Felicity Urquhart

Felicity Ann Urquhart was born on 4 May 1976 to Rex, an upholsterer, and Patricia "Trish" Urquhart.{{Cite news | url = http://www.northerndailyleader.com.au/news/local/news/general/fun-for-a-good-cause/479871.aspx | title = Fun for a good cause | last1 = Rose | first1 = Anna | newspaper = Northern Daily Leader | date = 16 May 2004 | accessdate = 21 September 2010 }} She grew up in Tamworth in rural New South Wales. Her maternal grandfather, Ernie Walmsley, was a jockey turned horse-trainer and with her grandmother, Anne, ran a pub in Bingara. Urquhart began busking in Peel Street, Tamworth during the Tamworth Country Music Festival at the age of 11.{{Cite news|last=Dunn|first=Emily|title=Tamworth shines spotlight Down Under|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/music/tamworth-shines-spotlight-down-under/2007/01/25/1169594425799.html|date=26 January 2007|page=10}}{{Cite news|last=Moore|first=Luke|title=Felicity follows the sand|newspaper=The Echo|date=5 February 2009 |location=Geelong, Australia|page=15}} Aside from learning guitar, Urquhart had piano lessons and performed in musicals.{{Cite news | url = http://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/who/celebrity-interviews/article/-/5917926/felicity-urquhart-makes-a-solid-landing/ | title = Felicity Urquhart Makes a Solid Landing | newspaper = Who | publisher = Pacific Magazines | last1 = Squarey | first1 = Natasha | date = 5 March 2009 | accessdate = 20 September 2010 }}

In 1992 Urquhart released her debut self-titled album, Felicity Urquhart on Tamworth-based Hadley Records. Her second album, Follow Me appeared in 1995 on Radio Friendly Music. Nothing to Hide was released in 1999 on EMI with New Shadow issued in 2001. On 1 January she was awarded a Centenary Medal by Prime Minister, John Howard.{{Cite web | url = https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1124802 | title = It's an Honour – Search results for "Urquhart, Felicity Ann" | publisher = Government of Australia | date = 1 January 2001 | accessdate = 20 September 2010 }}

Urquhart performed with western swing group Feral Swing Katz at the Gympie National Country Music Muster in August – the performance was broadcast a year later on Live on Stage by ABC Radio National with Vince Jones presenting.{{Cite web | url = http://www.abc.net.au/rn/music/liveos/stories/s625682.htm | title = Felicity and the Feral Swing Katz | date = 16 August 2002 | publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation | work = Live on Stage | accessdate = 21 September 2010 }} In 2002, she travelled to Nashville to record tracks for a future album with Hannah providing acoustic guitar, harmony vocals and song writing.{{Cite web | url = http://www.countryragepage.com/felicityur.htm | title = Felicity Urquhart | work = Tamworth Rage Page | publisher = Helen | accessdate = 20 September 2010 }} Album plans fell through and Urquhart left EMI. She recorded a six-track extended play, Turn out the Light on Shock Records which was released in 2004.

Shock Records distributed My Life in 2006, which was produced by Hannah (ex-Kasey Chambers touring band). Her single "Big Black Cloud", co-written with Randy Scruggs, appeared in November and reached No.1 on Country Tracks National Top 30 Singles Chart on 24 January 2007.{{Cite news | url = http://www.countrymusicbulletin.com.au/newsarchive_Nov06.html | title = Felicity's co-writer in the winner's circle | newspaper = Country Music Bulletin | publisher = ICMB Publishing | editor = Bob Kirchner | date = 15 November 2006 | accessdate = 21 September 2010 }}{{Cite news | url = http://www.countrymusicbulletin.com.au/newsarchive_Jan07.html | title = Chart Update – Felicity at number one | newspaper = Country Music Bulletin | publisher = ICMB Publishing | editor = Bob Kirchner | date = 24 January 2007 | accessdate = 21 September 2010 }} On 5 September, Urquhart performed for John Howard, United States President George W Bush and Australian Defence Force personnel at a barbecue on Garden Island.{{Cite web | url = http://www.defence.gov.au/opdeluge/images/gallery/20070906/index.htm | title = Barbeque luncheon at Garden Island | publisher = Department of Defence (Australia) | date = 6 September 2007 | accessdate = 21 September 2010 }}

