The Ennis Sisters
Encyclopedia
Ennis, formerly known as The Ennis Sisters is a Canadian musical family group from St. John's, Newfoundland
.
(MIA). The following year, they received Female Artists of the Year and Group of the Year awards from the MIA.
The Ennis Sisters released their second album, Christmas on Ennis Road, in 1998. The album also landed the girls their own Christmas special
on CBC
, An Ennis Road Christmas. In 1999, Maclean's
magazine named the trio one of the Top 100 young Canadians to watch.
They returned to the studio to record their third album, Three, in 2000. The same year, they received an East Coast Music Association (ECMA) award for Album of the Year. The album was also named Album of the Year by the MIA. In the spring of 2000, the group signed with Natalie MacMaster
's manager Andre Bourgeois.
The group worked with Bourgeois from 2000 until late 2003.
At the 2001 ECMA Awards in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, held on February 11, the girls were named Roots/Traditional Group of the Year. That same weekend, The Ennis Sisters received a two-album record deal from Warner Music Canada
. They began recording their major label debut with producer Tim Thorney at Great Big Music Studios.
The Ennis Sisters' fourth album, simply titled The Ennis Sisters, was released on October 9, 2001. The first single, "It's Not About You," reached the top 5 on Canadian Country Radio, and the top 10 on Canadian adult contemporary radio. The video was played on both MuchMoreMusic
and CMT in Canada. In 2002, Maureen won the Society of Composers, Authors, and Music Publishers of Canada
(SOCAN) award for top grossing Canadian Country Song of the Year for the album's second single, "I'd Never Walk Away." That same year, the Ennis' won a Juno Award
for Best New Country Artist/Group
. They were once again named Group of the Year at the 2002 ECMA Awards.
In August 2002, they signed a distribution deal with Rounder Records
to re-release their latest album in the United States
. The album, now titled It's Not About You, was released on April 15, 2003. Meanwhile, they released their fourth album in Canada, Can't Be the Same, on November 18, 2003. That 2003 release went on to win the 2004 ECMA Award for Best Roots/Traditional Group Recording.
The Ennis Sisters released their latest album, Be Here for a While, in 2007.
Youngest Ennis sister, Teresa Ennis, plans release of new recording, 'Space'http://www.teresaennis.ca, late in summer 2007. The project is not intended to be a departure from the group but a side project recorded during down time between work with the group.
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
.
Biography
The Ennis Sisters, Maureen, Karen and Teresa, started playing music at a young age, encouraged by their father John and their mother Ceilie. The trio released their first album, Red is the Rose, on June 25, 1997. The album sold 15,000 copies within 18 months of release, and has gone on to sell more than 40,000 units. By the end of the year, the album was named Best Folk Album by the Music Industry Association of Newfoundland & LabradorMusic of Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is an Atlantic Canadian province with a folk musical heritage based on the Irish, English and Scottish traditions that were brought to its shores centuries ago...
(MIA). The following year, they received Female Artists of the Year and Group of the Year awards from the MIA.
The Ennis Sisters released their second album, Christmas on Ennis Road, in 1998. The album also landed the girls their own Christmas special
Christmas in the media
Christmas themes have long been an inspiration to artists, writers, and weavers of folklore. Moviemakers have picked up on this wealth of material, with both adaptations of literary classics and new stories.-Films:...
on CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
, An Ennis Road Christmas. In 1999, Maclean's
Maclean's
Maclean's is a Canadian weekly news magazine, reporting on Canadian issues such as politics, pop culture, and current events.-History:Founded in 1905 by Toronto journalist/entrepreneur Lt.-Col. John Bayne Maclean, a 43-year-old trade magazine publisher who purchased an advertising agency's in-house...
magazine named the trio one of the Top 100 young Canadians to watch.
They returned to the studio to record their third album, Three, in 2000. The same year, they received an East Coast Music Association (ECMA) award for Album of the Year. The album was also named Album of the Year by the MIA. In the spring of 2000, the group signed with Natalie MacMaster
Natalie MacMaster
Natalie MacMaster, CM is an award-winning fiddler from the rural community of Troy in Inverness County, Nova Scotia, Canada who plays Cape Breton fiddle music....
's manager Andre Bourgeois.
The group worked with Bourgeois from 2000 until late 2003.
At the 2001 ECMA Awards in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, held on February 11, the girls were named Roots/Traditional Group of the Year. That same weekend, The Ennis Sisters received a two-album record deal from Warner Music Canada
Warner Music Canada
Warner Music Canada is the Canadian division of Warner Music Group. The label previously operated as WEA Canada, the Canadian subsidiary of WEA International, which later changed its name to Warner Music International in 1990. It was founded in 1967 as Warner Reprise Canada Ltd...
. They began recording their major label debut with producer Tim Thorney at Great Big Music Studios.
The Ennis Sisters' fourth album, simply titled The Ennis Sisters, was released on October 9, 2001. The first single, "It's Not About You," reached the top 5 on Canadian Country Radio, and the top 10 on Canadian adult contemporary radio. The video was played on both MuchMoreMusic
MuchMoreMusic
MuchMore is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media, based at 299 Queen Street West in Toronto, Ontario....
and CMT in Canada. In 2002, Maureen won the Society of Composers, Authors, and Music Publishers of Canada
Society of Composers, Authors, and Music Publishers of Canada
SOCAN is the Canadian copyright collective for the right to communicate to the public and publicly perform musical works...
(SOCAN) award for top grossing Canadian Country Song of the Year for the album's second single, "I'd Never Walk Away." That same year, the Ennis' won a Juno Award
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
for Best New Country Artist/Group
Juno Award for Country Recording of the Year
The Juno Award for "Country Recording of the Year" has been awarded since 1970, as recognition each year for the best country music artist in Canada...
. They were once again named Group of the Year at the 2002 ECMA Awards.
In August 2002, they signed a distribution deal with Rounder Records
Rounder Records
Rounder Records, originally of Cambridge, Massachusetts, but now based in Burlington, Massachusetts, is a record label founded in 1970 by Ken Irwin, Bill Nowlin and Marian Leighton-Levy, while all three were still university students...
to re-release their latest album in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The album, now titled It's Not About You, was released on April 15, 2003. Meanwhile, they released their fourth album in Canada, Can't Be the Same, on November 18, 2003. That 2003 release went on to win the 2004 ECMA Award for Best Roots/Traditional Group Recording.
The Ennis Sisters released their latest album, Be Here for a While, in 2007.
Youngest Ennis sister, Teresa Ennis, plans release of new recording, 'Space'http://www.teresaennis.ca, late in summer 2007. The project is not intended to be a departure from the group but a side project recorded during down time between work with the group.
Albums
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 1997 | Red is the Rose |
| 1998 | Christmas on Ennis Road |
| 2000 | Three |
| 2001 | The Ennis Sisters |
| 2003 | It's Not About You |
| Can't Be the Same | |
| 2007 | Be Here for a While |
Singles
| Year | Title | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | "It's Not About You" | The Ennis Sisters |
| 2002 | "I'd Never Walk Away" | |
| "Without You" | ||
| 2006 | "Holding On" | Be Here for a While |