |
86 |
1997 |
It's a Personal Thing |
— |
1998 |
Vanity Pressed: A Collection |
— |
Singles
Year |
Single |
Chart Positions |
Album |
CAN AC |
CAN |
1995 |
"Shade of Your Love" |
6 |
42 |
B'tween the Earth and My Soul |
"My Bonny" |
33 |
— |
1997 |
"It's a Personal Thing" |
17 |
— |
It's a Personal Thing |
"For Better or for Worse" |
54 |
— |
Guest singles
Year |
Single |
Artist |
Chart Positions |
Album |
CAN AC |
CAN Country |
1996 |
"Don't Take Me Home" |
Terry Kelly |
51 |
38 |
Far Cry from Leaving |
References
External links
Persondata |
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Smith, Laura |
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