Sharon, Lois & Bram (also known as Sharon, Bram & Friends, Sharon & Bram or Sharon & Randi) are a Canadian children's music group founded in Toronto, Ontario, 1978. The group's original lineup consisted of Sharon (née Trostin) Hampson, Lois Ada (née Goldberg) Lilienstein, and Bramwell "Bram" Morrison.
Group formation
Sharon Hampson, Lois Lilienstein, and Bram Morrison began their singing careers as individuals, and met while performing for the "Mariposa in the Schools" program, a project of the Mariposa Folk Festival.[1] The three performers quickly discovered that they shared a common philosophy about creating quality music for people of all ages.
Hampson studied piano, cello, and guitar as a child[2] and began publicly performing as a folk singer in cafes at 17.[3] Performing as a duo with Michel Choquette, in 1964 the pair released an album with songs in French and English entitled Songs for Children and Other People.[4] She married Joe Hampson of the folk band The Travellers.[5] Lilienstein's father was a piano player,[3] and she began performing at age six.[2] She trained in classical and jazz piano and earned her degree in music literature and piano from the University of Michigan.[6] Morrison attended the University of Toronto,[7] and for four years toured North America backing the folk singer Alan Mills, playing guitar on two of his albums.[2][8][9] He taught music in Toronto Public Schools for seven years.[2][3]
In 1978, with $22,000[3] borrowed from family and friends, they recorded their first album One Elephant, Deux Éléphants, released by Elephant Records and distributed by A&M.[10] The folk-style album, with its eclectic musical mix, became one of the fastest-selling children's albums ever produced in Canada.[11]
Producer Bill Usher contributed to their singing style.[10] Usher was looking for a more energetic twist to children's music and a shift away from the previous traditional folk style. He sought out songs that drew upon various musical styles, such as rock'n roll, Broadway, and calypso. Sharon, Lois & Bram's appeal crossed a variety of demographics.[12]
In 1995, the trio was asked by a collective of Western Canada planetariums to produce a "Laser Sharon, Lois & Bram" multi-media presentation, so that children could be introduced at an early age to the Solar System, by way of education through entertainment. Make A Wish with Sharon, Lois & Bram premiered in June 1995 for extended runs in Vancouver's H. R. MacMillan Space Centre and Toronto's McLaughlin Planetarium.[citation needed] Also, in 1995, the traditional song, "Old John Braddelum", from their album, One Elephant, Deux Éléphants (1978), appeared in the feature-film Billy Madison, starring Adam Sandler.[citation needed]
In 1996, Sharon, Lois & Bram were appointed as spokespersons for UNICEF Canada's 50th Anniversary Year Celebration.[13]
In 2000, following her husband's death, Lilienstein retired from touring with the group, which from that point on often performed as Sharon, Bram & Friends, with "friends" referring to life-size animal puppets. Lilienstein continued to play benefit shows and record with the group.[14][15][16] The duo continued to tour and are currently represented by Jeff Andrusyk at JMA Talent.[17]
In 2005, Bram announced that he had been found to have a benign tumor which was causing deafness in one ear. He underwent an experimental procedure to prevent further hearing loss.[18]
On May 4, 2008, Sharon, Lois & Bram reunited on stage at the Toronto Jewish Film Festival, for a rare performance featuring all three singers and a viewing of 25 Years of Skinnamarink.[19]
On May 10, 2014, the "Sharon, Lois & Bram Playground" was dedicated at June Rowlands Park in midtown Toronto. The playground naming was originally proposed by Toronto Councillor Josh Matlow. The ceremony was attended by roughly 2,000 people and included a welcome by Matlow, followed by several musical numbers by Sharon, Lois & Bram and short words of congratulations from various key individuals throughout the trio's career. The ceremony concluded with the unveiling of an elephant-shaped park sign.[11]
Lois's death
Lilienstein's grave at Mount Pleasant Cemetery
Lois Lilienstein (born Lois Ada Goldberg on July 10, 1936, in Chicago) died on April 22, 2015, aged 78, at her home in Toronto.[20] According to her son David, the cause of death was endometrial cancer. She was buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto. In addition to David, Lilienstein is survived by her granddaughter, Tessa.[21][22]
Later events
Crowd watching Sharon and Bram on stage at the 2017 Peterborough Folk FestivalSharon and Bram on stage at the 2017 Peterborough Folk Festival
Since Lilienstein's death, Hampson and Morrison have continued to perform as Sharon & Bram. In 2018, Sharon & Bram announced a farewell tour.[23] Hampson has continued to perform with her daughter Randi as Sharon & Randi or Sharon, Randi and Friends; Morrison has largely retired from touring, but has continued to contribute as a guest musician on Sharon & Randi recordings.[5]
In May 2019, a children's picture book based on the group's hit song "Skinnamarink" was announced for a September 2019 release.[24]
In April 2020, a Sharon, Lois & Bram YouTube channel launched with Sharon's Great Big Life, a new YouTube series premiering on April 7. The show features Sharon reminiscing about her life on tour, such as filming The Elephant Show and Skinnamarink TV, and each weekly episode will include previously-unseen photos and videos, and a look at Sharon's current life in Toronto. A trailer to promote the web series was released prior to the launch of the show. Season 1 will include eight episodes.[25]
In 2002, the three were made members of the Order of Canada.[14][15][16] The Chicago-born Lois was named an Honorary Member of the Order, as a non-Canadian. Video of the ceremony appears on the 25-year anniversary movie 25 Years of Skinnamarink.
In October 2009, the trio received the Estelle Klein Award from the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals (OCFF) for their significant contributions to Ontario's folk music community. The event weekend included a short video presentation of their life's work and an interview by Richard Flohil.[30]
Sharon, Lois & Bram's Elephant Show: Live! In Your Living Room – Live at Young People's Theater Downtown Toronto (September 1984) (A&M Records Video; 1989)
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