Lisa Edwards
{{for|the New Zealand rugby league player|Lisa Edwards (rugby league)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Lisa Edwards
| image =
| image_size =
| landscape =
| alt =
| caption =
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name = Lisa Anne Edwards
| alias =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1958|09|25|df=y}}
| birth_place = Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| origin =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| genre =
| occupation = Singer, musician
| instrument = Vocals, percussion, flute
| years_active = 1978–present
| label = {{flatlist|
- Emerald City/Polydor
- Warner
}}
| associated_acts = John Farnham, Kylie Minogue
| website = {{URL|lisaedwards.com.au}}
}}
Lisa Anne Edwards (born 25 September 1958) is an Australian solo and session singer and musician. In July 1992 she had a top 5 hit on the ARIA Singles Chart with her cover version of Godley and Creme's "Cry". Edwards is primarily a backing vocalist and has worked for fellow Australian and international artists, including John Farnham and Kylie Minogue.
Edwards also provided vocals on Real Life's "Send Me an Angel" and Olivia Newton-John's "Stronger Than Before". As a solo artist, Edwards has issued two studio albums, Thru the Hoop (1993) and State of the Heart (2005).
Early and personal life
Lisa Anne Edwards was born in 1958 in Adelaide.{{cite web|publisher=Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) |title='Stay with Me' at APRA search engine |url=https://www.apra.com.au/cms/worksearch/worksearch.srvlt?action=workSearch#axd?q=Stay%20with%20Me |access-date=21 June 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117020448/https://www.apra.com.au/cms/worksearch/worksearch.srvlt?action=workSearch |archive-date=17 November 2015 }} Note: User may have to click "Search again" and provide details at "Enter a title:" e.g. Stay with Me; or at "Performer:" Lisa Edwards{{cite journal | title = Maddison's a Miracle Baby | last = Brown | first = Jenny | journal = Woman's Day | page = 28 | date = 16 June 2003 }} Her father is a jazz pianist and her mother was a stage performer. Edwards made her stage debut aged seven with her father, who regularly took her with him. In secondary school, with three other students, she formed a quartet, Harmony, which went from talent programs to performing on the club circuit.[http://www.australiaday.vic.gov.au/events_ambassadors_details.asp?view=366 Australia Day - Victoria - What's On - Ambassadors] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070829122432/http://www.australiaday.vic.gov.au/events_ambassadors_details.asp?view=366 |date=29 August 2007 }} For most of her career she has been based in Melbourne. Edwards' domestic partner is Michael Turner, a barrister, and the couple have a child.
Solo career
Lisa Edwards began her career as a solo artist and backing singer in the late 1970s, in South Australia and Sydney, supporting artists including the Seekers, the Platters, the Drifters and the Pointer Sisters. In September 1981 she issued her debut single, "Centre Spread", on Mushroom Records.{{cite book | last1 = McFarlane | first1 = Ian | author-link1 = Ian McFarlane | title = Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop | chapter = Encyclopedia entry for 'Lisa Edwards' | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040420001730/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=312 | chapter-url = http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=312 | year = 1999 | publisher = Allen & Unwin | location = St Leonards, NSW | archive-date = 20 April 2004 | isbn = 1-86508-072-1 }} It was the theme song for a film soundtrack of the same name. The song was written and co-produced by John C. Sharp, which was recorded and mixed at Pepper Studios in Adelaide.{{cite web | url = http://www.ozmovies.com.au/uploads/media/credit/0001/69/a18a6403a685397289d2beb9f379fd777f35cb83.pdf | title = Centrespread Music Credits | work = Oz Movies | access-date = 21 June 2016 }}{{cite book | chapter-url = http://www.tvmem.com/OZST/ffilms/C-FFILM/CENTRESP.htm | title = Australian Soundtrack Recordings | last = Nicholson | first = Dennis Way | publisher = Australian Music Centre (Nodette Enterprises) | year = 2007 | location = Sydney | isbn = 978-0-646-31753-3 | chapter = Centrespread }}
Her second single, "You Are My Melbourne", was a duet with Adrian Campbell in 1985.Lisa Edwards at the Australian Rock Database:
- Lisa Edwards: {{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023113646/http://hem2.passagen.se/honga/database/e/edwardslisa.html |url=http://hem2.passagen.se/honga/database/e/edwardslisa.html |work=hem2.passagen.se |title=Lisa Edwards |publisher=Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren) |last1=Holmgren |first1=Magnus |archive-date=23 October 2013 |access-date=21 June 2016 |url-status=usurped }}
