Mortifee, Ann. Composer, singer, actress, b Durban, South Africa, 30 Nov 1947, naturalized Canadian 1961; BA (British Columbia) 1968. While studying English 1964-8 at the University of British Columbia, she began her career as a folk and blues singer-guitarist at the Bunkhouse. In 1967, with Willie Dunn, she composed the score for George Ryga's play The Ecstasy of Rita Joe and toured as the Musician-Singer in the Vancouver production that played in 1969 at the NAC in Ottawa. In Ottawa she was co-host 1969-70 with David Wiffen for CJOH-TV's 'Both Sides Now'. As a cast member of the revue Love and Maple Syrup, seen at the NAC in 1969, she appeared briefly 1969-70 off-Broadway. Returning to Vancouver, she revised and performed the music of The Ecstasy of Rita Joe for a ballet by Norbert Vesak for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet in 1971. She sang in Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris in Vancouver (1972) and New York (1974).

Mortifee also composed scores for The Grey Goose of Silence (by Vesak for the North Carolina Dance Theater), Klee Wyck ('a ballet for Emily Carr,' performed by the Anna Wyman Dance Theatre on CBC TV in 1975), Variations pour une souvenance/Yesterday's Day (1975, produced by Les Grands Ballets Canadiens), and several film and TV productions. She has written several one-woman shows (including the celebrated Journey to Kairos ), the family musical Reflections on Crooked Walking (1982), and the children's opera A Rose Is a Rose (1987, for the COC). She appeared in another musical based on her songs and poetry, The Arabian Knight (1987), produced at the Cleveland Playhouse and seen on PBS TV.

Her performing career also has included 'pop' presentations with Michel Legrand in the USA, similar appearances with symphony orchestras in Canada, and concert and supper club work. One such club appearance at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto was previewed in Toronto (Apr 1986): 'Mortifee is of another time altogether, a romantic who sings of love in the poetic imagery of the ingénue and views the world with a personal vision that alternates wide eyes and hurt glances. Her voice transcends all, though, with a stunning interpretive range that turns these small, private songs into haunting pop arias'.

Author Jeani Read

Discography

Baptism. (1975). Cap ST-6437

Journey to Kairos. (1980). Jabula JR-33/WEA 25-03351

Reflections on Crooked Walking. (1982). Jabula JR-35/WEA 25-03341

Born to Live. (1983). Jabula WEA 25-03361

Bright Encounter. (1984). Jabula WEA 25-14121

Serenade at the Doorway. (1991). Jabula JR-043 (CD and cass)

Also, several songs on The Ecstasy of Rita Joe (Kerygma KRS-1005/UA-LA 126/Jabula WEA-25-03331), Jacques Brel Lives... (Jabula JR-38), and Turned on Christmas (Col WCK-40441, with the Royal Phil O)

Ann Mortifee is best known for Serenade at the Doorway, a CD created in collaboration with psychologist David Feinstein (author of Rituals for Living and Dying) as a tool for palliative care situations. Ann has spent the last 10 years as a speaker in this field (and for which she was awarded the prestigious Order of Canada) and we are happy she is making her artistic and musical return on the Bongo Beat label where individual vision is our lifeblood. It is a rare honor to work with such an artist and look for the re-release of all of Ann’s out-of-print albums on our label over the next two years (including Baptism).

Ann Mortifee’s artistic path has crossed so many boundaries and disciplines; good luck to anyone trying to create a succinct overview of it all. Born in South Africa, Ann left for Canada when her father, a politician against apartheid, decided it was best to move his family elsewhere. In Vancouver, she began performing in coffeehouses at the age of 16, and discovered by the legendary Josh White Sr, who became her mentor/advisor. From there, Ann went on to compose the score and star in The Ecstasy of Rita Joe (with Chief Dan George and Paul Horn), co-host a TV Show (Both Sides Now), star in the record-setting Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris (she was discovered by EMI producer Norman Newell at the New York shows); all the while composing for BBC TV, National Film Board Of Canada, and various ballet companies (including the North Carolina Dance Co). Her first solo lp, Baptism, was recorded at Abbey Road Studios and released worldwide on EMI.

Her albums have been on EMI, United Artists, Warner, and her own Jabula label. At the height of her first flush of success, Ann left it all to travel for three years into the heart of Beirut and Calcutta (where she worked with Mother Teresa). These life experiences became Journey to Kairos, a stage show/album/award wining TV special. It cemented her reputation as a musical pioneer, creating world music before it became as defined as it is today.

“Charlie Mingus would have been better served by recording with Mortifee rather than Joni Mitchell” - John Kiely, Kitchener-Waterloo Record, 1981.

At this time, Ann reached a wider audience touring with Ramsey Lewis, Michel Legrand (with whom she co-wrote “Born to Live”), Harry Belafonte and others. In 1982, her children’s play Reflections on Crooked Walking debuts on stage and on record.

“Ann Mortifee is the greatest thing to come along since the invention of sliced bread” - Robert Conrad, WCLV, Cleveland.

It was media personality Robert Conrad who created a following for Ann in Cleveland with TV specials, concerts and plays (An Arabian Knight, Jacques and Maddly, both at Cleveland Playhouse).

But everything changed with Serenade at the Doorway; Ann decided to focus the power of her music for healing and comfort. With no publicity, the CD quietly sold over 50,000 copies, mostly by mail order. And now with Sangoma, her 10th album, Ann is returning publicly to her music, making a very empowering statement about the mystery and magic of her African homeland.