Urquhart released Landing Lights upon return to Australia. Internationally she has opened for country music legends Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings.{{Cite news|last=Buchanan|first=Kathy|title=Five Minutes with Felicity Urquhart|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=13 March 2005 |location=Sydney, Australia|page=S32}} From 2005 to 2009, Urquhart was a presenter on Sydney Weekender, a travel show on Seven Network.{{Cite web | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090224145042/http://www.visitnsw.com/Felicity_Urquhart_p2288.aspx | url = http://www.visitnsw.com/Felicity_Urquhart_p2288.aspx | title = The Team – Felicity Urquhart | work = Sydney Weekender | publisher = Tourism New South Wales | archivedate = 24 February 2009 | accessdate = 13 July 2013 }} She has been the host of country music show Saturday Night Country on Australian Broadcasting Corporation Local Radio across Australia since March 2010.{{Cite news|last=Edwards|first=Amy|title=Felicity steps up|newspaper=Newcastle Herald|url=http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac;jsessionid=77E29C525750F24E741F084FB31FB808?sy=nstore&pb=all_ffx&dt=selectRange&dr=1month&so=relevance&sf=text&sf=headline&rc=10&rm=200&sp=brs&cls=675&clsPage=1&docID=NCH100224973Q1FUOT7U|date=24 February 2010|location=Australia|page=12}} She had previously filled-in for retiring host John Nutting who had picked her as his replacement.

In 2015, Urquhart formed the group Bennett Bowtell Urquhart with Kevin Bennett and Lyn Bowtell. In 2019, ten years since her last solo album, Urquhart released Frozen Rabbit. In January 2020, Urquhart and Josh Cunningham were invited to join Song Club—a creative collective that tasked members with writing a song a week. Nine of these weekly tracks were recorded and released in May 2021 on the album, The Song Club.{{cite web|url=https://www.jbhifi.com.au/products/cd-urquhart-felicity-cunningham-song-club-the-cd?queryID=02c57041775b36e41caaa2b774549318&objectID=517646|title= The Song Club|website=JB HiFi|access-date=12 May 2021}}

Urquhart was nominated for six awards at the 2024 Country Music Awards of Australia.{{cite web|url=https://www.tcmf.com.au/gga-nominees|title=Toyota 52nd Golden Guitar Awards|website=TCMF|date=20 November 2023|access-date=23 November 2023|archive-date=23 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123120745/https://www.tcmf.com.au/gga-nominees|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.tcmf.com.au/nominees-announced-for-the-52nd-country-music-awards-of-australia-the-toyota-golden-guitar-awards#:~:text=Tamworth%20Regional%20Council%20will%20present,livestreamed%20via%20the%20Festival%20website.|title=Nominees Announced for the 52nd Country Music Awards|website=TCMF|date=20 November 2023|access-date=23 November 2023|archive-date=23 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123120744/https://www.tcmf.com.au/nominees-announced-for-the-52nd-country-music-awards-of-australia-the-toyota-golden-guitar-awards#:~:text=Tamworth%20Regional%20Council%20will%20present,livestreamed%20via%20the%20Festival%20website.|url-status=dead}}

In 2001 she met Glen Hannah (died 2019) who became her boyfriend. Urquhart and Hannah married on 10 March 2009 in Vanuatu.

She lives in Avoca Beach on the New South Wales Central Coast.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.

