Mary Margaret O'Hara
Encyclopedia
Mary Margaret O'Hara is a Canadian
singer-songwriter and actress, who has been hailed as one of the greatest cult heroines in rock music
despite having released very few of her own recordings. She is best known for the critically acclaimed album Miss America, released in 1988.
. Her early musical tastes included Van Morrison
, Dinah Washington
, and her father's jazz
records. She was a student at the Ontario College of Art and Design in the 1970s, and was involved in the music scene as a member of Toronto bands Dollars, Songship and Go Deo Chorus.
In 1983, O'Hara left Go Deo and was signed by Virgin Records
. Andy Partridge
of XTC
was scheduled as her producer but was fired after his first day due to his reported difficulties with O'Hara's musical approach. Her contract with Virgin continued and eventually led to the 1988 release of Miss America. O'Hara later reflected on the production experience, noting ""I loved the Celtic crosses and the sheep rolling around the hills by the studio in Wales. But for Virgin to go from, 'You can do whatever you want', to 'What have you done?' - that was tough."
In addition, she did some work as a graphic artist, including lettering for the cover of Dalbello
's album whomanfoursays
.
saw O'Hara in performance and was captivated by her unique style, and soon took on the job of producing O'Hara's attempts at an album. He ultimately added new vocals to and remixed material that was originally recorded by Joe Boyd
in 1984. At least one of the songs, "To Cry About", had been written as early as 1980. According to the liner notes of a later reissue, six of the tracks were recorded in 1984, four in 1988, and one in 1983 and mixed later.
When Miss America was finally released in 1988, O'Hara's songwriting (a fusion of jazz
, country
, rock and pop) and distinctive vocal style — which can move from a pure, angelic croon to a loud wail in seconds — quickly won her raves from critics and fellow musicians alike. It was hailed in many quarters as one of the best and most distinctive records of the decade, and has in fact made an appearance in some music magazines' polls of the best records of the 20th century. The British
music magazine Mojo
sings her praises regularly.
, the Cowboy Junkies
recorded a sparse, haunting version of O'Hara's song "You Will Be Loved Again".
In 1991, O'Hara followed up with a four-song EP of Christmas
material. Following the Christmas EP, O'Hara took on several acting roles and appeared as a vocalist on recordings by a variety of other artists, including Morrissey
("November Spawned a Monster
"), John & Mary
, Bruce Cockburn
, Holly Cole
, Bob Wiseman
, Meryn Cadell
, The Henrys
and Neko Case
. She also contributed songs to a number of compilation albums, including tributes to Vic Chesnutt
and Kurt Weill
, and participated in a 1994 Christmas concert with Holly Cole
, Rebecca Jenkins
, Jane Siberry and Victoria Williams
, which was released as the album Count Your Blessings. As well, she has occasionally performed in musical theatre
, most notably productions of Tom Waits
' experimental rock opera
The Black Rider
.
During an R.E.M.
concert in Toronto in 1999, Michael Stipe
brought O'Hara on stage and declared her a "national treasure". Other artists who are said to be fans include Kristin Hersh
, Radiohead
, Dave Matthews
and Rickie Lee Jones
.
However, she did not release a new recording under her own name until 2001, when she and long time guitarist Rusty McCarthy contributed to the soundtrack
for the Canadian film Apartment Hunting
(in which she also acted).
On October 4 and 5, 2006, O'Hara performed Leonard Cohen
's "Hallelujah" (with Gavin Friday
) and "The Window" at "Came So Far For Beauty" the Leonard Cohen Tribute organised by Hal Willner
at The Point Theatre in Dublin, Ireland
. She performed at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in Minehead
, England
, over the weekend of April 27 to 29, 2007, and with Howe Gelb
and friends at the Barbican Centre in London on May 2, 2007.