- Turbo Luv Nuns (1987): {{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040328224206/http://hem2.passagen.se/honga/database/t/turboluvnuns.html |url=http://hem2.passagen.se/honga/database/t/turboluvnuns.html |work=hem2.passagen.se |title=Turbo Luv Nuns |publisher=Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren) |last1=Holmgren |first1=Magnus |archive-date=28 March 2004 |access-date=21 June 2016 |url-status=usurped }}
- John Farnham Band (1988–2010): {{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023060712/http://hem2.passagen.se/honga/database/f/farnhamjohn.html |url=http://hem2.passagen.se/honga/database/f/farnhamjohn.html |work=hem2.passagen.se |title=John Farnham |publisher=Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren) |last1=Holmgren |first1=Magnus |first2=Scott |last2=Reboulet |first3=Lyn |last3=Albury |first4=Beeb |last4=Birtles |author-link4=Beeb Birtles |first5=Stefan |last5=Warnqvist |first6=Peter |last6=Medlin |archive-date=23 October 2013 |access-date=21 June 2016 |url-status=usurped }}
- Noel's Cowards (1988): {{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040106044016/http://hem2.passagen.se/honga/database/n/noelscowards.html |url=http://hem2.passagen.se/honga/database/n/noelscowards.html |work=hem2.passagen.se |title=Noel's Cowards |publisher=Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren) |last1=Holmgren |first1=Magnus |first2=Stefan |last2=Warnqvist |archive-date= 6 January 2004 |access-date=21 June 2016 |url-status=usurped }}
According to George Wilson of The Sydney Morning Herald it was written by Indian-born Australian resident, Raj Marwah.{{cite web | url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1301&dat=19850519&id=wKpWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NOgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=770,2686857&hl=en | title = Sydney's Song Gift to the South... | last = Wilson | first = George | work = The Sydney Morning Herald | via = Google News Archive Search | date = 19 May 1985 | page = 18 | access-date = 21 June 2016 }} It was provided to celebrate of the 150th anniversary of the foundation of Melbourne. Also in that year she provided vocals on Joe Lamont's album, Secrets You Keep.{{cite web | url = http://www.allmusic.com/artist/lisa-edwards-mn0000299493/credits | title = Lisa Edwards | Credits | publisher = AllMusic | access-date = 21 June 2016 }}
In 1986 Edwards was lead vocalist in Short Circuit, a dance-disco group with Trevor Courtney on drums. Both Edwards and Courtney joined White Light Orchestra, a 36-member ensemble, which issued an album, Halley's Comet, in April.{{cite web | url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1300&dat=19860417&id=bnczAAAAIBAJ&sjid=65IDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3114,4891986&hl=en | title = New Notes: Celestial Visitor Hailed in Music | last = Daly | first = Mike | work = The Age: Green Guide | via = Google News Archive Search | date = 17 April 1986 | access-date = 21 June 2016 | page = 10 }} Mike Daly of The Age described the track, "Moon and Stars", as an "uninspiring piece of technopop", which, written by "Bill Miller, is sung by [Edwards]." Edwards and Lindsay Field provided vocals for the score of the comedy feature film, "Crocodile" Dundee (April 1986), with music composed by Peter Best.{{Citation | author1=Best, Peter | author-link1 = Peter Best (composer)| author2 = Edwards, Lisa | author3 = Field, Lindsay | author4 = Hogan, Paul | author-link4 = Paul Hogan | title = Crocodile Dundee: Motion Picture Score | publication-date = 1986 | publisher = EMI | url = http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/179864184 | access-date = 21 June 2016 | via = National Library of Australia }} Edwards sang "Playing with Fire", music by Frank Strangio and lyrics by Eve Dembowski, for the feature film, Dead End Drive-In (August 1986).{{cite web | url = http://www.ozmovies.com.au/uploads/media/credit/0002/19/7c4ff77342e3e5b7bc5e3fc5b1c314557dd064dc.pdf | title = Dead End Drive-In Music Credits | work = Oz Movies | access-date = 23 June 2016 }}
Turbo Luv Nuns was a group, in 1987, with Edwards on backing vocals, Ronnie Charles (ex-The Groop) on lead vocals, Peter Coughlan on bass guitar, Mark Greig (ex-Australian Crawl) on lead guitar and Des McKenna on drums. They issued an album, They Don't Know. She also provided vocals for Short Circuit's album, Waiting for the Big One (1988). In that year she joined with members of Schnell Fenster – Phil Judd on guitar, trumpet, keyboards and vocals; Nigel Griggs on bass guitar; Noel Crombie on drums and percussion; and Michael den Elzen on guitars, guitar synth, fretless guitar and keyboards – to form Noel's Cowards with Vika Bull on vocals; Michael Harris on fiddle; Wendy Matthews on lead vocals; and Louis McManus on mandolin. They provided six songs for the soundtrack of the feature film, Rikky and Pete (1988).
