Lisa brokop
Encyclopedia
Lisa Brokop is a Canadian
country music
singer/songwriter and actress. Active since 1990 in the country music field, she has released a total of six studio albums, and has charted more than twenty singles on the country music charts in her native Canada. Several of these singles have also crossed over to the American country music charts, although she has not entered the Top 40 in the U.S., with her highest charting songs being "Give Me a Ring Sometime
" and "Take That" peaking at both #52 in 1994. Her highest chart single is the #8 "Better Off Broken" from 1999 in Canada.
in 1973. By age seven, Brokop was performing on stage with her accordion-playing mother, performing polkas and numerous country music songs. When Brokop was twelve years old she began sitting in with bands throughout Vancouver, British Columbia and joined a touring band in when she was fifteen. In 1990, when Brokop was only seventeen years old, she issued her debut single, "Daddy, Sing to Me". The song managed to reach the top ten of the Canadian RPM
Country Tracks chart. Her debut album, My Love
, was issued the following year on the independent Libre Records label. In June 1991, Brokop graduated from the Princess Margaret Secondary School
in her hometown of Surrey; she then proceeded to move south to Nashville, Tennessee
to further her country music career.
. Before Brokop began recording her second album, she starred in the 1994 film Harmony Cats where played a country singer who leaves home in search of a big break in Nashville. Brokop contributed to the movie's soundtrack and her cover of Tammy Wynette
's 1968 number one hit "Stand by Your Man
" was issued as a single, peaking at #88 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart.
The first single of Brokop's second album, "Give Me a Ring Sometime
", was issued in June 1994. The single cracked the top 20 in Canada, but only reached #52 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks
chart. Nevertheless, her first major label album, Every Little Girl's Dream
, was released in September 1994. While "Give Me a Ring Sometime" was charting, many Canadian radio stations refused to play Brokop's music after the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission ruled that "Give Me a Ring Sometime" did not have a sufficient amount of Canadian content in the song. Nevertheless, Brokop's album went on to produce two more top 40 singles in Canada with "Take That" and "One of Those Nights". By 1995, the album had been certified Gold by the CRIA
, for sales of 50,000 copies. Also in 1995, Brokop, along with fellow singers Victoria Shaw
and Chely Wright
, received a nomination for Top New Female Vocalist at the Academy of Country Music
awards, but lost to Chely Wright.
In 1995, Patriot Records had been shut down and Brokop was transferred to Capitol Nashville and issued her third album, Lisa Brokop
, the following year. None of the album's first two singles reached the top 40 in Canada or the United States and the albums third, "West of Crazy", did not chart at all. The failure of the album left Brokop burned out and she then ended her relationship with Capitol to take time off to focus on songwriting.
In 1998, Brokop signed with the Nashville division of Columbia Records
, where she released the single "How Do I Let Go". The song reached the top 20 of the RPM Country Tracks chart and received a nomination for SOCAN Song of the Year at the Canadian Country Music Association
awards that year. Her album, When You Get to Be You
, was released in July 1998 in Canada and produced five more singles including the #21-peaking "What's Not to Love" and "Better Off Broken", the latter becoming Brokop's highest charting single, peaking at #8 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart in 1999. The album was scheduled for release in the United States in 1998, but was not released due to the poor performance of the album's four American singles and Brokop departed Columbia by the end of 1999.
. The album's first single, "Something Undeniable", had reached #18 on the country charts in Canada when RPM had been shut down. In 2001, Brokop received two Canadian Country Music Association awards for Independent Song of the Year for "Something Undeniable" and Independent Female Artist of the Year. The album's third single, "I'd Like to See You Try", won Brokop Independent Song of the Year again in 2002. She also was awarded Independent Female Artist of the Year again in 2002 and 2003.
In 2004, in an attempt to have success in the United States, Brokop signed with Asylum
-Curb
and issued her first single for the label, "Wildflower". The song failed to chart in the United States. An album, Hey, Do You Know Me
, followed in January 2005 in Canada. The album was never released in the United States due to the failure of the first single. Shortly before departing Asylum-Curb in 2005, Brokop released the single "Big Picture" in Canada and the United States; it was never included on any album.