O'Hara also performed at Toronto's Canwest Cabaret Festival in both 2008 and 2009. In 2008, she performed at tribute shows to Cohen, Weill and Duke Ellington
, and in 2009, she participated in a musical improvisation
show with Michael Snow
and Aidan Closs. She also gave a rare radio interview to promote the 2009 show, appearing on CBC Radio One
's Q
on October 28 — and performing an impromptu duet of "Baby, It's Cold Outside
" with host Jian Ghomeshi
.
on his song, "November Spawned a Monster
". She also contributed to three albums by Bob Wiseman
, In Her Dream in 1989, Accidentally Acquired Beliefs in 1995, and Theme and Variations in 2006, and to Justin Rutledge
's album No Never Alone
. She also recorded a duet with Tindersticks
called Peanuts which appeared on their 2010 album Falling Down A Mountain.
O'Hara has also made several small film appearances, most notably with Tom Waits
in Candy Mountain
(1986).
On May 15, 2009 in Toronto
, Will Oldham
brought her on stage to perform a cover of "In Spite of Ourselves" by John Prine
.
recorded a song entitled "Mary Margaret O'Hara" on his 2006 LP, All Things Real
.
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...
singer-songwriter and actress, who has been hailed as one of the greatest cult heroines in rock music
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
despite having released very few of her own recordings. She is best known for the critically acclaimed album Miss America, released in 1988.
Early stages
O'Hara was born in Toronto, Ontario to a large Irish family. She is the sister of comedic actress Catherine O'HaraCatherine O'Hara
Catherine Anne O'Hara is a Canadian-American actress and comedienne. She is well known for her comedy work on SCTV, and her roles in the films After Hours, Beetlejuice, Home Alone, and The Nightmare Before Christmas, and also in the mockumentary films written and directed by Christopher Guest...
. Her early musical tastes included Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
, Dinah Washington
Dinah Washington
Dinah Washington, born Ruth Lee Jones , was an American blues, R&B and jazz singer. She has been cited as "the most popular black female recording artist of the '50s", and called "The Queen of the Blues"...
, and her father's jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
records. She was a student at the Ontario College of Art and Design in the 1970s, and was involved in the music scene as a member of Toronto bands Dollars, Songship and Go Deo Chorus.
In 1983, O'Hara left Go Deo and was signed by Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
. Andy Partridge
Andy Partridge
Andrew John "Andy" Partridge is an English singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He has been known as Sir John Johns and Melchior and rose to fame as a founding member, guitarist and chief songwriter of the pop/new wave band, XTC. He lives in Swindon, Wiltshire, where he was raised.Partridge also...
of XTC
XTC
XTC were a New Wave band from Swindon, England, active between 1976 and 2005. The band enjoyed some chart success, including the UK and Canadian hits "Making Plans for Nigel" and "Senses Working Overtime" , but are perhaps even better known for their long-standing critical success.- Early years:...
was scheduled as her producer but was fired after his first day due to his reported difficulties with O'Hara's musical approach. Her contract with Virgin continued and eventually led to the 1988 release of Miss America. O'Hara later reflected on the production experience, noting ""I loved the Celtic crosses and the sheep rolling around the hills by the studio in Wales. But for Virgin to go from, 'You can do whatever you want', to 'What have you done?' - that was tough."
In addition, she did some work as a graphic artist, including lettering for the cover of Dalbello
Lisa Dalbello
Dalbello is a Canadian recording artist, songwriter, and voice actress. She released three albums in the pop and pop/rock genre in her late teens, from 1977 through 1981 under her full name...
's album whomanfoursays
Whomanfoursays
-Personnel:*Lisa Dalbello — lead vocals, record producer, drums, bass, keyboards, mixing*Mick Ronson — record producer, guitars, bass, keyboards, mixing*Carole Pope — background vocals in "Animal"*CMI Fairlight operated by John Forbes...
.
Debut album
In 1987, Michael BrookMichael Brook
Michael Brook is a Canadian guitarist, inventor, producer, and film music composer. He plays in many genres, including rock, electronica, world music, minimalism and film scores....
saw O'Hara in performance and was captivated by her unique style, and soon took on the job of producing O'Hara's attempts at an album. He ultimately added new vocals to and remixed material that was originally recorded by Joe Boyd
Joe Boyd
Joe Boyd is an American record producer and former owner of the Witchseason production company. Boyd was instrumental in launching the careers of Nick Drake, Fairport Convention, and The Incredible String Band.-Career:...
in 1984. At least one of the songs, "To Cry About", had been written as early as 1980. According to the liner notes of a later reissue, six of the tracks were recorded in 1984, four in 1988, and one in 1983 and mixed later.