In April 1992 Edwards issued a single, "Cry", which reached the top{{nbsp}}5 on the ARIA Singles Chart. It is a cover version of Godley and Creme's single (March 1985). On the ARIA End of Year Singles Chart for 1992, it reached No.{{nbsp}}41. She released her debut solo album, Thru the Hoop, in May 1993,{{cite web|url=http://i.imgur.com/N2VZsha.png|title=New Release Summary – Product Available from: 23/05/93 (from The ARIA Report Issue No. 172)|publisher=Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA)|access-date=24 July 2016}} with backing vocals from Farnham and Jack Jones (of John Farnham Band and Southern Sons).{{cite news | url = http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article127233244 | title = Good Times: Disc Review – The Funky Feeling Grabs You by the Ears | last = Hannan | first = Bevan | newspaper = The Canberra Times | volume = 67 | issue = 21,247 | date = 17 June 1993 | access-date = 22 June 2016 | page = 28 |via=National Library of Australia}} Bevan Hannan of The Canberra Times, rated the album as seven out of ten.
Hannan praised the opening track, "Satisfy Me", as having a "funky feel [that] grabs you by the ears, the type of sound which you would swear was stripped from Kate Ceberano's Brave or Think About It." He opined that the rest of the album "doesn't sink to wallowing depths, but the conservative nature of the other nine tracks only earns it a solid rating." Edwards wrote the track, "Stay with Me", which Hannan described as "first class". Subsequent singles, "So Dangerous' (1992)", "Until the Day" (June 1993) and "Lose Myself in You" (September), had less chart success, and Edwards returned to performing as a backing singer.
From 1993 Edwards has contributed Christmas carols for the annual The Spirit of Christmas album series, which is produced and compiled by fellow John Farnham Band backing singer, Lindsay Field. Her tracks include "Do You Hear What I Hear?" in November 1993, "I'll Be Home for Christmas" (duet with Field) and "Amazing Grace" (quartet with Field, Farnham and Venetta Fields) in November 1994, "Grown-Up Christmas List" (duet with Field) in November 1994 and compiled in November 1998 and "The Twelve Days of Christmas" (duet with Field) in November 2002.
In 2001, Edwards, Debra Byrne and Wendy Stapleton toured with Girls, Girls, Girls a tribute show of hits by the Supremes, Cilla Black, Dusty Springfield, Patsy Cline and Lulu.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NnXuTIA1OdAC&q=debra+byrne+not+ripe+enough|title=Not Quite Ripe: A Memoir|last=Byrne|first=Debra|author-link=Debra Byrne|pages=302, 454, 457, 461, 469|year=2008|publisher=Pan MacMillan|location=Australia|isbn=978-0-330-42409-7}} Note: Overview [on-line] has limited preview available.{{cite web|url=http://www.australiaday.vic.gov.au/ambassadors/item/125-lisa-edwards.html|title=Australia Day Ambassadors – Lisa Edwards|publisher=Australia Day Committee|access-date=20 January 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091201065010/http://www.australiaday.vic.gov.au/ambassadors/item/125-lisa-edwards.html|archive-date=1 December 2009|df=dmy-all}} After a month, Edwards returned to backing vocals for John Farnham on his The Last Time Tour; she was replaced by Nikki Nicholls, Girls, Girls, Girls continued touring into 2002.
