Suzie Ungerleider
Encyclopedia
Suzie Ungerleider, who writes and performs under the name Oh Susanna, is an American-Canadian
alternative country
singer-songwriter
. Born in the United States
, she was raised in Vancouver
, British Columbia
and is currently based in Toronto
.
, which is like this mail order guitar that blues
guys used to play," said Ungerleider. She released her first independent recording, a seven-song EP
, in 1997. At approximately this time, she was inspired to relocate to Toronto after attending Blue Rodeo
's Stardust Picnic festival. In 1999, she released her full-length debut, Johnstown, and toured Canada and the United States
with fellow musicians Veda Hille
and Kinnie Starr
, in what they dubbed the "Scrappy Bitches Tour".
She has since released four more albums, Sleepy Little Sailor (2001), Oh Susanna (2003), Short Stories (2007), and Soon the Birds (2011). Her recordings have featured guest musicians Luke Doucet
, Justin Rutledge
, Burke Carroll, Bazil Donovan and Jim Cuddy
of Blue Rodeo
, Ruth Moody
of The Wailin' Jennys
, and members of Weeping Tile
.
Of the inspiration for her songs, Ungerleider has said "A lot of that stuff comes from other people who have told me things. Some of it's totally made up". She also says that her Western Canadian upbringing has inspired some of her lyrics.
and their five-year-old son. Her father, Charles, is a professor at Vancouver's University of British Columbia
.
Canadians of American origin
American-Canadians are people of Canadian citizenship who were born in the United States of America. They account for a significant portion of Canada's population. Canada and the United States share much culturally but are separate geopolitical entities in North America.According to the Canada 2006...
alternative country
Alternative country
Alternative country is a loosely defined sub-genre of country music, which includes acts that differ significantly in style from mainstream or pop country music...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
. Born in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, she was raised in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
and is currently based in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
.
Bio
Ungerleider chose to perform under the name Oh Susanna rather than her given name as a means of keeping her private and professional lives separate. She initially wanted to be a somewhat theatrical performer. "I had this notion, okay I'm going to try and wear these vintage clothes and I play this old Stella guitarStella (guitar)
Stella was a brand of guitars. The Stella brand was owned by the Oscar Schmidt Company and was founded around 1899. Stella produced low-mid level stringed instruments. Stella guitars were played by several notable artists including Leadbelly and Charlie Patton. Doc Watson began playing on a Stella...
, which is like this mail order guitar that blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
guys used to play," said Ungerleider. She released her first independent recording, a seven-song EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, in 1997. At approximately this time, she was inspired to relocate to Toronto after attending Blue Rodeo
Blue Rodeo
Blue Rodeo is a Canadian pop and country rock band, which was formed in 1984 in Toronto, Ontario. They have been signed with Warner Music Group since their debut album Outskirts in March 1987...
's Stardust Picnic festival. In 1999, she released her full-length debut, Johnstown, and toured Canada and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with fellow musicians Veda Hille
Veda Hille
Veda Hille is a Canadian singer-songwriter.- Biography :Veda Hille was born in 1968 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She started playing piano when she was 6 at her own insistence. Her family moved around a lot, from the city to the country and back again...
and Kinnie Starr
Kinnie Starr
Alida Kinnie Starr Pierre is a Canadian singer-songwriter from Calgary, Alberta. Her music, which blends hip hop and alternative rock, has been described as "hip hop aggro groove". Her songs have been included on the soundtracks for the TV series The L Word and the movie Thirteen...
, in what they dubbed the "Scrappy Bitches Tour".
She has since released four more albums, Sleepy Little Sailor (2001), Oh Susanna (2003), Short Stories (2007), and Soon the Birds (2011). Her recordings have featured guest musicians Luke Doucet
Luke Doucet
Luke Doucet is a Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist. He writes and performs both as a solo artist and as a member of the indie rock band Veal....
