| Background: | person |
| Birth Place: | Ireland |
| Genre: | Popular music |
| Occupation: | Singer, actress |
| Instrument: | Voice |
| Label: | Cindril, MCG Records |
Yvonne Murray is a Canadian singer who has had a hit in 1983 with "Don't Send Me Roses (Dear Abby)" which did well on two Canadian charts. She had another hit the following year with "Let's Not Waste Another Heartbeat". She has sung on multiple film soundtracks. She sang the title song "Never Far Apart" for the film, Melanie and has worked as an actress. She has worked with Paul Zaza on multiple projects. With Zaza she sang the theme to Kimba the White Lion (1993 Canadian Dub). She also did the voice for Kimba.
A regular on television, Murray has appeared in The 50s Connection, Music Til' Midnight and Sounds Good.[1] Her 1983 debut single, "Don't Send Me Roses" and the album that followed brought her recognition throughout her country.[2] She had another hit the following year with "Let's Not Waste Another Heartbeat".[3] [4] Born in Ireland and based in Toronto, she was managed by William J. Meloche.[5] [6] She recorded for MGC Records which was based at 70 Yorkville Road, Toronto, ON M5R 1B9, Canada.[7]
Murray recorded with the Longo Brothers and sang on the tracks "This Lonesome Road" and "Without You" which were released in 1979.[8]
For the week ending October 8, the single had entered the RPM Country 50 Singles chart at #50 and was at #24 on the RPM Contemporary Adult chart.[12] [13] The song peaked at #13 on the tenth week in the RPM Contemporary Adult chart on November 26.[14] [15] It also peaked at # 22 on its 8th week in the RPM Country Singles chart.[16] [17]
In 1984, the single, "Celebrate Our City" was released. It was a Toronto promotional and tribute record which attracted the attention of music broadcast programmers' clubs and event organizers.[23]
She was set to appear on the Tommy Hunter Show on October 21, 1983, singing a song from her album, "Let's Not Waste Another Heartbeat".[24]
On January 13, 1984, she was guesting on CBC-TV's, The Tommy Hunter Show.[25]
Murray and her band were scheduled to play the Toronto's Pier 4 and October's venues on April 9 to 28th and May 14 to June 2 respectively.[26]
She added her backing vocals to Terry Carwford's Total Loss of Control album that was released in 1986.
She worked with Guido Luciani, adding vocal to his 1996 album, Azucar: The Magic of Spanish Guitar. She also was a backing vocalist on Wendy Lands' 1996 album, Angels & Ordinary Men.[27] Along with Stephanie Taylor and Jackie Zaza, she sang backup on Kelly Walker's 24/42 album.
In 2021, the single "Outside Looking In (for The Endometriosis Network Canada)" was released. It was a collaboration between herself and Guido Luciani.
In addition to singing the title song "Never Far Apart" for the 1982 film, Melanie, she played the part of Brandy in the film.[28] [29]
She sang the song "Stop Foolin' Around" which was featured in the 1985 film, Breaking All the Rules.[30] The song which was written by Paul Zaza was also recorded by Carol McCartney, with Zaza playing on the recording.[31] [32]
She performed the song "Burnin' Up Over You" for the 1990 film, Loose Cannons which starred Gene Hackman, Dan Aykroyd, and Dom DeLuise.[33] Also that year, was released. She sang the song "The Last Kiss Will Be Mine" which was used in the film.[34]
| Act | Release | Catalogue | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yvonne Murray | "Never Far Apart" / "Give Me Back My Heart" | Cindril 803 | 1981 | |
| Yvonne Murray | "Celebrate Our City" / "Celebrate Our City" (Instrumental Version) | MGC JM 83186 | 1983 | |
| Yvonne Murray | "Don't Send Me Roses (Dear Abby)" / "One Day at a Time" | MGC JM8368 | 1983 | |
| Yvonne Murray | "Let's Not Waste Another Heartbeat" / "Baby It Hurts" | MGC JM8409 | 1984 | |
| Yvonne Murray | "Catch The Spirit" / "Catch the Spirit" (Instrumental) | MGC MCG0711 | 1984 | [35] |
| Film | Director | Role | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melanie | Rex Bromfield | Brandy | 1983 | [37] |
| Covert Action | Les Rose, J. Christian Ingvordsen | Lorraine | 1987 | [38] |
| Film | Director | Song | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melanie | Rex Bromfield | "Never Far Apart" | 1982 | Performer |
| Isaac Littlefeathers | Les Rose | "You Were So Good To Me" | 1984 | Performer |
| Breaking All the Rules | James Orr | "Stop Foolin' Around" | 1985 | Performer |
| One Magic Christmas | Phillip Borsos | "Stop! In the Name of Love" | 1985 | Performer |
| Ron Oliver | "The Last Kiss Will Be Mine" | 1989 | Performer | |
| Loose Cannons | Bob Clark | "Burnin' Up Over You" | 1990 | Writer |
| Popcorn | Mark Herrier | "Scary Scary Movies" | 1991 | Writer |
| Blown Away | Brenton Spencer | "Blown Away", "Hooked on You" | 1993 | Performer |
| Thick as Thieves | Scott Sanders | "Au Revoir Mun Coeur" | 1999 | Composer |