Laura Vinson (May 23, 1947 – July 17, 2025) was a Canadian folk and country singer-songwriter.Laura Vinson. The Canadian Encyclopedia, July 29, 2007. Prominent in the 1970s and 1980s as a mainstream country performer, in later years she had concentrated primarily on recording and performing First Nations and Métis music."Laura Vinson brings Mountain Métis songs to Arden". St. Albert Gazette, May 13, 2017.
Life and career Vinson was of French, English, Cree, Iroquois, and Cherokee descent. Vinson was born in Edmonton, Alberta, and raised in Brule. She was a direct descendant of Tête Jaune, a fur trader who played a prominent role in the early development of the Canadian West."Metis Folk Singer Continues To Explore Her Musical Roots". Edmonton Journal, May 11, 2017. She began her music career performing folk music with Bob Ruzicka and rock music with the band Bitter Suite, before turning to country music in 1973 with the band Red Wyng. She released a number of albums on R. Harlan Smith's Royalty Records, and scored hit singles with songs such as "Sweet Mountain Music", "Sun Always Shines", "Mes amis O Canada", "Crazy Heart" and "In My Dreams".
In 1989, she performed on Indian Time, a television special devoted to indigenous music of Canada."Natives reach a milestone with Indian Time". The Globe and Mail, March 25, 1989. Afterward, she began concentrating more strongly on music that reflected her indigenous heritage, releasing several further albums of First Nations and Métis music independently with the band Free Spirit."Vinson's music expresses native way of life: Free Spirit has taken messages around the world". Edmonton Journal, December 13, 1999.
Vinson died on July 17, 2025, at the age of 78.Laura Jeannette Vinson
Awards and honours Vinson was a two-time Juno Award nominee for Most Promising Female Vocalist at the Juno Awards of 1980 and the Juno Awards of 1981,"Vinson going to Junos 'for fun'". The Globe and Mail, January 28, 1981. and a four-time Juno nominee for Country Female Vocalist of the Year at the Juno Awards of 1981, 1982,"McKenzies vs. Rush for best album Juno". The Globe and Mail, March 2, 1982. 1983"Tip of the cap from a troubled trade: Granted, the disc is slipping but Juno has held its own". The Globe and Mail, April 2, 1983. and 1985."Hart challenges Adams in Juno race". Ottawa Citizen, November 4, 1985.
Discography First Flight (1978) High Fashion Queen (1980) Hootch, Heartache and Hallelujah (1981) Adios Mexico (1984) Many Moons Ago (1986) The Spirit Sings (1989) Rise Like a Phoenix (1991) Voices on the Wind (1995) Point of the Arrow (1999) It Reminds Me (2000) Mossbag Lullaby (2006) Warrior (2013)
References
External links
Article at thecanadianencyclopedia.ca