TORONTO - Anne Murray reflects on an extraordinary year that followed her 80th birthday celebration last June. Despite being nearly two decades into retirement, she found herself inundated with requests from the music industry, inviting her to partake in celebrations honoring her illustrious career, which has significantly influenced many artists. "I never want to do anything," Murray joked as she prepared for a recent Nashville tribute show in her honor.
This year, Murray decided to acquiesce to some invitations, encouraged by her manager Bruce Allen. Among these was a notable appearance at the Juno Awards in March, where fellow musician Sarah McLachlan celebrated Murray's legacy with a lifetime achievement award, a rare honor. Additionally, an all-star tribute concert in Nashville showcased Murray's most famous tracks at the Grand Ole Opry, drawing attention to her notable absence from the Country Music Hall of Fame, a point of contention among her fans.
In the midst of these celebrations, the Springhill, N.S. native also released her 33rd studio album, "Here You Are," featuring a collection of previously lost tracks rediscovered in university archives thanks to a dedicated fan. However, the year wasn't without its challenges; approximately six weeks before her Nashville appearance, Murray suffered a fall that required her to use a walker temporarily. "It was scary," she recounted, stressing that the incident left her shaken but thankful to have recovered quickly before the tribute event.
Murray, while acknowledging her age and physical changes, remains active and focused on personal priorities such as family, friends, and golf. Despite speculation about potential surprise performances, she has firmly maintained her stance on retirement, expressing no regrets about her decision to step away from the music scene. "When I left, my career was in a really good place, but I wasn’t," she admitted, recognizing the need for a break for both vocal and mental health.
Since retiring in 2008, Murray has only made limited public appearances, with her last album of new material released in 1996. However, a revival of interest led to discussions about a new album comprised entirely of previously unreleased songs. Initially skeptical about the quality of these rediscovered tracks, which were found by superfan Lynn Holt among Murray's donated memorabilia to the University of Toronto, Murray eventually grew excited about the project. Holt uncovered around 40 unfinished songs from both the Toronto and Calgary archives, leading to a collaborative revival of Murray's music.
The project gained momentum as Murray’s label involved Grammy-winning producer Bob Rock, who worked on polishing the old tracks while consulting with her. In an unexpected turn, she also re-entered the studio, recording background harmonies on a cover of Bryan Adams' "Straight From the Heart" alongside her daughter, Dawn Langstroth, after expressing initial reluctance. The collaborations made her nervous but were enjoyable experiences that involved family ties, as her nephew contributed to the guitar and pedal steel work.
Among the album's standout tracks are the melodic "Heaven in My Heart" and the title track, "Here You Are," the latter being highlighted by Holt as potentially one of her best songs. The album also features the unusual "I Lost My Dog," which resonated with many listeners. Murray shared that hearing from fans about their emotional connection to that song was particularly rewarding, even though she was not a dog owner when she recorded it, proving its versatility and appeal.
As she revisits her past through music, Murray is clear about how she wishes to be remembered. Rather than focusing on her signature voice or accumulated accolades, she emphasized the importance of her treatment of others in the industry. "What was I like to my people? Was I good to them? Yes, I was," she asserted, highlighting her commitment to kindness towards her band, crew, and others throughout her career. "I treated them the way I would want to be treated," Murray concluded, underscoring her value of genuine relationships over fame.
This report provides a glimpse into Anne Murray’s remarkable journey in her later years, illustrating her unexpected return to music and lasting impact on the industry.
