2008 - To The Delight of Anne's Fans…
Anne (centre) with band and crew in London, Ontario
In celebration of 40 years as one of Canada's foremost singers and to promote her
Anne Murray DUETS: friends & legends album, Anne and her road family were on the road
again with a U.S. tour in February and March 2008, followed by the Canada Coast-to-Coast
– One Last Time tour in April and May. With sold-out performances almost everywhere,
Anne found herself adding concert dates to satisfy her dedicated fans.
Anne's heartfelt warmth and quick, easy-going sense of humour pleased audiences as
the music icon shared a lifetime of music and memories…"one last time." Most of her song
selections were from her 35th album, Anne Murray DUETS: friends & legends (www.annemurrayduets.com),
which debuted in November 2007. (After just six weeks,
Anne Murray DUETS: friends & legends album was certified double platinum with more
than 250,000 CDs sold.)
To Anne's personal delight, her daughter Dawn Langstroth joined the tour and shared the
stage for the duet Nobody Loves Me Like You Do – a highlight of both the
friends & legends
album and tour. Audiences also enjoyed the debut of songs from Dawn's new 5-track EP titled
No Mercy, released in April 2008. (For more of Dawn's news, go to
www.dawnlangstroth.com.)
Limited - edition, commermorative
pendants and pins
In typical Anne style, the Canadian concert tour provided the perfect opportunity
to support the
Canwest Raise-a-Reader Concert Series to benefit local literacy groups
across Canada. The non-profit organization received partial proceeds from ticket sales
of Anne's highly successful Canadian concerts. In addition, "Raise-a-Reader" and the
Anne Murray Centre (a non-profit organization in Anne's hometown of Springhill, Nova
Scotia) were given partial proceeds from the sale of one-of-a-kind, limited edition,
commemorative maple leaf silver and 14K gold pins and pendants in black-and-silver
jewel cases. These beautiful creations were designed and hand crafted exclusively for
Anne Murray's 2008 Canadian tour by Donald Stuart, one of Canada's acclaimed designers and goldsmiths.
One hundred percent of the funds raised by the Canwest Raise-a-Reader program
remain in their community to support family literacy programs.
A rare, behind-the-scenes peek
A singing lesson for Rick Mercer in Florida
Never far from her Canadian East Coast roots, Anne spent a fun – and funny – day with
comedian Rick Mercer, also a native of Atlantic Canada, in March. Rick caught up with "the
snowbird herself" on tour in Florida and taped a segment of golf, singing and quick-paced
banter for CBC-TV's Rick Mercer Report (aired March 11, 2008).
The Rick Mercer Report
with Anne Murray
Known in recent years for both her gifted voice and gifted golf game, Anne gave Mercer
a few good tips on the driving range. After a solid swing, he quipped, "You are a
good teacher!" Next lesson: singing You are my sunshine. Results: more lessons
required!
Photo Chris Chernoff, courtesy of
Out To See Entertainement
Near the end of the U.S. tour, Anne Murray: friends & legends television special
aired on Canada's CBC-TV on March 24. Most of the rare behind-the-scenes peek into the
recording studio with some of the world's top female vocalists was filmed during the
making of the Anne Murray DUETS: friends & legends album in 2007. Anne and her team
added the finishing touches to the television show in a Vancouver studio, during January
2008. The popular CBC special ran a second time on November 16 and is available for
purchase as a bonus DVD with the Canadian version of Anne Murray's Christmas Album
released September 30, 2008.
On the set of friends & legends television special with Dawn
Langstroth (left) and Jann Arden