Sharon "Shari" Ulrich (born 17 October 1951) is a Canadian/American musician and songwriter.[1] She has also worked as a television host, actress, film composer, and educator. A multi-instrumentalist, she plays Violin, Mandolin, guitar, piano, and Dulcimer.
Shari Ulrich | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Sharon Ulrich |
| Born | October 17, 1951 San Rafael, California, U.S. |
| Origin | British Columbia |
| Genres | Folk, pop |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Violin, guitar, piano, mandolin, dulcimer, flute |
| Years active | 1973–present |
| Labels | A&M, Esther, MCA, Borealis |
| Website | shariulrich |
She has been nominated for a Juno Award four times, winning "Most Promising Female Vocalist of the Year" in 1982.[2] At the 15th Genie Awards in 1994, Ulrich, Graeme Coleman and David Graff received a Genie Award nomination for Best Original Song, for the song "Every Road", which appeared in the film Max.[3]
Early life
editUlrich was born in San Rafael, California to Esther and Stanley Ulrich; she was the youngest of three children. Esther was proficient on piano, while Stanley (who worked in banking), played the recorder for relaxation. Shari picked up music early, playing violin at age nine. Stanley died when Shari was 10 years old, leaving Esther to raise their family as a single parent.[4] Ulrich moved to British Columbia at the age of 18.[5][6]
Career
editUlrich performed on the coffeehouse circuit around Vancouver in the early 1970s. In 1973, she met up with Rick Scott and Joe Mock, and together they formed Pied Pumkin which first performed that year.
Ulrich toured with Valdy in 1976 as a member of The Hometown Band.[7][8][9] After they disbanded in 1978, the same year they won the Juno Award for "Most Promising Group of the Year", she went solo, and won a 1981 Juno Award for "Most Promising Female Vocalist"[10] and received Juno nominations in the following two years for "Best Female Vocalist".[11][12]
Ulrich wrote for Sesame Street and composed theme music for several networks, including the CBC. In 1989 she formed the folk music group UHF along with Bill Henderson (Chilliwack) and Roy Forbes.[13]
In 2009, Ulrich joined Barney Bentall and Tom Taylor and formed BTU (Bentall Taylor Ulrich), releasing the album "Live" at Cates Hill followed by the studio album Tightrope Walk.[7]
Ulrich continues to perform solo (often accompanied by daughter Julia Graff on violin, piano, mandolin, guitar, accordion and vocals). Graff also engineered and produced Ulrich's 2014 release "Everywhere I Go" and Bentall Taylor Ulrich's 2016 "Tightrope Walk", and 2019's "Back to Shore" (co-produced and engineered by Julia's partner James Perrella). She tours occasionally with the Pied Pumkin, UHF, BTU and the bluegrass group The High Bar Gang.[14] She lives on Bowen Island, British Columbia.
Personal life
editUlrich was married (1989 - 1996) to musician, songwriter and artist David Graff, Julia Graff's father, who performs in his band as well. She is also a busy audio engineer, music editor in film and television, and videographer. Shari also has a son, Oregon architect Mike Magee, who was put up for adoption in 1967, and with whom she reunited in 2009.
Discography
editSolo
edit- Long Nights, 1980. (A&M Records)[15]
- One Step Ahead, 1981. (A&M Records)[16]
- Talk Around Town, 1982. (MCA Records)[17]
- Every Road, 1989. (Independent)[18]
- The Best of Shari Ulrich, 1991. (Esther Records)[19]
- The View from Here, 1998. (Esther Records)[20]
- Find Our Way, 2010. (Esther Records)[21]
- Everywhere I Go, 2014. (Borealis Records)[22][23]
- Back to Shore, 2019. (Borealis Records)[24][25]
Group
edit- The Pied Pumkin String Ensemble - Pied Pumkin, 1974. (Squash Records)
- Pie Pumkin Allah Mode - Pied Pumkin, 1976. (Squash Records)
- Flying - The Hometown Band, 1976. (A&M Records) (Re-released 2012)
- The Hometown Band - The Hometown Band, 1977. (A&M Records) (Re-released 2012)
- Pear of Pied Pumkin - Pied Pumkin, 1978. (Squash Records)
- The Lost Squash Tapes - Pied Pumkin 1988. (Squash Records)
- UHF - UHF, 1990. (Tangible Records)
- UHF II - UHF, 1995. (Tangible Records)
- Plucking DeVine - Pied Pumkin, 1998. (Squash Records)
- 'Live' at Cates Hill - Barney Bentall, Shari Ulrich, Tom Taylor, 2009. (Independent)
- Lost and Undone - The High Bar Gang, 2013. (True North Records)
- Tightrope Walk - Bentall Taylor Ulrich, 2016. (Borealis Records)
- Someday the Heart Will Trouble the Mind - The High Bar Gang, 2017. (True North Records)[26]
References
edit- ^ International Who's who in Music: Popular music. Vol. two. Melrose Press. 1996. p. 573. ISBN 978-0-948875-07-6.
- ^ "Past Nominees & Winners". junoawards.ca. Juno Awards. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ^ "The Genie nominees". Kingston Whig-Standard, October 20, 1994.
- ^ "Shari Ulrich - Bio". Shari Ulrich. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
- ^ "Salmon Festival: You won't get bored at the main stage gig: Ulrich". Christopher Sun, Richmond News, June 24, 2016.
- ^ Cleugh, Janis (October 8, 2022). "Shari Ulrich to bring Bowen Island guest to Port Moody show".
- ^ a b "Folk trio BTU serves up a solid set of new material on Tightrope Walk". The Guardian, February 20, 2016
- ^ "FANS honours artistic achievement". Erin McPhee / North Shore News, November 7, 2014
- ^ "Valdy", The Canadian Pop Encyclopedia, via Jam! Canoe.
- ^ "Ulrich enriches Civic Centre audience" Archived 2017-02-02 at the Wayback Machine. Merrit Herald, November 21, 2001
- ^ The Canadian Encyclopedia: Shari Ulrich
- ^ "Shari Ulrich". Canadian Bands. Archived from the original on 23 December 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
- ^ "Ulrich's voice and songs continue to enchant" Archived 2017-02-02 at the Wayback Machine. By Jim Barber, Kingston This Week, May 31, 2012
- ^ "High Bar Gang playing for literacy" Archived 2012-04-19 at the Wayback Machine, Victoria News, June 16, 2011
- ^ "Shari Ulrich – Long Nights". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ^ "Shari Ulrich – One Step Ahead". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ^ "Shari Ulrich – Talk Around Town". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ^ "Shari Ulrich – Every Road". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ^ "Shari Ulrich – The Best Of Shari Ulrich". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ^ "Shari Ulrich – The View From Here". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ^ "Shari Ulrich – Find Our Way". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ^ "Shari Ulrich – Everywhere I Go". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ^ "FAME Review: Shari Ulrich - Everywhere I Go". Acoustic Music, by Frank Gutch Jr.
- ^ "Shari Ulrich – Back To Shore". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ^ Varty, Alexander (12 June 2019). "Shari Ulrich finds acceptance and self-forgiveness with Back to Shore". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
- ^ "Shari Ulrich – A Woman of Constant Music" Archived 2017-02-02 at the Wayback Machine. Folk Roots Radio, April 27, 2016