Felicity Urquhart

Felicity Urquhart
Birth name Felicity Ann Urquhart
Also known as Felicity
Born 4 May 1976
Origin Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia
Genres Country
Occupation(s) singer-songwriter, radio and television presenter
Instruments guitar
Years active 1987–present
Labels Hadley, Radio Friendly, EMI, Shock
Website felicityurquhart.com

Felicity Ann Urquhart (born 4 May 1976) is an Australian country music singer-songwriter, and a TV and radio presenter. Her single "Big Black Cloud", co-written with Randy Scruggs, reached No. 1 on Country Tracks National Top 30 Singles Chart in 2007. She has won numerous awards including a Centenary Medal in 2001 "For service to Australian society through country music". Urquhart married musician and producer Glen Hannah in March 2009. She has been the host of country music show Saturday Night Country on Australian Broadcasting Corporation Local Radio since March 2010.

Biography

Felicity Ann Urquhart was born on 4 May 1976 to Rex, an upholsterer, and Patricia "Trish" Urquhart.[1] She grew up in Tamworth in rural New South Wales. Her maternal grandfather, Ernie Walmsley, was a jockey turned horse-trainer and with her grandmother, Anne, ran a pub in Bingara.[1] Urquhart began busking in Peel Street, Tamworth during the Tamworth Country Music Festival at the age of 11.[2][3] Aside from learning guitar, Urquhart had piano lessons and performed in musicals.[4]

In 1992 Urquhart released her debut self-titled album, Felicity Urquhart on Tamworth-based Hadley Records. Her second album, Follow Me appeared in 1995 on Radio Friendly Music. Nothing to Hide was released in 1999 on EMI with New Shadow issued in 2001. On 1 January she was awarded a Centenary Medal by Prime Minister, John Howard.[5] In 2001, she met Glen Hannah who became her boyfriend. Urquhart performed with western swing group Feral Swing Katz at the Gympie National Country Music Muster in August – the performance was broadcast a year later on Live on Stage by ABC Radio National with Vince Jones presenting.[6] In 2002, she travelled to Nashville to record tracks for a future album with Hannah providing acoustic guitar, harmony vocals and song writing.[7] Album plans fell through and Urquhart left EMI. She recorded a six-track extended play, Turn out the Light on Shock Records which was released in 2004.

Shock Records distributed My Life in 2006, which was produced by Hannah (ex-Kasey Chambers touring band). Her single "Big Black Cloud", co-written with Randy Scruggs, appeared in November and reached No.1 on Country Tracks National Top 30 Singles Chart on 24 January 2007.[8][9] On 5 September, Urquhart performed for Howard, United States President George W Bush and Australian Defence Force personnel at a barbecue Garden Island.[10]

Urquhart and Hannah married on 10 March 2009 in Vanuatu.[4] Urquhart released Landing Lights upon return to Australia. Internationally she has opened for country music legends Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings.[11]

From 2005 to 2009, Urquhart was a presenter on Sydney Weekender, a travel show on Seven Network.[12] She has been the host of country music show Saturday Night Country on Australian Broadcasting Corporation Local Radio across Australia since March 2010.[13] She had previously filled-in for retiring host John Nutting who had picked her as his replacement.[13] She lives in Avoca Beach on the New South Wales Central Coast.