{{awards table}}

|-

| 2008

| My Life

| Best Independent Country Release

| {{nom}}

|-

| 2020{{cite web|url=https://scenestr.com.au/music/2020-air-awards-nominees-20200707|title=2020 AIR Awards Nominees|website=scenestr|date=7 July 2020|accessdate=8 August 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://theindustryobserver.thebrag.com/2020-air-award-winners/|title=That's a wrap: 2020 AIR Awards winners and celebrations|website=the industry observer|date=1 October 2020 |accessdate=1 October 2020}}

| Frozen Rabbit

| Best Independent Country Album

| {{nom}}

|-

| 2022{{cite web|url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/nominees-announced-for-air-independent-music-awards-2022/|title=Nominees Announced For AIR Independent Music Awards 2022|website=musicfeeds|date=1 June 2022|access-date=1 June 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/genesis-owusu-wins-big-at-the-2022-air-awards/|title=Genesis Owusu Wins Big At The 2022 AIR Awards|website=MusicFeeds|date=5 August 2022|access-date=6 August 2022|author=Tyler Jenke}}

| The Song Club (with Josh Cunningham)

| Best Independent Country Album or EP

| {{won}}

{{end}}

{{Awards table}}

|-

|2009 || Landing Lights || Best Country Album{{Cite web | url = http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-artist.php?letter=F&artist=Felicity%20Urquhart | title = ARIA Awards 2010: History: Winners by Artist: Felicity Urquhart | publisher = Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) | accessdate = 20 September 2010 }}{{Dead link|date=December 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} || {{nom}}

|-

|2019 || Frozen Rabbit || Best Country Album{{cite news | url = https://www.ariaawards.com.au/News/2019/2019-ARIA-Award-Winners-Announced | title = 2019 ARIA Award Winners Announced | publisher = Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) | date = 27 November 2019 | accessdate = 5 December 2019 }} || {{nom}}

|-

|2021 || The Song Club (with Josh Cunningham) || Best Country Album{{cite web |url=https://themusicnetwork.com/2021-aria-awards-nominees/ |title=ARIA Awards nominees revealed: Amy Shark & Genesis Owusu lead the charge |work=The Music Network |date=20 October 2021 |access-date=24 October 2021 |author=Kelly, Vivienne |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020000045/https://themusicnetwork.com/2021-aria-awards-nominees/ |archive-date=20 October 2021 |url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-24/aria-awards-winners-genesis-owusu-the-kid-laroi/100647266|title=You could dub this year's awards the Hip Hop and R'n'B ARIAs|publisher=ABC News|location=Australia|date=24 November 2021|first=Mawunyo|last=Gbogbo|access-date=25 November 2021}} || {{nom}}

|-

{{end}}

{{Awards table}}

|-

| 1998 || Felicity Urquhart || Country Female Performer{{Cite web | url = http://www.aceawards.com.au/1998.php | title = Inaugural ACE Award Winners 1998 | publisher = Australian Club Entertainment (ACE) | accessdate = 20 September 2010 }} || {{won}}

|-

| 1999 || Felicity Urquhart || Country Female Performer{{Cite web | url = http://www.aceawards.com.au/1999.php | title = 2nd ACE Award Winners 1999 | publisher = Australian Club Entertainment (ACE) | accessdate = 20 September 2010 }} || {{won}}

|-

| 2000 || Felicity Urquhart || Country Female Performer{{Cite web | url = http://www.aceawards.com.au/2000.php | title = 2000 ACE Award Winners and Nominees | publisher = Australian Club Entertainment (ACE) | accessdate = 20 September 2010 | archive-date = 21 August 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110821142534/http://www.aceawards.com.au/2000.php | url-status = dead }} || {{won}}

|-

| 2001 || Felicity Urquhart || Country Female Performer{{Cite web | url = http://www.aceawards.com.au/2001.php | title = 4th Australian Club Entertainment Award Nominees & Winners | publisher = Australasian Club Entertainment (ACE) | accessdate = 20 September 2010 }} || {{nom}}

|-

| 2002 || Felicity Urquhart || Country Female Performer{{Cite web | url = http://www.aceawards.com.au/2002.php | title = 5th Australian Club Entertainment Award Winners & Nominees | publisher = Australian Club Entertainment (ACE) | accessdate = 20 September 2010 }} || {{nom}}