She released her second solo studio album, State of the Heart, in August 2005, which included a cover version of Icehouse's single, "Man of Colours" (February 1988).{{cite web | url = http://www.abc.net.au/oztrax/stories/s1438429.htm | title = 'Man of Colours' :: Lisa Edwards :: OzTrax | publisher = ABC Music (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) | date = 21 August 2005 | access-date = 30 March 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140427131152/http://www.abc.net.au/oztrax/stories/s1438429.htm | archive-date = 27 April 2014 }} State of the Heart reached No.{{nbsp}}19 on the ARIA Hitseekers Albums Chart. Georgie Bryant of MediaSearch website felt it was "quite interesting" how Edwards handles "famous Australian songs with [her] own interpretation."{{cite web | archive-url = https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20120206130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/63544/20120207-0000/www.mediasearch.com.au/music/cdreviews/lisaedwards-cdreview.html | url = http://www.mediasearch.com.au/music/cdreviews/lisaedwards-cdreview.html | title = Lisa Edwards – State of the Heart | last = Bryant | first = Georgie | work = MediaSearch | publisher = Carmine Pascuzzi | archive-date = 6 February 2012 | year = 2009 | access-date = 22 June 2016 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Edwards' solo performances are often based around tributes to her childhood idols: Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Diana Ross and Natalie Cole.
Edwards released her third studio album, I'm Still the Woman in 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.jbhifi.com.au/products/cd-edwards-lisa-im-still-the-woman-cd?queryID=d78218fade245b698d40e65476a2cff1&objectID=518867|title=I'm Still the Woman (CD)|website=JB HiFi|access-date=25 May 2021}}
Backing vocalist for national and international performers
Aside from vocals Lisa Edwards plays percussion and flute: initially she was recruited as a flautist for the John Farnham Band in 1988.{{cite web | url = http://www.johnfarnham.info/band/lisa.htm | title = Lisa Edwards | publisher = Johnfarnham.info | access-date = 30 March 2012}} She has been one of his backing vocalists for both studio sessions and touring from Age of Reason (July 1988) to Jack (October 2010), inclusive.
Aside from Farnham, Edwards has provided vocals for fellow Australian artists, Noiseworks, Real Life's "Send Me an Angel" (May 1983), Black Sorrows' Hold On To Me (September 1988), Ross Wilson, Billy Thorpe, Brian Cadd and Kate Ceberano. She was one of the backing vocalists on Kylie Minogue's Enjoy Yourself Tour in 1990. As a result, she performed with Yoko Ono for the John Lennon tribute concert in Liverpool. She returned to Australia to support Olivia Newton-John and Tom Jones on the Australian legs of their tours. She again worked with Minogue in 1998 on the singer's Intimate and Live Tour of Australia. Other international artists she has supported include Ray Charles, Cyndi Lauper, Lenny Kravitz, Bryan Adams and Sting.
Edwards continues to perform, both as a solo artist, a member of Farnham's band and as a backing singer. She was part of the "Tour of Duty" concert for the Australian Army troops in appreciation of the peacekeeping effort in East Timor. She is an Australia Day ambassador for the state of Victoria.
Discography
=Studio albums=
=Singles=
Awards and nominations
=ARIA Music Awards=
The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987.
{{awards table}}
! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
|rowspan="2" | 1992
| Paul Goldman for "Cry" by Lisa Edwards
| {{nom}}
|-
| Doug Brady for "Cry" & "So Dangerous" by Lisa Edwards
| {{nom}}
|
|-
{{end}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Official website|lisaedwards.com.au}}
- [http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/101825 "Poster advertising performance by Lisa Edwards and the Body Motors at The Continental Café, Prahran, Victoria"], 22 September 1993, held at the State Library of Victoria.
- {{IMDb name|nm1192618}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Edwards, Lisa}}
Category:Australian women singers