Awards and nominations

Year Recipient Award Result
1996 Felicity Mo Award – Female Country Performer of the Year[14] style="background: #99FF99; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2"|Won
1998 Felicity Mo Award – Female Country Performer of the Year[15] style="background: #99FF99; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2"|Won
Felicity Urquhart Australian Club Entertainment Awards – Country Female Performer[16] style="background: #99FF99; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2"|Won
1999 Felicity Urquhart Australian Club Entertainment Awards – Country Female Performer[17] style="background: #99FF99; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2"|Won
2000 Felicity Australian Club Entertainment Awards – Country Female Performer[17] style="background: #99FF99; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2"|Won
2001 Felicity Australian Country Music Hall of Fame – The Australian Country Music Hands of Fame[17] style="background: #99FF99; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2"|Inducted
Felicity Australian Club Entertainment Awards – Country Female Performer[16] style="background: #FDD; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="no table-no2"|Nominated
Beccy Cole, Darren Coggan, Felicity, Adam Harvey – "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind" CMAA Country Music Awards – Vocal Collaboration[18] style="background: #99FF99; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2"|Won
Urquart, Felicity Ann – "For service to Australian society through country music" Government of AustraliaCentenary Medal[5] style="background: #99FF99; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2"|Won
2002 Felicity Australian Club Entertainment Awards – Country Female Performer[19] style="background: #FDD; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="no table-no2"|Nominated
2003 Felicity Australian Club Entertainment Awards – Country Female Performer[20] style="background: #FDD; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="no table-no2"|Nominated
2004 Turn out the Light Australian Independent Country Music Awards – Australian Independent Female Vocalist of the Year[21] style="background: #99FF99; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2"|Won
2005 Felicity Urquhart Australian Club Entertainment Awards – Country Female Performer[22] style="background: #FDD; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="no table-no2"|Nominated
Felicity Urquhart, Glen Hannah – "Dear Someone" Victorian & National Country Music Awards – Best Country Duo of the Year[7] style="background: #99FF99; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2"|Won
Turn out the Light Australian Country Music Listener's (ACML) People's Choice Awards – Best Female Vocalist[7] style="background: #99FF99; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2"|Won
Turn out the Light Tamworth Independent Artists Recognition Awards (TIARA) – Female Vocal[7] style="background: #99FF99; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2"|Won
Felicity Urquhart CMAA Australian CM Achiever Awards Winner – Independent Entertainer of the Year[7] style="background: #99FF99; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2"|Won
2006 Felicity Urquhart Musicoz Awards – Best Country Artist[23] style="background: #99FF99; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2"|Won
Felicity Urquhart Australian Club Entertainment Awards – Country Female Performer[24] style="background: #FDD; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="no table-no2"|Nominated
Felicity Urquhart, Glen Hannah – "The Flood" Australian Songwriters' Association – Country Songwriter of the Year[7] style="background: #99FF99; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2"|Won
Felicity Urquhart CMAA Australian CM Achiever Awards Winner – Independent Entertainer of the Year[7] style="background: #99FF99; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2"|Won
"The Flood" APRA-AMCOS Australian Independent Country Music Single of the Year[21] style="background: #99FF99; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2"|Won
My Life Australian Independent Album of the Year[21] style="background: #99FF99; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2"|Won
"The Flood" Australian Independent Female Vocalist of the Year[21] style="background: #99FF99; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2"|Won
2007 "Big Black Cloud" CMAA Country Music Awards – Video Clip of the Year[25] style="background: #99FF99; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2"|Won
Felicity Urquhart Australian Club Entertainment Awards – Country Female Performer[26] style="background: #FDD; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="no table-no2"|Nominated
Felicity Urquhart CMAA Australian CM Achiever Awards Winner – Independent Entertainer of the Year[7] style="background: #99FF99; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2"|Won
"Big Black Cloud" APRA-AMCOS Australian Independent Country Music Single of the Year[21] style="background: #99FF99; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2"|Won
2008 "Big Black Cloud" CMAA Country Music Awards – Video Clip of the Year[25] style="background: #99FF99; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2"|Won
Felicity Urquhart Australian Club Entertainment Awards – Country Female Performer[27] style="background: #FDD; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="no table-no2"|Nominated
Felicity Urquhart CMAA Australian CM Achiever Awards Winner – Independent Entertainer of the Year[7] style="background: #99FF99; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2"|Won
2009 Landing Lights ARIA Music Awards – Best Country Album[28] style="background: #FDD; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="no table-no2"|Nominated
Felicity Urquhart Australian Club Entertainment Awards – Country Female Performer[27] style="background: #FDD; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="no table-no2"|Nominated
2010 "Roller Coaster" CMAA Country Music Awards – Female Vocalist of the Year[29] style="background: #99FF99; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2"|Won

