Laura Smith
Encyclopedia
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, 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
.
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.
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. 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. In 2010 and 2011, she has performed several shows across Canada, touring with Ryan MacGrath
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
. 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, and for her adaptation of the Scottish folk song "My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean
My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean
"My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean" is a traditional Scottish folk songwhich remains popular in Western culture.-History:The origin of the song is unknown, though it is often suggested that the subject of the song may be...
" which she entitled "My Bonny". She recorded a version of this with The Chieftains
The Chieftains
The Chieftains are a Grammy-winning Irish musical group founded in 1962, best known for being one of the first bands to make Irish traditional music popular around the world.-Name:...
, which they erroneously listed as "My Bonnie" on their album Fire in the Kitchen
Fire in the Kitchen
Fire in the Kitchen is a compilation album recorded by The Chieftains, in collaboration with an array of Canadian folk musical guests, and released in 1998....
. 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
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, Smith was encouraged in her early writing by the noted poet Margaret Avison
Margaret Avison
Margaret Avison, OC was a Canadian poet who twice won Canada's Governor General's Award and has also won its Griffin Poetry Prize. "Her work has often been praised for the beauty of its language and images."-Life:...
, then writer-in-residence at the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
. She began playing music as well, making her debut in area coffeehouses. She briefly moved to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
in 1972, but soon moved to Cape Breton
Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island is an island on the Atlantic coast of North America. It likely corresponds to the word Breton, the French demonym for Brittany....
.
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
Gemini Award
The Gemini Awards are annual television broadcasting industry awards in Canada.First awarded in 1986, the Geminis celebrate the achievements of TV members of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Essentially, it presents awards for the best television productions in Canada. Awards are...
for Best Performance in a Performing Arts Program or Series.
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
Confederation Centre of the Arts
The Confederation Centre of the Arts is a cultural centre dedicated to the visual and performing arts located in the city of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada.-History:...
, Charlottetown. However through the decade she suffered three debilitating accidents which resulted in chronic pain
Chronic pain
Chronic pain has several different meanings in medicine. Traditionally, the distinction between acute and chronic pain has relied upon an arbitrary interval of time from onset; the two most commonly used markers being 3 months and 6 months since the initiation of pain, though some theorists and...
. 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
CBC Radio One
CBC Radio One is the English language news and information radio network of the publicly-owned Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. It is commercial free and offers both local and national programming...
's morning program The Current
The Current (radio program)
The Current is a Canadian current affairs radio program, hosted by investigative reporter Anna Maria Tremonti on CBC Radio One. It airs weekdays starting at 8:37 a.m. local time and runs until 10 a.m. for most of the year, although during the summer the program airs until 9:30 a.m...
on February 3, 2010. In 2010 and 2011, she has performed several shows across Canada, touring with Ryan MacGrath
Ryan MacGrath
Ryan MacGrath is a Canadian singer-songwriter, whose folk-pop style is frequently compared to Rufus Wainwright and Hawksley Workman. Born in Antigonish, Nova Scotia and raised in Guysborough County, he is currently based in Halifax, Nova Scotia....
.
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 My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean "My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean" is a traditional Scottish folk songwhich remains popular in Western culture.-History:The origin of the song is unknown, though it is often suggested that the subject of the song may be... " |
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 Terry Kelly (singer) Terry Kelly, CM is a Canadian country/folk music artist, athlete and professional speaker. Kelly has released six studio albums and charted eleven singles on the RPM Canadian country singles chart. In addition to award nominations from the Juno Awards and the Canadian Country Music Association,... |
51 | 38 | Far Cry from Leaving |