Sarah McLachlan
Biography
If Canada is looking for an artist to be proud of, it need not look further than Sarah McLachlan. Since 1988, the internationally successful songbird has released a series of remarkably successful albums, launched the world renowned Lilith Fair tours, and received numerous awards. Sarah is also the founder of the Sarah McLachlan Music Outreach Program, which provides free music education classes to inner city youths whose own school music programs have been hit by budget cuts.
In 1988, Sarah entered the national spotlight with the release of her debut album, Touch. Solace, her 1991 sophomore release, brought even more fame to the young artist, which she supported with her first headlining tour.Two years later, Sarah returned with Fumbling Towards Ecstasy. It was 1997’s Surfacing that finally skyrocketed Sarah to international fame with the hit singles such as "Adia", "Sweet Surrender" and "Building A Mystery"
1997 was also the year that Sarah organized and launched the first Lilith Fair tour. The festival, which journeyed across North America from 1997-1999, showcased female singer/songwriters including Tracy Chapman, Shawn Colvin, Paula Cole, and the Indigo Girls. It was one of the top grossing concert draws of 1997 and, over its three year run, raised more than $7 million dollars for deserving charities. All three tours were captured on film and are available to the public, including a behind the scenes documentary of Lilith’s final run, Lilith on Top.
In 1999, after the completion of the final Lilith Fair tour and the release of a live album Mirrorball, Sarah announced a hiatus from the spotlight. In 2002, Sarah and her husband welcomed their first child, India. In October of that year Sarah returned to the stage to participate in a benefit concert in Vancouver to raise money for cancer research. She was joined by fellow Canadian music darlings Bryan Adams, Barenaked Ladies, Chantal Kreviazuk and Jann Arden. The concert raised more than $1.5 million, shattering the record for funds raised during any previous single Canadian benefit concert.
Her first album in six years, 2003's Afterglow was greeted warmly by critics and fans. Sarah’s latest release, Wintersong (2006) is a collection of classic and modern Chirstmas songs.
Sarah has won many awards during her career, including eight Juno Awards and three Grammys. In 1998, she was awarded the Elizabeth Cady Stanton Visionary Award for advancing the careers of women in music, and in 1999 she was appointed to the the Order of Canada. In 2001, she also won the Industry Builder Award at the West Coast Music Awards.
Sources: Sarah's official website, the All Music Guide, the official website of the Juno Awards
Relationship to Blue Rodeo
- Five Days
In July – Piano and
Vocals on "Dark Angel"; Piano and Vocals on
"Tell Me Your Dream"; Vocals on
"What Is This Love"; Vocals on
"Know Where You Go"
- Nowhere To Here – Vocals on
"Girl In Green"; Vocals on
"Save Myself"; Vocals on
"Brown-Eyed Dog"
- Gone - Piano, Vocals and Lead Guitar
on "When I See You"; Piano on
"Redemption",
"All Our Heroes", and
"Star of the Show"; Vocals on
"White Marble Ganesh"; Piano and Vocals on
"Heaven"
- Sarah also appears on World Vision's 30 Hour Famine CD
along with Jim Cuddy. Partial proceeds from this benefit
compilation help the charity in its effort to end world hunger.
Sarah Mclachlan's "Ice Cream" is on the album, as well as Jim Cuddy's
"Everybody Cries".
- On February 12 1997, Sarah appeared at the
Leonard Peltier Defense Fund Benefit concert. Blue Rodeo was
the headliner for that show. The concert followed the release of
Pine Ridge – An Open Letter To Allan Rock. Both were organized by
Greg Keelor in the hopes of raising awareness and money to help
free Leonard Peltier from jail. On the CD, Sarah sings the first
track, her version of "Unchained Melody."
- Along with these album collaborations, Sarah has been known to
show up with the band onstage. On the Nowhere To Here tour she
joined the band at GM Place and lent her voice to
"Sky" as well as singing her own track, "Ice
Cream." Sarah joined the band in Vancouver on their
The Days In Between tour. This time she
stayed out a little while longer. The band played backup to her
"Building A Mystery". She paid them back by singing along to
"Bad Timing",
"Cynthia", "Know Where You Go/Tell Me Your
Dream".
Quotes
"She’s so gracious with her talent. I don’t think there’s anything artificial about Sarah’s success. She’s a really talented person and her success will blossom in many different ways." - Jim Cuddy
Last Updated
April 2007
Related Web Links
The Official Sarah Mclachlan Site