| Sharon, Lois & Bram | |
|---|---|
Sharon, Lois & Bram - 1993 |
|
| Background information | |
| Origin | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Genres | Children/Family |
| Instruments | Sharon: Vocals, Piano, Guitar Lois: Piano, Autoharp, Vocals Bram: Guitar, Banjo, Vocals |
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Labels | Elephant Records A&M Records Drive Entertainment Skinnamarink Entertainment Casablanca Kids Inc. |
| Associated acts | Eric Nagler, Raffi, Fred Penner |
| Website | http://www.casablancakids.com/slb.html |
| Members | |
| Sharon Hampson, Lois Lilienstein, Bram Morrison | |
Sharon, Lois & Bram is the name of a Canadian children's musical trio composed of Sharon (Trostin) Hampson (born March 31, 1943 in Toronto, Ontario), Lois Ada (Goldberg) Lilienstein (born July 10, 1936 in Chicago, Illinois), and Bramwell "Bram" Morrison (born December 18, 1940 in Toronto, Ontario).
Contents |
Sharon Hampson, Lois Lillenstein, and Bram Morrison began their singing careers as individuals. They all had a common ground performing at the “Mariposa in the Schools".[1] It was here where the trio met and came together to begin recording their first album, One Elephant, Deux Éléphants, released by Elephants Records distributed by A & M.[2] The folk style album soared in sales, becoming one of the fastest selling children’s album at the time in Canada.
The group began touring in Canada, in The Greatest Little Touring Super Show in 1979, then appearing in the United States at the Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors Festival in New York in 1980. The group had a diverse musical sound and themed songs. It ranged from folk songs, school yard chants, pop tunes, camp songs, singing games, rounds, and nonsense rhymes that were performed in diverse styles such as jazz, calypso, rock’n roll, country and folk. Their music was for families and leaned heavily towards participation and sing along styles. This style was furthered developed in their television show The Elephant Show, which aired on CBC commencing in 1984.
Their unique singing style can be credited not only to themselves but also to producer Bill Whitely.[2] Whitely was looking for a more energetic twist to children’s music and a shift away from the previous traditional folk style. Whitely used a technique in which songs were no longer filtered though personalities and trademark sounds of the performer. Instead, songs instilled all musical manner and sources such as rock ‘n roll, Broadway or calypso. This sound was regarded as completely new. Sharon, Lois, and Bram's appeal crossed a variety of demographics.[3]
During the 1980s, the trio starred in The Elephant Show on CBC. The series was later aired in reruns on the U.S. cable network Nickelodeon, through 1994. Each thirty-minute installment featured episode-length storylines, in addition to songs and sketches, featuring the trio alongside a human-sized elephant puppet and children's entertainer, Eric Nagler. Special guests, which included Fred Penner, Ann Mortifee, Louis Del Grande, Jayne Eastwood, Andrea Martin, The Nylons, Murray McLauchlan, Jan Rubes, Sneezy Waters, The Shuffle Demons, Kate and Anna McGarrigle, and many more, also appeared on each 30 minute episode.
A second series, titled Skinnamarink TV, featured a different format and two new puppet characters. The series ran for 52 episodes on the CBC in Canada and The Learning Channel in the USA from 1997 to 2000.
The group won the Juno Award for best children’s album in 1979-named Smorgasboard, their 1980 album Singing ‘n’ Swinging and in 1999 Skinnamarink TV Sing-along album. These three albums had record sales exceeding 100,000 copies in Canada alone, this also brings to exception three additional albums who achieved the same successful records sales, Mainly Mother Goose, In the Schoolyard and Sharon, Lois and Bram’s Elephant Show Record. Their influence on Canada’s children’s records became an international influence, with their international sales above 2.5 million dollars in 1991.[2]
They know and respect children; each had an extensive background in children’s music prior to the group uniting.[1] Since 1988, Sharon, Lois & Bram have been members of UNICEF. They began by supporting the Trick-Or-Treat for Unicef campaign. In 1989, the trio were appointed National Ambassadors by UNICEF Canada. They were involved in events, education, and public service materials, special appearances and fund raising. Through their work, they have reached children, educators, parents, the media and heads of government. In 1996, Sharon, Lois & Bram were appointed by UNICEF Canada, the spokespersons for its 50th Anniversary Year Celebration.[4]
The White House Annual Easter Egg Roll & Hunt in 1994 featured Sharon, Lois & Bram. The trio performed a concert in the Ellipse and were invited into the White House to have breakfast with President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.
In 1995, the trio was approached by Collective of Western Canada Planetariums and asked to produce a "Laser Sharon, Lois & Bram" multi-media presentation. This was so that children at an early age could be introduced to the solar system by way of education through entertainment. Make A Wish with Sharon, Lois & Bram premiered in June 1995 for extended runs in Vancouver's H. R. MacMillan Space Centre and Toronto's McLaughlin Planetarium, which no longer exists.
Also, in 1995, the song Old John Braddelum which was on their 1978 album, One Elephant, Deux Éléphants appeared in the feature-film Billy Madison starring Adam Sandler.
In 2000, after the death of her husband and deciding that life on the road was too hectic, Lilienstein retired from touring with the group, which now often performs as Sharon, Bram & Friends (friends referring to life-size animal puppets that appear alongside them). Lilienstein has continued to play benefit shows and record with the group.
In 2002 the three were made members of the Order of Canada. Video clips of the ceremony can be seen on Sharon, Lois & Bram's 25 year anniversary movie titled "25 Years of Skinnamarink".
In 2005 Bram announced on CBC News that he had been found to have a benign tumor which was causing deafness in one ear. He underwent an experimental procedure to prevent further hearing loss [1] .
Sharon's husband Joe Hampson died on November 30, 2006. Joe played with the folk group The Travellers for more than 40 years. Lois stepped in and performed with Bram during Sharon's time of mourning.
Sharon, Lois & Bram reunited on stage at the Toronto Jewish Film Festival on May 4, 2008 for a rare performance featuring all three singers and a viewing of their 2004 concert titled "25 Years of Skinnamarink".
In 2009, the trio was awarded the Estelle Klein Award for their significant contributions to Ontario's folk music community. Sharon, Lois & Bram received their award at the 23rd Annual OCFF Conference held in Ottawa from October 15–18, 2009. The Saturday evening gala dinner on October 17 included a short video presentation of their life’s work. On Sunday, October 18, the OCFF continued its tradition of the award recipient being interviewed by Richard Flohil[5]