1998

Discography

Studio albums

Extended plays

Singles

Video albums

Other appearances

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Rose, Anna (16 May 2004). "Fun for a good cause". Northern Daily Leader (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  2. Dunn, Emily (26 January 2007). "Tamworth shines spotlight Down Under". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). p. 10.
  3. Moore, Luke (5 February 2009). "Felicity follows the sand". The Echo (Geelong, Australia). p. 15.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Squarey, Natasha (5 March 2009). "Felicity Urquhart Makes a Solid Landing". Who (magazine) (Pacific Magazines). Retrieved 20 September 2010.
  5. 5.0 5.1 "It's an Honour – Search results for "Urquhart, Felicity Ann"". Government of Australia. 1 January 2001. Retrieved 20 September 2010.
  6. "Felicity and the Feral Swing Katz". Live on Stage. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). 16 August 2002. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 "Felicity Urquhart". Tamworth Rage Page. Helen. Retrieved 20 September 2010.
  8. Bob Kirchner, ed. (15 November 2006). "Felicity's co-writer in the winner's circle". Country Music Bulletin (ICMB Publishing). Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  9. Bob Kirchner, ed. (24 January 2007). "Chart Update – Felicity at number one". Country Music Bulletin (ICMB Publishing). Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  10. "Barbeque luncheon at Garden Island". Department of Defence (Australia). 6 September 2007. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  11. Buchanan, Kathy (13 March 2005). "Five Minutes with Felicity Urquhart". Sunday Telegraph (Sydney, Australia: News Corporation). p. S32.
  12. "The Team – Felicity Urquhart". Sydney Weekender. Tourism New South Wales. Archived from the original on 24 February 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  13. 13.0 13.1 Edwards, Amy (24 February 2010). "Felicity steps up". Newcastle Herald (Australia: Fairfax Media). p. 12.
  14. "Winners – 21st Mo Awards 1996". Mo Awards. Australian Entertainment 'Mo' Awards Inc. Retrieved 20 September 2010.
  15. "Winners – 23rd Mo Awards 1998". Mo Awards. Australian Entertainment 'Mo' Awards Inc. Retrieved 20 September 2010.
  16. 16.0 16.1 "Inaugural ACE Award Winners 1998". Australian Club Entertainment (ACE). Retrieved 20 September 2010.
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 "2nd ACE Award Winners 1999". Australian Club Entertainment (ACE). Retrieved 20 September 2010.
  18. "Winners Archive – 2001". Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA). Retrieved 20 September 2010.
  19. "5th Australian Club Entertainment Award Winners & Nominees". Australian Club Entertainment (ACE). Retrieved 20 September 2010.
  20. "6th Australian Club Entertainment Award Winners & Nominees". Australian Club Entertainment (ACE). Retrieved 20 September 2010.
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 "Previous Winners". Mildura Country Music. Retrieved 20 September 2010.
  22. "8th Australian Club Entertainment Award Winners & Nominees". Australian Club Entertainment (ACE). Retrieved 20 September 2010.
  23. "Felicity Urquhart". Musicoz. Retrieved 20 September 2010.
  24. "9th Australian Club Entertainment Award Winners & Nominees". Australian Club Entertainment (ACE). Retrieved 20 September 2010.
  25. 25.0 25.1 "Winners Archive – 2007". Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA). Retrieved 20 September 2010.
  26. "10th Australian Club Entertainment Award Winners 2007". Australian Club Entertainment (ACE). Retrieved 20 September 2010.
  27. 27.0 27.1 "11th Australian Club Entertainment Award Winners 2008". Australian Club Entertainment (ACE). Retrieved 20 September 2010.
  28. "ARIA Awards 2010: History: Winners by Artist: Felicity Urquhart". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 20 September 2010.
  29. "Winners Archive – 2010". Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA). Retrieved 20 September 2010.

External links