After a three year hiatus, Brokop went back in the studio to record her seventh album, Beautiful Tragedy
. The album was released in August 2008 on the independent Ellbea Records label and featured the hit "Break It". Eleven of the album's twelve tracks were co-written by Brokop and all tracks were produced by Brokop and her husband, country singer Paul Jefferson
.
Lisa and husband Paul Jefferson have begun performing as The Jeffersons and will release their debut album as a duo in 2011. The album has since released three singles in Canada: "Find the Sun," "Crazy On Me" and a country cover of The Wallflowers
' 1996 hit, "One Headlight
."
, a fellow country singer and music producer on May 25, 2008. The history of their relationship was documented on the CMT Canada/GAC
TV series, Our Song, the episode aired in March 2009 in on CMT Canada. Jefferson helped Brokop "shape the stripped-down songs of [the album] Beautiful Tragedy
in the couple's Nashville home studio." Brokop stated in 2008 that she and a small band were planning "to tour Canada's western provinces next January and February [2009], with a possible stop in Surrey
." In February 2009, Brokop announced on stage that she was pregnant and, on August 7, 2009, Brokop and Jefferson welcomed the birth of their first child, Ivy Jefferson.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer/songwriter and actress. Active since 1990 in the country music field, she has released a total of six studio albums, and has charted more than twenty singles on the country music charts in her native Canada. Several of these singles have also crossed over to the American country music charts, although she has not entered the Top 40 in the U.S., with her highest charting songs being "Give Me a Ring Sometime
Give Me a Ring Sometime (song)
"Give Me a Ring Sometime" is the title of a country music song written by Sharon Anderson, Kris Bergsnes, and Bob Moulds. It was recorded by Canadian country singer Lisa Brokop on her 1994 album, Every Little Girl's Dream, from which it was issued in 1995 as the album's first single...
" and "Take That" peaking at both #52 in 1994. Her highest chart single is the #8 "Better Off Broken" from 1999 in Canada.
Early life
Lisa Brokop was born in Surrey, British ColumbiaSurrey, British Columbia
Surrey is a city in the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is a member municipality of Metro Vancouver, the governing body of the Greater Vancouver Regional District...
in 1973. By age seven, Brokop was performing on stage with her accordion-playing mother, performing polkas and numerous country music songs. When Brokop was twelve years old she began sitting in with bands throughout Vancouver, British Columbia and joined a touring band in when she was fifteen. In 1990, when Brokop was only seventeen years old, she issued her debut single, "Daddy, Sing to Me". The song managed to reach the top ten of the Canadian RPM
RPM (magazine)
RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,...
Country Tracks chart. Her debut album, My Love
My Love (Lisa Brokop album)
My Love is the debut studio album by Canadian country music singer-songwriter Lisa Brokop. It was released in 1991 by Libre Records. "Daddy, Sing to Me," "Old Mister Moon," "Time to Come Back Home," "My Love" and "Country Girl" were all released as singles.-Track listing:#"My Love" - 2:54#"Time to...
, was issued the following year on the independent Libre Records label. In June 1991, Brokop graduated from the Princess Margaret Secondary School
Princess Margaret Secondary School
Princess Margaret Secondary is a public high school in Surrey, British Columbia part of School District 36 Surrey. The school is notable in Surrey for its sports programs. The goals of Princess Margaret Secondary include increasing reading comprehension and increasing numeracy skills in Grade 8...
in her hometown of Surrey; she then proceeded to move south to Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
to further her country music career.
1994–1999: Breakthrough success
In 1992, Brokop began performing in local clubs and caught the attention of The Nashville Network. The network began to play Brokop's video for her single "Time to Come Back Home" and had her as a guest on The Ralph Emery Show. The appearance on The Ralph Emery Show and a 30-minute showcase at a local club got Brokop a record deal with Patriot Records, a label owned by Liberty RecordsLiberty Records
Liberty Records was a United States-based record label. It was started by chairman Simon Waronker in 1955 with Al Bennett as president and Theodore Keep as chief engineer. It was reactivated in 2001 in the United Kingdom and had two previous revivals.-1950s:...
