Now named after one of SHOF’s distinguished founders, this award is specifically tailored for artists or “star makers” in the music industry who have been responsible for a substantial number of hit songs for an extended period of time. Examples of previous Hitmaker Award recipients include Clive Davis, Garth Brooks, Chuck Berry, Whitney Houston, Michael Bolton, Gloria Estefan and Diana Ross.
For over forty years, Anne Murray’s unique voice and heartwarming style have made her a household name. Known as Canada’s “Songbird,” Murray led the way for a generation of Canadian divas, who have also conquered the world; Celine Dion, Shania Twain, k.d. lang, Alanis Morissette and Sarah McLachlan. Over the years, Anne’s recordings have seldom been off the charts. She has sold close to fifty million albums and has won countless awards.
Further proving that Anne’s hits have stood the test of time, she is currently touring in support of her 35th and latest album, Anne Murray Duets: Friends & Legends, produced by the legendary Phil Ramone.
It all began with “Snowbird,” Murray’s first hit, which went on to become one of North America’s most played songs of 1970, garnering the first American gold record in history to be awarded to a solo Canadian female artist. When John Lennon knocked on her dressing room door at the 1974 Grammy Awards, it was to tell Anne that her hit, “You Won’t See Me”, was his favorite cover version of a Beatles song.
Anne recorded 24 studio albums between 1970 and 1988. In 1978, she delivered her biggest hit ever, “You Needed Me,” which led to her second Grammy. She is the proud recipient of four Grammys, three American Music Awards, three Country Music Association Awards, three Canadian Country Music Association Awards and twenty-four Juno Awards. Anne has also been honored with the Legacy Award from the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (2006), the East Coast Music Association Directors’ Special Achievement Award (2001), induction into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame (2002), induction into the Juno Hall of Fame (1993), and she has her own Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 1999, Murray released What A Wonderful World, an inspirational album which went platinum in both Canada and the United States. In 2002, Anne recorded and released her 32nd studio album Country Croonin’, which went platinum in Canada.
Murray founded The Anne Murray Centre in 1989, a non-profit association in her hometown of Springhill that had closed its coal mines and fallen on hard economic times. All revenue generated from its operation is used to provide employment for local people and for ongoing maintenance. It has successfully fostered tourism in the area and has promoted awareness of the music of Nova Scotia and Canada.
“For the first presentation of our newly renamed Howie Richmond Hitmaker Award, we feel that Anne Murray is the perfect choice,” commented Chairman Hal David. “She is one of the best examples of the true marriage of song and singer, and all of us at the Songwriters Hall of Fame look forward to applauding her unique artistry.”