, Justin Rutledge
Justin Rutledge
Justin Rutledge is a Toronto-based alt-country singer-songwriter signed to Six Shooter Records.Rutledge's musical style is often compared to that of American alt-country singer Ryan Adams. His influences, both of the literary and music world, include Leonard Cohen, Hank Williams, Richard Brautigan...
, Burke Carroll, Bazil Donovan and Jim Cuddy
Jim Cuddy
Jim Cuddy is a Canadian singer-songwriter primarily associated with the band Blue Rodeo. He has also recorded three solo albums with the Jim Cuddy Band, which features musicians Bazil Donovan, Colin Cripps, Joel Anderson, Anne Lindsay and Gavin Brown...
of Blue Rodeo
Blue Rodeo
Blue Rodeo is a Canadian pop and country rock band, which was formed in 1984 in Toronto, Ontario. They have been signed with Warner Music Group since their debut album Outskirts in March 1987...
, Ruth Moody
Ruth Moody
Ruth Moody is an Australian-born soprano singer-songwriter and member of the Canadian folk trio The Wailin' Jennys.-Biography:Moody grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba with her parents, Charles and Marcelline, and three siblings, older brother Richard , older sister Jane and younger sister Rachel...
of The Wailin' Jennys
The Wailin' Jennys
The Wailin' Jennys are a Juno Award-winning Canadian folk trio from Winnipeg, Manitoba, and New York, and they consist of soprano Ruth Moody, mezzo Nicky Mehta and alto Heather Masse. In previous years, the Jennys have also toured with fiddler and mandolinist Jeremy Penner, who is from Ruth's...
, and members of Weeping Tile
Weeping tile
A weeping tile is a porous pipe used for underground drainage. The pipe is typically plastic with small slits cut lengthwise into it. It is buried and surrounded by aggregate larger than the slits. The aggregate rocks prevent excessive soil from falling through the slits into the weeping tile...
.
Of the inspiration for her songs, Ungerleider has said "A lot of that stuff comes from other people who have told me things. Some of it's totally made up". She also says that her Western Canadian upbringing has inspired some of her lyrics.
Personal
Ungerleider lives near Toronto's High Park with husband/drummer Cam GirouxWeeping Tile (band)
Weeping Tile was a Canadian rock band in the 1990s.-History:The band was started by singer-songwriter Sarah Harmer in 1993, when she was invited to fill in for the opening band at a Thomas Trio and the Red Albino concert in Ottawa...
and their five-year-old son. Her father, Charles, is a professor at Vancouver's University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
.
Discography
- Oh Susanna EP (1997)
- Johnstown (1999)
- Sleepy Little Sailor (2001)
- Oh Susanna (2003)
- Short Stories (2007)
- Soon the Birds (2011)
Contributions
- Maybe This Christmas Too?Maybe This Christmas Too?Maybe This Christmas Too? is a holiday compilation album released in October 2003 through Nettwerk Records featuring contemporary musicians performing both classic and original Christmas songs. The compilation served as a sequel to Maybe This Christmas and preceded Maybe This Christmas Tree...
(2003, NettwerkNettwerkThe Nettwerk Music Group is the umbrella company for Nettwerk Management, Nettwerk Records, Nettwerk One Publishing, Nutone Records, and Artwerk. With over 150 employees, the Vancouver-based company has offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Boston, Nashville, and Hamburg...
) - "Go Tell it On the MountainGo Tell It on the Mountain (song)"Go Tell It on the Mountain" is an African-American spiritual song, compiled by John Wesley Work, Jr., dating back to at least 1865, that has been sung and recorded by many gospel and secular performers...
" - Great Canadian Song QuestGreat Canadian Song QuestGreat Canadian Song Quest is an annual Canadian songwriting contest, sponsored by CBC Radio 2. Each year's contest features 13 Canadian musical artists, one from each province and territory, who are asked to write a song about a location in their home province which is selected by a listener...
(2009, CBC RecordsCBC RecordsCBC Records is a Canadian record label, owned and operated by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, which distributes CBC programming, including live concert performances in album and digital format....
/iTunesITunesiTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
) - "Tough City"