|-

| 2003 || Felicity Urquhart || Country Female Performer{{Cite web | url = http://www.aceawards.com.au/2003.php | title = 6th Australian Club Entertainment Award Winners & Nominees | publisher = Australian Club Entertainment (ACE) | accessdate = 20 September 2010 }} || {{nom}}

|-

|2005 || Felicity Urquhart || Country Female Performer{{Cite web | url = http://www.aceawards.com.au/2005.php | title = 8th Australian Club Entertainment Award Winners & Nominees | publisher = Australian Club Entertainment (ACE) | accessdate = 20 September 2010 }} || {{nom}}

|-

|2006 || Felicity Urquhart || Country Female Performer{{Cite web | url = http://www.aceawards.com.au/2006.php | title = 9th Australian Club Entertainment Award Winners & Nominees | publisher = Australian Club Entertainment (ACE) | accessdate = 20 September 2010 }} || {{nom}}

|-

|2007 || Felicity Urquhart || Country Female Performer{{Cite web|url=http://www.aceawards.com.au/2007.php |title=10th Australian Club Entertainment Award Winners 2007 |publisher=Australian Club Entertainment (ACE) |access-date=20 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110219070608/http://www.aceawards.com.au/2007.php |archive-date=19 February 2011 }} || {{nom}}

|-

|2008 || Felicity Urquhart || Country Female Performer{{Cite web|url=http://www.aceawards.com.au/2008.php |title=11th Australian Club Entertainment Award Winners 2008 |publisher=Australian Club Entertainment (ACE) |access-date=20 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110303065920/http://www.aceawards.com.au/2008.php |archive-date=3 March 2011 }} || {{nom}}

|-

|2009 || Felicity Urquhart || Country Female Performer{{Cite web | url = http://www.aceawards.com.au/WINNERS.php | title = 12th Australian Club Entertainment Award Winners 2009 | publisher = Australian Club Entertainment (ACE) | accessdate = 20 September 2010 }} || {{nom}}

|-

{{end}}

{{Awards table}}

|-

| 2004 || Turn out the Light || Australian Independent Female Vocalist of the Year{{Cite web | url = http://www.milduracountrymusic.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=103&Itemid=78 | title = Previous Winners | publisher = Mildura Country Music | accessdate = 20 September 2010 }} || {{won}}

|-

| rowspan="2"|2006 || My Life || Australian Independent Album of the Year || {{won}}

|-

| "The Flood" || Australian Independent Female Vocalist of the Year || {{won}}

|-

{{end}}

{{Awards table}}

|-

|2005 || Felicity Urquhart & Glen Hannah – "The Flood" || Country Songwriter of the Year || {{won}}

|-

{{end}}

The Country Music Awards of Australia (CMAA) (also known as the Golden Guitar Awards) is an annual awards night held in January during the Tamworth Country Music Festival, celebrating recording excellence in the Australian country music industry. They have been held annually since 1973.

{{awards table}}(wins only)

|-

| rowspan="2"| 2001 || Felicity Urquhart|| The Australian Country Music Hands of Fame{{Cite web | url = http://www.countrymusichalloffame.com.au/HandsOfFame/1_Hands_YearList.htm#2001 | title = The Australian Country Music Hands of Fame | publisher = Australian Country Music Foundation | accessdate = 20 September 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110216143941/http://countrymusichalloffame.com.au/HandsOfFame/1_Hands_YearList.htm#2001 | archive-date = 16 February 2011 | url-status = dead }} || {{yes2|Imprinted}}

|-

| Felicity Urquhart (with Beccy Cole, Darren Coggan & Adam Harvey) – "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind" || Vocal Collaboration of the Year{{Cite web | url = http://www.country.com.au/winners-archive/58-2001 | title = Winners Archive – 2001 | publisher = Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA) | access-date = 20 September 2010 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140110085149/http://www.country.com.au/winners-archive/58-2001 | archive-date = 10 January 2014 }} || {{won}}

