I'll Be Seeing You Launches Tour
With the launch of her I'll be seeing you CD on September 21, 2004, and the related media
blitz completed, Anne's "break from touring" was over. To the delight of her fans, Anne and her
"road family" began their annual Christmas tour in Uncasville, Connecticut, on November 26, with
the last performance in Stratford, Ontario, on December 17. "Christmas tours are my favourite,"
says Anne. "Half the show is of my favourite songs, including selections from my latest CD, and the
other half is Christmas music. The audience and performers are in a great frame of mind, with a
built-in attitude of playfulness and joy!"
Fan mail concurs:
"It was a thrilling and wonderful experience. Really, one of my best experiences ever.
I literally thank God for you…not only for the singer, but for the person. You remain the warm,
down-to-earth person I have always heard you to be…"
"The Christmas songs…were wonderful also. I know that I left the building feeling
very good and uplifted, and so appreciative that you are still sharing your talent
with your many fans…"
"You were in such a good mood…we loved your 'Irish Jig' during 'Christmas in
Killarney!'"
- Anne Murray fans
Canada For Asia Telethon - Toronto, January 2005
Closing the show with Bryan Adams
Sadly, that Christmas Eve brought tragedy to South Asia in the form of a devastating
tsunami. On January 13, 2005, Anne joined other Canadian music stars in the Canada for
Asia Telethon, a three-hour, tsunami relief concert broadcast on CBC Television to
support CARE Canada's efforts. Bryan Adams and Anne closed the show with a duet, What
Would It Take. [Editor's note: Anne and Bryan's duet is on Anne's 1997 album, An Intimate
Evening With Anne Murray…Live.]
All of Me enters Billboard charts…
Twelve days later, EMI Music Canada released Anne's All of Me DualDisc CD (previously released in
Canada as I'll be seeing you). In its first week of release, All of Me entered the Billboard charts!
EMI Music Canada explained that, "with Anne's international success, she has paved the path for
so many other Canadian artists; therefore (we are) excited to continue the tradition and have her
again breaking new ground with this exciting new format. As quality is something always
associated with Anne, it only makes sense that her music be available on a format
created especially for true music lovers and connoisseurs."
In her long career of so many firsts, 2005 was a milestone year on many levels:
35th anniversary of Anne's breakthrough hit Snowbird, by composer and fellow Canadian
Gene MacLellan, that was awarded an American gold record – the first ever given to
a solo Canadian female
25th anniversary for her Grammy-winning single, Could I Have This Dance,
recorded for the soundtrack of Urban Cowboy
25th anniversary for Anne's Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
20th anniversary of the single Tears Are Not Enough, a collaborative effort by the
Northern Lights For Africa group (Anne and fellow Canadian artists such as Bryan Adams,
Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Paul Shaffer, Burton Cummings and Gordon Lightfoot);
it was in support of the first Live 8 worldwide concert event to raise awareness
for a political solution for African poverty
First golf game with hockey great Bobby Orr in Florida
First appearance in the Canadian Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Pro-Am
tournament in Halifax (Anne's foursome included pro Stephanie Louden, Dr.
Gerry Reardon and Darlene Sawyer.)
At Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala,
February 2006, Jann Arden presents Legacy
Award to Anne
The summer flew by in a flurry of media events; Anne was back on tour in September.
Concerts sold out in every venue, from Fallsview Casino
in Niagara Falls, to a Western
U.S. tour from Billings, Montana to Cerrtos, California, and the wonderful Christmas tour
from Durham, New Hampshire, to Ottawa, Ontario. The festive season was topped with Anne
Murray: The Music of My Life, a new CBC Television special in which Anne reflected on her
extraordinary career.
As the retrospective theme continued into 2006, Anne and her music played an integral
role in another CBC Television special, Shakin' All Over – a two-hour celebration of
Canadian pop music of the 1960s, including Anne's commentary and rare performance
footage of musical icons such as Joni Mitchell, The Guess Who, Neil Young, The Band
and Anne.
Then, a tremendous honour: the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame chose Anne and Leonard Cohen as recipients
of the prestigious Legacy Award for their extraordinary contributions to and support of the Canadian songwriting
industry. Anne was recognized for her unfailing support of Canada's songwriters, through her performances and her
recordings. She has continually championed Canadian songwriters, introducing them to a global audience. She has
recorded over 400 songs in her career to date, including many by Canadian songwriters Bryan Adams, David Foster,
Jim Vallance, Jann Arden, Amy Sky, Joni Mitchell, Gene MacLellan, Shirley Eikhard, Gordon Lightfoot and Leonard Cohen.