. Before Brokop began recording her second album, she starred in the 1994 film Harmony Cats where played a country singer who leaves home in search of a big break in Nashville. Brokop contributed to the movie's soundtrack and her cover of Tammy Wynette
Tammy Wynette
Virginia Wynette Pugh, known professionally as Tammy Wynette , was an American country music singer-songwriter and one of the genre's best-known artists and biggest-selling female vocalists....
's 1968 number one hit "Stand by Your Man
Stand By Your Man
"Stand by Your Man" is a song co-written by Tammy Wynette and Billy Sherrill and originally recorded by Tammy Wynette, released as a single in September 1968 in the USA...
" was issued as a single, peaking at #88 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart.
The first single of Brokop's second album, "Give Me a Ring Sometime
Give Me a Ring Sometime (song)
"Give Me a Ring Sometime" is the title of a country music song written by Sharon Anderson, Kris Bergsnes, and Bob Moulds. It was recorded by Canadian country singer Lisa Brokop on her 1994 album, Every Little Girl's Dream, from which it was issued in 1995 as the album's first single...
", was issued in June 1994. The single cracked the top 20 in Canada, but only reached #52 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
chart. Nevertheless, her first major label album, Every Little Girl's Dream
Every Little Girl's Dream
Every Little Girl's Dream is the second studio album by Canadian country music singer-songwriter Lisa Brokop. It was released on September 6, 1994 by Patriot/Liberty. "Give Me a Ring Sometime," "Take That," "One of Those Nights" and "Who Needs You" were all released as singles...
, was released in September 1994. While "Give Me a Ring Sometime" was charting, many Canadian radio stations refused to play Brokop's music after the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission ruled that "Give Me a Ring Sometime" did not have a sufficient amount of Canadian content in the song. Nevertheless, Brokop's album went on to produce two more top 40 singles in Canada with "Take That" and "One of Those Nights". By 1995, the album had been certified Gold by the CRIA
Cria
A cria is the name for a baby camelid such as a llama, alpaca, vicuña, or guanaco. It comes from the Spanish word cría, meaning "baby". Its false cognate in English, crya , was coined by British sailors who explored Chile in the 18th century and were quick to describe the camelids onomatopoeically...
, for sales of 50,000 copies. Also in 1995, Brokop, along with fellow singers Victoria Shaw
Victoria Shaw (singer)
Victoria Lynn Shaw is an American country music artist. She has recorded four studio albums, and has charted five singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts...
and Chely Wright
Chely Wright
Richell Rene "Chely" Wright is an American country music artist and, starting in 2010, gay rights activist. On the strength of her debut album in 1994, the Academy of Country Music named her Top New Female Vocalist in 1995. Wright's first Top 40 country hit came in 1997 with "Shut Up and Drive"...
, received a nomination for Top New Female Vocalist at the Academy of Country Music
Academy of Country Music
The Academy of Country Music was founded in 1964 in Los Angeles, California as the Country & Western Music Academy. Whereas the Country Music Association, founded in 1958, was based in Nashville, the Academy sought to promote country music in the western states. Among those involved in the...
awards, but lost to Chely Wright.
In 1995, Patriot Records had been shut down and Brokop was transferred to Capitol Nashville and issued her third album, Lisa Brokop
Lisa Brokop (album)
Lisa Brokop is the self-titled third studio album by Canadian country music artist Lisa Brokop. It was released on February 20, 1996 by Capitol Records. "She Can't Save Him," "Before He Kissed Me" and "West of Crazy" were all released as singles...
, the following year. None of the album's first two singles reached the top 40 in Canada or the United States and the albums third, "West of Crazy", did not chart at all. The failure of the album left Brokop burned out and she then ended her relationship with Capitol to take time off to focus on songwriting.