When Miss America was finally released in 1988, O'Hara's songwriting (a fusion of jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, country
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...
, rock and pop) and distinctive vocal style — which can move from a pure, angelic croon to a loud wail in seconds — quickly won her raves from critics and fellow musicians alike. It was hailed in many quarters as one of the best and most distinctive records of the decade, and has in fact made an appearance in some music magazines' polls of the best records of the 20th century. The British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
music magazine Mojo
Mojo (magazine)
MOJO is a popular music magazine published initially by Emap, and since January 2008 by Bauer, monthly in the United Kingdom. Following the success of the magazine Q, publishers Emap were looking for a title which would cater for the burgeoning interest in classic rock music...
sings her praises regularly.
Continuing success
On their 1990 album The Caution HorsesThe Caution Horses
The Caution Horses is a 1990 album by the Canadian country rock band Cowboy Junkies.The first album following their 1988 breakthrough The Trinity Session, The Caution Horses features a more conventional, polished sound than that album's spare, haunting country blues...
, the Cowboy Junkies
Cowboy Junkies
Cowboy Junkies are a Canadian alternative country/blues/folk rock band. The group was formed in Toronto in 1985 by Margo Timmins , Michael Timmins , Peter Timmins and Alan Anton ....
recorded a sparse, haunting version of O'Hara's song "You Will Be Loved Again".
In 1991, O'Hara followed up with a four-song EP of Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
material. Following the Christmas EP, O'Hara took on several acting roles and appeared as a vocalist on recordings by a variety of other artists, including Morrissey
Morrissey
Steven Patrick Morrissey , known as Morrissey, is an English singer and lyricist. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the alternative rock band The Smiths. The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career,...
("November Spawned a Monster
November Spawned a Monster
"November Spawned a Monster" is a song by Morrissey. It was released as a single in 1990. It was written by Morrissey and Clive Langer. It also features one of Morrissey's former colleagues from The Smiths, Andy Rourke...
"), John & Mary
John & Mary
John & Mary is a U.S. based folk music duo featuring John Lombardo and Mary Ramsey who have had a long-time close association with alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs.-1989-1993:...
, Bruce Cockburn
Bruce Cockburn
Bruce Douglas Cockburn OC is a Canadian folk/rock guitarist and singer-songwriter. His most recent album was released in March 2011. He has written songs in styles ranging from folk to jazz-influenced rock to rock and roll.-Biography:...
, Holly Cole
Holly Cole
Holly Cole is a Canadian jazz singer, particularly popular in Canada and Japan for both her versatile and distinctive voice, along with her adventurous repertoire, which spans such divergent genres as show tunes, rock, and country music.-Holly Cole Trio:In 1983, Cole travelled to Toronto to seek a...
, Bob Wiseman
Bob Wiseman
Bob Wiseman is a Juno winning Canadian musician, filmmaker, singer-songwriter, and actor. Wiseman was an original member of Blue Rodeo.-Career:Wiseman was raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He studied piano at York University...
, Meryn Cadell
Meryn Cadell
Meryn Cadell is a Canadian writer and performance artist. He is an assistant professor of song lyrics and libretto writing in the Creative Writing Program at University of British Columbia.Cadell is a transsexual man who transitioned in 2003...
, The Henrys
The Henrys
The Henrys is a Toronto-based, "nearly instrumental" quartet. Their music features the sound of an antique slide guitar called a Kona , along with various other instruments: conch shell, quarter-tone trumpet, chordette, drums, sonar zombie, steel drums, and many more...
and Neko Case
Neko Case
Neko Case is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her solo career and her contributions as a member of the Canadian indie rock group The New Pornographers....