|-

| 2006 || Felicity Urquhart || Independent Entertainer of the Year || {{won}}

|-

| rowspan="2"|2007 || "Big Black Cloud" || Video Clip of the Year{{Cite web | url = http://www.country.com.au/winners-archive/64-2007 | title = Winners Archive – 2007 | publisher = Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA) | access-date = 20 September 2010 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140109015245/http://www.country.com.au/winners-archive/64-2007 | archive-date = 9 January 2014 }} || {{won}}

|-

| Felicity Urquhart || Independent Entertainer of the Year || {{won}}

|-

| 2010 || "Roller Coaster" || Female Vocalist of the Year{{Cite web | url = http://www.country.com.au/winners-archive/67-2010 | title = Winners Archive – 2010 | publisher = Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA) | access-date = 20 September 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110219151515/http://country.com.au/winners-archive/67-2010 | archive-date = 19 February 2011 | url-status = dead }} || {{won}}

|-

| rowspan="5"| 2020|| Frozen Rabbit || Traditional Country Album of the Year || {{won}}

|-

| Frozen Rabbit || Female Artist of the Year|| {{won}}

|-

| Frozen Rabbit || Album of the Year|| {{won}}

|-

| "Chain of Joy" || Song of the Year|| {{won}}

|-

| "Chain of Joy" || Single of the Year|| {{won}}

|-

| rowspan="3"| 2024 || Birdsong (with Josh Cunningham) || Traditional Country Album of the Year{{cite web|url=https://www.kixcountry.com.au/hottest-country-news/brad-cox-the-wolfe-brothers-win-big-at-the-2024-golden-guitar-awards/ |title= Brad Cox, The Wolfe Brothers Win Big At The 2024 Golden Guitar Awards|website=Kix Country|date= 27 January 2024|access-date=29 January 2024}} || {{won}}

|-

| "Size Up" (with Josh Cunningham) || Song of the Year|| {{won}}

|-

| "Size Up" (with Josh Cunningham) || Single of the Year|| {{won}}

|-

{{end}}

The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the Mo Awards), were annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia from 1975 to 2016. Urquhart won two awards in that time.{{cite web|url=https://www.moawards.com.au/awardwinners|title=MO Award Winners|website=Mo Awards|access-date=16 March 2022}}

{{Awards table}}

|-

| 1995 || Felicity Urquhart || Female Country Performer of the Year{{Cite web | url = http://www.moawards.com/?page_id=626 | title = Winners – 21st Mo Awards 1996 | work = Mo Awards | publisher = Australian Entertainment 'Mo' Awards Inc | accessdate = 20 September 2010 }} || {{won}}

|-

| 1997 || Felicity Urquhart || Female Country Performer of the Year{{Cite web | url = http://www.moawards.com/?page_id=626 | title = Winners – 23rd Mo Awards 1998 | work = Mo Awards | publisher = Australian Entertainment 'Mo' Awards Inc | accessdate = 20 September 2010 }} || {{won}}

|-

{{end}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120325020218/http://blogs.abc.net.au/localradio/2010/01/felicity-urquhart.html Profile on ABC Local]
• [http://www.countryragepage.com/felicityur.htm Felicity Urquhart] at Tamworth rage page

{{702 ABC Sydney}}

{{774 ABC Melbourne}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Urquhart, Felicity}}

Category:1976 births

Category:Living people

Category:Australian country singers

Category:Australian women country singers

Category:Australian guitarists

Category:Australian women guitarists

Category:Australian DJs

Category:Australian radio personalities

Category:People from Tamworth, New South Wales

Category:21st-century Australian singers

Category:EMI Classics and Virgin Classics artists

Category:Australian television personalities

Category:20th-century Australian women singers

Category:Australian women songwriters

Category:Australian women radio presenters

Category:Australian women television presenters