In 1998, Brokop signed with the Nashville division of Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
, where she released the single "How Do I Let Go". The song reached the top 20 of the RPM Country Tracks chart and received a nomination for SOCAN Song of the Year at the Canadian Country Music Association
Canadian Country Music Association
The Canadian Country Music Association was founded in 1976 as the Academy of Country Music Entertainment to organize, promote and develop a Canadian country music industry. The association changed its name to the Canadian Country Music Association in 1987.-Awards:The CCMA held the first Canadian...
awards that year. Her album, When You Get to Be You
When You Get to Be You
When You Get to Be You is the fourth studio album by Canadian country music singer-songwriter Lisa Brokop. It was released on July 21, 1998 by Columbia Records...
, was released in July 1998 in Canada and produced five more singles including the #21-peaking "What's Not to Love" and "Better Off Broken", the latter becoming Brokop's highest charting single, peaking at #8 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart in 1999. The album was scheduled for release in the United States in 1998, but was not released due to the poor performance of the album's four American singles and Brokop departed Columbia by the end of 1999.
2000 – present: Continued success
In 2000, Brokop ventured on her own and launched the Cosmo Records label where she released her fifth album, UndeniableUndeniable (Lisa Brokop album)
Undeniable is the fifth studio album by Canadian country music singer-songwriter Lisa Brokop. The album was released in 2000 by Cosmo Records.-Track listing:#"I'd Like to See You Try" - 3:29...
. The album's first single, "Something Undeniable", had reached #18 on the country charts in Canada when RPM had been shut down. In 2001, Brokop received two Canadian Country Music Association awards for Independent Song of the Year for "Something Undeniable" and Independent Female Artist of the Year. The album's third single, "I'd Like to See You Try", won Brokop Independent Song of the Year again in 2002. She also was awarded Independent Female Artist of the Year again in 2002 and 2003.
In 2004, in an attempt to have success in the United States, Brokop signed with Asylum
Asylum Records
Asylum Records is an American record label founded in 1971 by David Geffen, and partner Elliot Roberts, who had previously worked as agents at the William Morris Agency. Founded specifically to provide a record contract for Jackson Browne, the label signed Tom Waits, Linda Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell...
-Curb
Curb Records
Curb Records is a record label started by Mike Curb originally as Sidewalk Records in 1963...
and issued her first single for the label, "Wildflower". The song failed to chart in the United States. An album, Hey, Do You Know Me
Hey, Do You Know Me
Hey, Do You Know Me is the sixth studio album by Canadian country music singer-songwriter Lisa Brokop. It was released on January 11, 2005 by Curb Records.-Track listing:#"Hey, Do You Know Me" - 3:54#"Wildflower" - 3:16#"What I'd Miss" - 3:38...
, followed in January 2005 in Canada. The album was never released in the United States due to the failure of the first single. Shortly before departing Asylum-Curb in 2005, Brokop released the single "Big Picture" in Canada and the United States; it was never included on any album.
After a three year hiatus, Brokop went back in the studio to record her seventh album, Beautiful Tragedy
Beautiful Tragedy (Lisa Brokop album)
Beautiful Tragedy is the seventh studio album by Canadian country music singer-songwriter Lisa Brokop. It was released on August 19, 2008 by Ellbea Music and distributed by Fontana Distribution...
. The album was released in August 2008 on the independent Ellbea Records label and featured the hit "Break It". Eleven of the album's twelve tracks were co-written by Brokop and all tracks were produced by Brokop and her husband, country singer Paul Jefferson
Paul Jefferson
Paul Jefferson is an American country music artist. Jefferson has released one studio album on Almo Sounds; he also charted three singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart...
.
Lisa and husband Paul Jefferson have begun performing as The Jeffersons and will release their debut album as a duo in 2011. The album has since released three singles in Canada: "Find the Sun," "Crazy On Me" and a country cover of The Wallflowers
The Wallflowers
The Wallflowers is a rock band from Los Angeles, California, fronted by Jakob Dylan. Formed in 1989 and originally known as The Apples, the ensemble has gone through numerous personnel changes with Dylan the only constant....