. She also contributed songs to a number of compilation albums, including tributes to Vic Chesnutt
Vic Chesnutt
James Victor "Vic" Chesnutt was an American singer-songwriter from Athens, Georgia. His first album, Little, was released in 1990, but his breakthrough to commercial success didn't come until 1996 with the release of Sweet Relief II: Gravity of the Situation, a tribute album of mainstream artists...
and Kurt Weill
Kurt Weill
Kurt Julian Weill was a German-Jewish composer, active from the 1920s, and in his later years in the United States. He was a leading composer for the stage who was best known for his fruitful collaborations with Bertolt Brecht...
, and participated in a 1994 Christmas concert with Holly Cole
Holly Cole
Holly Cole is a Canadian jazz singer, particularly popular in Canada and Japan for both her versatile and distinctive voice, along with her adventurous repertoire, which spans such divergent genres as show tunes, rock, and country music.-Holly Cole Trio:In 1983, Cole travelled to Toronto to seek a...
, Rebecca Jenkins
Rebecca Jenkins
-Acting:She had starring roles in the 1990s CBC series Black Harbour, and the films Bye Bye Blues, Marion Bridge, Wilby Wonderful, Whole New Thing, South of Wawa and Supervolcano. She also had a supporting role in the 1992 film Bob Roberts, as Dolores Perrigrew...
, Jane Siberry and Victoria Williams
Victoria Williams
Victoria Williams is an American singer-songwriter and musician, originally from Shreveport, Louisiana, although she has resided in Southern California throughout her musical career. She is noted for her descriptive songwriting talent, which she has used to immerse the listener of her songs into a...
, which was released as the album Count Your Blessings. As well, she has occasionally performed in musical theatre
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
, most notably productions of Tom Waits
Tom Waits
Thomas Alan "Tom" Waits is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. Waits has a distinctive voice, described by critic Daniel Durchholz as sounding "like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car."...
' experimental rock opera
Rock opera
A rock opera is a work of rock music that presents a storyline told over multiple parts, songs or sections in the manner of opera. A rock opera differs from a conventional rock album, which usually includes songs that are not unified by a common theme or narrative. More recent developments include...
The Black Rider
The Black Rider
The Black Rider: The Casting of the Magic Bullets is a self-billed "musical fable" in the avant-garde tradition created through the collaboration of theatre director Robert Wilson, musician Tom Waits, and writer William S. Burroughs. Wilson was largely responsible for the design and direction....
.
During an R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
concert in Toronto in 1999, Michael Stipe
Michael Stipe
John Michael Stipe is an American singer and lyricist. He was the lead vocalist of the alternative rock band R.E.M.Stipe is noted and occasionally parodied for the "mumbling" style of his early career as well as his social and political activism. He was in charge of R.E.M.'s visual image; often...
brought O'Hara on stage and declared her a "national treasure". Other artists who are said to be fans include Kristin Hersh
Kristin Hersh
Kristin Hersh is an American singer/songwriter who performs solo acoustic concerts; she also continues to perform as lead singer and guitarist for alternative rock group Throwing Muses and the hardcore punk-influenced power trio 50 Foot Wave...
, Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
, Dave Matthews
Dave Matthews
David John "Dave" Matthews is a South African–born American musician and occasional actor, best known as the lead vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist for the Dave Matthews Band...
and Rickie Lee Jones
Rickie Lee Jones
Rickie Lee Jones is an American vocalist, musician, songwriter, and producer. Over the course of a three-decade career, Jones has recorded in various musical styles including rock, R&B, blues, pop, soul, and jazz standards.-Childhood:...
.
However, she did not release a new recording under her own name until 2001, when she and long time guitarist Rusty McCarthy contributed to the soundtrack
Apartment Hunting (album)
Apartment Hunting is a 2001 album by Mary Margaret O'Hara, composed and released as a soundtrack album for the 2000 film Apartment Hunting.Guest musicians appearing on the album include Klave y Kongo and Rusty McCarthy.-Track listing:...
for the Canadian film Apartment Hunting
Apartment Hunting
Apartment Hunting is a Canadian romantic comedy film, released in 2000.Written and directed by Bill Robertson, the film stars Andrew Tarbet as Ben Riddick, an unhappily married journalist forced to confront his feelings for his wife Sarah when he is assigned by his employer to write a story about...
