Jann Arden, Artist of the Week

Runs June 1-5th.
Jann Arden
(born Jann Arden Anne Richards; March 27, 1962) is a Canadian singer-songwriter.

Jann Arden was born in Calgary and moved as a child to Springbank, Alberta, where she attended Springbank Community High School.

Arden was discovered in 1985 by Calgary manager Neil MacGonigill, who worked with her from 1985 to 1998, both managing her career and acting as executive producer of her earlier albums. The two subsequently became estranged.

Her breakthrough came with her critically acclaimed 1993 debut album Time for Mercy and her first single “I Would Die For You”. Her success grew with 1994’s Living Under June, which featured her biggest hit to date outside of Canada, “Insensitive“.

Jann Arden is a Canadian born, singer, songwriter, broadcaster and author.  The much celebrated multi-platinum, award winning artist catapulted onto the Canadian music scene in 1993 with the release of her debut album “Time For Mercy” featuring the hit single, I Would Die For You.  A year later with “Living Under June”, she would have her career break out hit Insensitive that would solidify her position in the music world.

Arden has released 12 albums with 19 top ten singles.  Her most recent recording, “Everything Almost” was released in 2014. With Grammy Award winning producer Bob Rock behind the console, the 11-track disc is considered to be amongst Jann’s finest work – progressive, yet retaining the magic that is distinctly Jann.  In her career to date she has received 8 Juno Awards including Female Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year and in 1997 she hosted the Awards ceremony.  Arden is also the recipient of 10 SOCAN Awards, 4 Western Canadian Music Awards, a Much Music Video Award, 3 Prairie Music Awards and an Alberta Recording Industry Association Award.

Jann is the proud recipient of a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame; she has been inducted into the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame, has been given the Vantage Women of Originality Award.  In 2012 she was awarded the Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal and in 2013 was inducted into the Western Canadian Music Alliance Hall of Fame.

In addition to being a singer/songwriter, Arden is an author of note.  She has written three books – If I Knew, Don’t You Think I’d tell You and I’ll Tell You One Damn Thing, That’s All I Know and her best selling self-penned memoir, Falling Backwards.  In past, Jann has also written a monthly advice column for Elle Canada – a feature that ran for a year.  Arden is also a much in demand speaker, peppering her words of wisdom with her signature humour.

In 2010, Jann took on broadcast duties as the host of Being Jann an hour- long talk show on CBC Radio and in 2011 she sat in the judge’s chair for Canada Sings (Global TV).  Jann guest hosted on The Social, taking her seat at the table on the popular CTV daytime program.  Arden has also narrated the popular program, ER Vets and she has produced two Documentaries – Free and Jann Takes Manhattan, both of which were met with favourable reviews.

Never one to settle into one discipline, Jann has made appearances in television sitcoms (Ellen – 1997, Corner Gas – 2005) and has made several guest appearances on the CBC’s Rick Mercer Report.  In 2000, she took part in The Vagina Monologues when it toured Canada.

Arden’s philanthropic work has included World Vision, she performed in Live 8 and MAC Cosmetics Fashion Cares AIDS benefit.  In recent years Jann has also supported Gilda’s Club in Toronto.

Whether she is captivating audiences with her heartfelt music, entertaining them with her quick wit or sharing her written word in a boldly honest voice – Jann Arden is a Canadian original – a brilliant multi-dimensional talent.

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