' 1996 hit, "One Headlight
One Headlight
"One Headlight" is a rock song performed by American recording band The Wallflowers. The song was written by lead singer Jakob Dylan, and produced by T-Bone Burnett. It was released on February 24, 1997 via Interscope Records, as the second single from the bands' 1996 album, Bringing Down the Horse...
."
Personal life
Lisa Brokop married her boyfriend of four years, Paul JeffersonPaul Jefferson
Paul Jefferson is an American country music artist. Jefferson has released one studio album on Almo Sounds; he also charted three singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart...
, a fellow country singer and music producer on May 25, 2008. The history of their relationship was documented on the CMT Canada/GAC
Great American Country
Great American Country , is a Nashville, Tennessee-based country music cable television network.-History:The station launched December 31, 1995 and Garth Brooks' video "The Thunder Rolls" was the first video to air on GAC....
TV series, Our Song, the episode aired in March 2009 in on CMT Canada. Jefferson helped Brokop "shape the stripped-down songs of [the album] Beautiful Tragedy
Beautiful Tragedy (Lisa Brokop album)
Beautiful Tragedy is the seventh studio album by Canadian country music singer-songwriter Lisa Brokop. It was released on August 19, 2008 by Ellbea Music and distributed by Fontana Distribution...
in the couple's Nashville home studio." Brokop stated in 2008 that she and a small band were planning "to tour Canada's western provinces next January and February [2009], with a possible stop in Surrey
Surrey, British Columbia
Surrey is a city in the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is a member municipality of Metro Vancouver, the governing body of the Greater Vancouver Regional District...
." In February 2009, Brokop announced on stage that she was pregnant and, on August 7, 2009, Brokop and Jefferson welcomed the birth of their first child, Ivy Jefferson.
Discography
- 1991: My LoveMy Love (Lisa Brokop album)My Love is the debut studio album by Canadian country music singer-songwriter Lisa Brokop. It was released in 1991 by Libre Records. "Daddy, Sing to Me," "Old Mister Moon," "Time to Come Back Home," "My Love" and "Country Girl" were all released as singles.-Track listing:#"My Love" - 2:54#"Time to...
- 1994: Every Little Girl's DreamEvery Little Girl's DreamEvery Little Girl's Dream is the second studio album by Canadian country music singer-songwriter Lisa Brokop. It was released on September 6, 1994 by Patriot/Liberty. "Give Me a Ring Sometime," "Take That," "One of Those Nights" and "Who Needs You" were all released as singles...
- 1996: Lisa BrokopLisa Brokop (album)Lisa Brokop is the self-titled third studio album by Canadian country music artist Lisa Brokop. It was released on February 20, 1996 by Capitol Records. "She Can't Save Him," "Before He Kissed Me" and "West of Crazy" were all released as singles...
- 1998: When You Get to Be YouWhen You Get to Be YouWhen You Get to Be You is the fourth studio album by Canadian country music singer-songwriter Lisa Brokop. It was released on July 21, 1998 by Columbia Records...
- 2000: UndeniableUndeniable (Lisa Brokop album)Undeniable is the fifth studio album by Canadian country music singer-songwriter Lisa Brokop. The album was released in 2000 by Cosmo Records.-Track listing:#"I'd Like to See You Try" - 3:29...
- 2005: Hey, Do You Know MeHey, Do You Know MeHey, Do You Know Me is the sixth studio album by Canadian country music singer-songwriter Lisa Brokop. It was released on January 11, 2005 by Curb Records.-Track listing:#"Hey, Do You Know Me" - 3:54#"Wildflower" - 3:16#"What I'd Miss" - 3:38...
- 2008: Beautiful TragedyBeautiful Tragedy (Lisa Brokop album)Beautiful Tragedy is the seventh studio album by Canadian country music singer-songwriter Lisa Brokop. It was released on August 19, 2008 by Ellbea Music and distributed by Fontana Distribution...