(in which she also acted).
On October 4 and 5, 2006, O'Hara performed Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
's "Hallelujah" (with Gavin Friday
Gavin Friday
Gavin Friday is an Irish singer and songwriter, composer, actor and painter.-Career:Gavin was born in Dublin and grew up in Finglas, a neighbourhood located on Dublin's Northside...
) and "The Window" at "Came So Far For Beauty" the Leonard Cohen Tribute organised by Hal Willner
Hal Willner
Hal Willner is an American music producer working in recording, films, TV and live events. He is best known for assembling tribute albums and events featuring a wide variety of artists and musical styles...
at The Point Theatre in Dublin, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. She performed at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in Minehead
Minehead
Minehead is a coastal town and civil parish in Somerset, England. It lies on the south bank of the Bristol Channel, north-west of the county town of Taunton, from the border with the county of Devon and in proximity of the Exmoor National Park...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, over the weekend of April 27 to 29, 2007, and with Howe Gelb
Howe Gelb
Howe Gelb is an American singer-songwriter, musician and record producer based in Tucson, Arizona.-Projects:Gelb's approach to music is collaborative and he has recorded with a number of side projects...
and friends at the Barbican Centre in London on May 2, 2007.
O'Hara also performed at Toronto's Canwest Cabaret Festival in both 2008 and 2009. In 2008, she performed at tribute shows to Cohen, Weill and Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
, and in 2009, she participated in a musical improvisation
Musical improvisation
Musical improvisation is the creative activity of immediate musical composition, which combines performance with communication of emotions and instrumental technique as well as spontaneous response to other musicians...
show with Michael Snow
Michael Snow
Michael Snow, CC is a Canadian artist working in painting, sculpture, video, films, photography, holography, drawing, books and music.-Life:...
and Aidan Closs. She also gave a rare radio interview to promote the 2009 show, appearing on CBC Radio One
CBC Radio One
CBC Radio One is the English language news and information radio network of the publicly-owned Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. It is commercial free and offers both local and national programming...
's Q
Q (radio show)
Q is a Canadian radio show, which airs on CBC Radio One. Hosted by Jian Ghomeshi, the program is a national arts magazine show. The program is also now syndicated to public radio stations in the United States through Public Radio International....
on October 28 — and performing an impromptu duet of "Baby, It's Cold Outside
Baby, It's Cold Outside
Baby, It's Cold Outside may refer to:*"Baby, It's Cold Outside", a 1948 song by Frank Loesser*"Cold Outside", a song by country music band Big House from their self-titled debut album*"Baby, It's Cold Outside", a 1991 short story by Isaac Asimov...
" with host Jian Ghomeshi
Jian Ghomeshi
Jian Ghomeshi is a Canadian broadcaster, writer, musician and producer of Iranian descent who was raised in Thornhill, Ontario. Now based in Toronto, he is the host of the national daily cultural affairs talk program, Q, on CBC Radio One and Bold TV...
.
Work with other artists
O'Hara sang backup vocals for MorrisseyMorrissey
Steven Patrick Morrissey , known as Morrissey, is an English singer and lyricist. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the alternative rock band The Smiths. The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career,...
on his song, "November Spawned a Monster
November Spawned a Monster
"November Spawned a Monster" is a song by Morrissey. It was released as a single in 1990. It was written by Morrissey and Clive Langer. It also features one of Morrissey's former colleagues from The Smiths, Andy Rourke...
". She also contributed to three albums by Bob Wiseman
Bob Wiseman
Bob Wiseman is a Juno winning Canadian musician, filmmaker, singer-songwriter, and actor. Wiseman was an original member of Blue Rodeo.-Career:Wiseman was raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He studied piano at York University...
, In Her Dream in 1989, Accidentally Acquired Beliefs in 1995, and Theme and Variations in 2006, and to Justin Rutledge
Justin Rutledge
Justin Rutledge is a Toronto-based alt-country singer-songwriter signed to Six Shooter Records.Rutledge's musical style is often compared to that of American alt-country singer Ryan Adams. His influences, both of the literary and music world, include Leonard Cohen, Hank Williams, Richard Brautigan...
