It is true that no matter what height of success we have scaled in our
career or elsewhere, we are a failure if we have some regrets and our
house is not a home.
In spite of Anne Murray’s remarkable success, she has many regrets. The
foremost of which, is that, she did not take enough time for herself and
her family.
However, although
she wishes that she had the courage and strength to put her family above
her career earlier, she decided to make amends and tried to take
charge of her life.
Let's learn from the following article inspired by the writings of
Michael Posner about Anne’s memoir, ‘All of Me’
and featured in Aol.com.
When
Anne Murray
broke through with her hit song, 'Snowbird,' in 1970, she had no idea of
the kind of success that it would bring her. Anne reveals the journey
that took the small-town girl from Springhill, Nova Scotia, to cities
around the world, in her new autobiography, 'All of Me.'
Anne, the only girl in a family of five boys, grew up a tomboy who had
no problem in the rough and tumble world of her siblings. No doubt that
upbringing prepared her for the climb to the top in the world of music
-- a climb that while seemingly happened overnight, was really a road
filled with frustration before the singer was able to take charge of her
career.
While Anne's true love was always music, she worked on various
television shows during summers in between her college courses. After
graduation she taught high school until she was offered a permanent job
with 'Sing-along Jubilee,' a national television show based out of
Halifax. Soon thereafter, Anne made her first album with producer Brian
Ahern, who went on to work with her on the next ten projects.
The singer, who went on to sell 54 million records, wavered between pop
and country, placing songs at the top of both charts.
The Canadian singer is quite forthcoming about different topics in her
autobiography, as well, including her affair with a married man, the
stars who hit on her after she was a celebrity, and the learning curve
she went through while she tried to gain control of her career. She also
talks about her marriage and what brought it to a close, the time spent
on the road away from her children and how she dealt with her daughter's
battle with anorexia.
"I was swept up like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, and catapulted into a
strange new universe," writes Anne. "I was lonely and tired. My privacy
was constantly being invaded. I was in love with a married man whom I
seldom saw. I was touring with a group of musicians who at any moment
were at risk of being arrested. What I wanted most was to stop and go
home, but it wasn't possible. I had commitments and obligations as far
as the eye could see."
Once the hits started, the climb didn't get easier. Anne had to deal
with a band that abused alcohol and drugs and her own stage fright; a
stalker who stayed round for almost 20 years; and the death of her
manager and best friend.
She talks about the people who helped her along
the way, like Glen Campbell, along with other celebrities she met
including presidents, kings and queens, plus big names in entertainment
like
Willie Nelson,
Kris Kristofferson,
John Lennon,
Kenny Rogers
and
Perry Como.
Anne presents a very honest look at her career and her private life in this
book. In looking back over her life, Anne says, "If I regret anything,
it's that I didn't take enough time for myself and my family. Having to
leave my children crying at the door as I flew off made me miserable."
After the release of her 'Duets: Friends and Legends' album, which
featured a who's who of performers including
Martina McBride,
Emmylou Harris,
Celine Dion
and
Sarah Brightman,
Anne made the decision to retire. "After being on tour for most of my
adult life, the time was right to stop and reflect," she explains. "The
years pass so quickly when you're on the road, and besides," she adds
with a chuckle, "I thought it was important to do this memoir, while I
can still remember things!"
The highest reward for a man's toil is not what he gets for it, but what
he becomes by it. -John Ruskin
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