Laura Smith (singer)
Laura Smith | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 18, 1952[1] London, Ontario, Canada[2] |
| Died | March 7, 2020 (aged 67) Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Genres | Folk, adult contemporary |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar, bohdran, piano |
| Years active | 1989–2020 |
| Labels | Borealis |
| Website | Laura Smith |
Laura Smith (March 18, 1952 – March 7, 2020) was a Canadian
Biography
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 moved to Toronto in 1975 for nine years; in 1984, she moved to Cape Breton.[2]
Smith released her debut album, Elemental, under the auspices of CBC Variety Recordings in 1989. It was recorded at
In 2003, Smith was given a DHumL from Mount Saint Vincent University for her songwriting.
She continued to work through the 2000s, including two seasons on stage in Prince Edward Island in the role of Marilla in the musical Anne & Gilbert at the Victoria Playhouse in Victoria-by-the-Sea and the Jubilee Theatre in Summerside respectively.[2] 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 attempted to obtain a Music Therapy degree from Acadia University, but gave up her studies to concentrate on healing. 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 by Ann Silversides which aired on CBC Radio One's morning program The Current on February 3, 2010.[4] In 2010 and 2011 she performed several shows across Canada, touring with Ryan MacGrath.[3]
In 2012 Cathie Ryan recorded a version of Smith's "I'm a Beauty" on her album Through Wind and Rain.
Smith completed her first recording in sixteen years, Everything Is Moving, in January 2013. It was released by Borealis Records on April 10, 2013.[5]
Poet Phil Hall celebrated Laura Smith's singing in his poem "Tremulous" (Niagara & Government, 2020, Pedlar Press). She asked him to read it her house concert audience in Fredericton in early 2019.
Smith died of cancer on March 7, 2020, in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia, where she lived. She was 67.[6][7]
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 | — |
| 2013 | Everything Is Moving | — |
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
- ^ "Laura Smith | SaltWire".
- ^ a b c d Biography: "Laura who?" Archived October 30, 2001, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b "Folk artist Smith performing in Bible Hill". Truro Daily News, February 1, 2011.
- ^ The Blues and I: The Story of Laura Smith (audio).
- ^ Regenstreif, Mike (April 6, 2013). "Laura Smith – Everything is Moving". Folk Roots/Folk Branches (blog). Retrieved April 28, 2013.
- ^ McMillan, Elizabeth (March 8, 2020). "'Out on a cloud of love': Folk singer, songwriter Laura Smith has died". CBC News.
- ^ "Renowned Nova Scotia singer-songwriter Laura Smith dies after battle with cancer". Chronicle Herald, March 8, 2020.
External links
- Laura Smith
- Laura Smith discography at Discogs
| International | |
|---|---|
| Artists | |