's album No Never Alone
No Never Alone
No Never Alone is the debut album by Canadian singer-songwriter Justin Rutledge, released in 2004 on Six Shooter Records.-Track listing:...
. She also recorded a duet with Tindersticks
Tindersticks
Tindersticks are an Indie rock band from Nottingham, England formed in 1991. They released six albums before singer Stuart A. Staples took on a solo career. The band reunited briefly in 2006, but more permanently the following year...
called Peanuts which appeared on their 2010 album Falling Down A Mountain.
O'Hara has also made several small film appearances, most notably with Tom Waits
Tom Waits
Thomas Alan "Tom" Waits is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. Waits has a distinctive voice, described by critic Daniel Durchholz as sounding "like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car."...
in Candy Mountain
Candy Mountain
-Plot:Julius is a struggling musician who sets off to find Elmore Silk in order to strike a deal with him and become famous. Along his search, he meets various people who have encountered Elmore, and can give him valuable insight into what kind of man Elmore is...
(1986).
On May 15, 2009 in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Will Oldham
Will Oldham
Will Oldham , better known by the stage name Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, is an American singer-songwriter and actor. From 1993 to 1997, he performed and recorded under variations of the Palace name, including the Palace Brothers, Palace Songs, and Palace Music...
brought her on stage to perform a cover of "In Spite of Ourselves" by John Prine
John Prine
John Prine is an American country/folk singer-songwriter. He has been active as a recording artist and live performer since the early 1970s.-Biography:...
.
Tribute
Musician Steve AdeySteve Adey
Steve Adey is a musician and singer-songwriter. His music is characterised by slow tempos, minimalist arrangements, underpinned by a rich baritone vocal and chordal piano playing...
recorded a song entitled "Mary Margaret O'Hara" on his 2006 LP, All Things Real
All Things Real
All Things Real is the debut album by English singer-songwriter Steve Adey. The album was released on March 6, 2006, through Grand Harmonium Records...
.
Albums
- Miss America 1988
- Apartment HuntingApartment Hunting (album)Apartment Hunting is a 2001 album by Mary Margaret O'Hara, composed and released as a soundtrack album for the 2000 film Apartment Hunting.Guest musicians appearing on the album include Klave y Kongo and Rusty McCarthy.-Track listing:...
(Soundtrack Album) 2001
Contributions
- John & MaryJohn & MaryJohn & Mary is a U.S. based folk music duo featuring John Lombardo and Mary Ramsey who have had a long-time close association with alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs.-1989-1993:...
, The Weedkiller's DaughterThe Weedkiller's DaughterThe Weedkiller's Daughter is the second album from John & Mary.The Weedkiller's Daughter was produced by John Lombardo and Armand John Petrie and, like their first album Victory Gardens, features 10,000 Maniacs members Rob Buck and Jerry Augustyniak...
(1993) - background vocals - Count Your Blessings (1994) - collaborative concert with Jane Siberry, Holly ColeHolly ColeHolly Cole is a Canadian jazz singer, particularly popular in Canada and Japan for both her versatile and distinctive voice, along with her adventurous repertoire, which spans such divergent genres as show tunes, rock, and country music.-Holly Cole Trio:In 1983, Cole travelled to Toronto to seek a...
, Rebecca JenkinsRebecca Jenkins-Acting:She had starring roles in the 1990s CBC series Black Harbour, and the films Bye Bye Blues, Marion Bridge, Wilby Wonderful, Whole New Thing, South of Wawa and Supervolcano. She also had a supporting role in the 1992 film Bob Roberts, as Dolores Perrigrew...
and Victoria WilliamsVictoria WilliamsVictoria Williams is an American singer-songwriter and musician, originally from Shreveport, Louisiana, although she has resided in Southern California throughout her musical career. She is noted for her descriptive songwriting talent, which she has used to immerse the listener of her songs into a... - Songs for My Mother and Father (1996) - guest vocal on Hugh MarshHugh MarshHugh Marsh is a violinist from Toronto, known for his electric violin sound. Marsh was nominated for a 2007 Juno Award in the best contemporary jazz album category.-Early days:...
album - Sweet Relief II: Gravity of the SituationSweet Relief II: Gravity of the SituationSweet Relief II: Gravity of the Situation is a 1996 tribute album that featured a variety of alternative rock bands covering songs written by quadriplegic musician Vic Chesnutt...
(1996) - "Florida" - September Songs: The Music of Kurt Weill (1997) - "Fürchte Dich Nicht"
- Stormy Weather: The Music of Harold ArlenStormy Weather: The Music of Harold ArlenStormy Weather: The Music of Harold Arlen is a compilation tribute album of Harold Arlen songs, released by Sony in February 2003 as a companion album to the film of the same name...
(2003) - "Blues in the NightBlues in the Night"Blues in the Night" is a popular song which has become a pop standard and is generally considered to be part of the Great American Songbook. The music was written by Harold Arlen, the lyrics by Johnny Mercer, for a 1941 film begun with the working title Hot Nocturne, but finally released as Blues...
" - Rogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs, and ChanteysRogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs, and ChanteysRogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs and Chanteys is a compilation album of sea shanties performed by a wide array of artists, ranging from Sting to Bryan Ferry, representing a variety of genres. The artists cover a large number of diverse songs of the sea, at times adding elements...
(2006) - "The Cry of Man" - TindersticksTindersticksTindersticks are an Indie rock band from Nottingham, England formed in 1991. They released six albums before singer Stuart A. Staples took on a solo career. The band reunited briefly in 2006, but more permanently the following year...
, Falling Down a MountainFalling Down a MountainFalling Down a Mountain is an album by Tindersticks, released in 2010 on 4AD/Constellation Records. Although the album failed to chart in their homeland, it still became a commercial success in Greece, by charting at #2 spending 5 weeks on the international artist charts.-Track listing:#"Falling...
(2010) - Guest vocal on "Peanuts" - Garth Hudson Presents: A Canadian Celebration of The Band (2010) - "Out of the Blue"
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Second City TV | Prisoner | Television series (appeared in one episode) |
| 1985 | The Last Polka The Last Polka The Last Polka is a 1985 comedy television film, and one of the first Mockumentaries. It was written by and starred John Candy and Eugene Levy, and directed by John Blanchard.... |
Lemon twin | Television series |
| 1988 | Candy Mountain Candy Mountain -Plot:Julius is a struggling musician who sets off to find Elmore Silk in order to strike a deal with him and become famous. Along his search, he meets various people who have encountered Elmore, and can give him valuable insight into what kind of man Elmore is... |
Darlene | |
| 1991 | The Events Leading Up to My Death | Rita | |
| 2000 | Apartment Hunting Apartment Hunting Apartment Hunting is a Canadian romantic comedy film, released in 2000.Written and directed by Bill Robertson, the film stars Andrew Tarbet as Ben Riddick, an unhappily married journalist forced to confront his feelings for his wife Sarah when he is assigned by his employer to write a story about... |
Helen | |
| 2003 | Squeezebox Squeezebox The term Squeezebox is a colloquial expression referring to any musical instrument of the general class of hand-held bellows-driven free reed aerophones such as the accordion and the concertina... |
Vivienne | short film by Andrew Hull Andrew Hull Andrew Hull was a Canadian born film maker, film director and architect. Born Andrew Mackenzie Hull, August 15, 1963, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada and died May 8, 2010 in London.-Early life:... |
| 2004 | Youkali Hotel | Television series | |
| 2005 | Mr Happy | Mother | Released in 2005 and 2006 |
| Black Widow Black Widow (2005 film) Black Widow, a "Film Noir Musical" is based on the Evelyn Dick murder case. It premiered in September 2005 on the film festival circuit and on CBC Television in January 2006.-Cast:*Martin Tielli as Johnny Hardwick*Sarah Slean as Eve Hardwick... |
Elizabeth Peyton |