Featured Musician: Heather Bishop
Heather Bishop has dedicated her life to making a difference in the world. She has championed many causes, from fighting for the rights of women starting in the late ’60s to battling racism and homophobia. As well as being an award-winning musician, Heather is an experienced tradeswoman. She is a carpenter, electrician, plumber, and auto mechanic. She initiated and taught the first Pre-Trades Training for Women course in Canada and was a founding member of the national Women in Trades organization. Heather Bishop is best known for her work as a musician. She performs for both children and adults, and has received many awards, including two JUNO nominations, a PMA nomination, two U.S. Parent’s Choice Gold Awards, and a NAPPA Gold Award. Heather has toured the world and performed with almost every major symphony orchestra in Canada. Heather Bishop has been awarded both the Order of Manitoba and the Order of Canada, the highest honor her country bestows on a citizen, for her political work. Her latest CD is A Tribute to Peggy Lee.
Rainbow Rumpus music and video editor Dan Marfield talked with Heather recently about her children’s music:
Who/what inspired you to be involved in the arts? I have always loved music, and when I decided to try it out, I was most influenced by “political” performers, such as Nina Simone and Buffy Sainte-Marie because they taught me so much. I find that when truth is told, it is the most powerful tool there is.
Who are some of your musical influences (children or adult)? Beyond those two I would have to say the blues women mostly, but then among my colleagues there are so many—Connie Kaldor comes first to mind.
The cover art for your album Bellybutton was drawn by Lynn Johnston, who composes the comic strip For Better or for Worse. How did that come about? Have you worked with her since? Lynn did both my Bellybutton cover and the cover for Purple People Eater. I met her when she lived in Lynn Lake, Manitoba. She was involved in the arts council there, and we became friends.
Bellybutton was your first children’s album. What inspired you to write for children? Basically—Connie Kaldor. She had a raft of great children’s songs, and I was being asked to perform for children, so I took her songs and started. Then I learned that adult shows and children’s shows require very different skill sets! With the help of the children in my audiences, I honed those skills and then began writing my own children’s songs.
What’s the biggest difference when you write for children as opposed to adults? Children’s songs must be imaginative and have very catchy, simple choruses with parts for the children to participate in. The better the imagery, the better the song. There are tons of substandard children’s music available. I encourage parents to preview children’s music before buying to ensure that the kids are getting top-of-the-line entertainment, as these songs are formative and will stay with the children for their whole lives.
What would you say is your signature song, either for children or for adults? Definitely for children it is “Bellybutton.” For adults there are many, as I have many more adult albums. I’d be hard pressed to name one.
How often do you tour in the United States? Do you travel much outside of North America? I used to tour the U.S.A. more than anywhere else. I have spent a considerable amount of time touring Australia, as well as Scotland and Wales. I am semi-retired now, so I am no longer on the road ten months of the year.
You’re also an accomplished painter. Do you spend as much time painting as you do working on your music and social causes? Now that I’m not touring so much, painting is moving to a front row seat in my life, and I luxuriate in the privilege of staying home and spending hours in front of my easel.
Are there any dream projects that you would like to be involved with, or any artists (or non-artists) you’d like to work with? I love teaching. I am being asked more and more to teach at music camps. The list of artists I would love to work with is endless. I am gearing up to write and produce a new adult album and marry that with a collection of images from my paintings.
Since Rainbow Rumpus is a site for children with LGBT family members, what would you like to say to them or their parents?
Music is so essential to a child’s development. Don’t just buy them great music—sing to them. The greatest voices in the world can’t hold a candle to a parent singing to their child. If you think you can’t sing—get over yourself! Suck it up and just sing. It’s a joyous activity.
I take great pride in having been out as a children’s performer since the early 1970s, and the happy result of that is that an entire generation of children grew up loving my music and don’t understand what could possibly be wrong with Heather Bishop being a lesbian. I am their folk hero, and it is possibly the most political act I have done, just being me. I am blessed to have been part of the wave that normalized the LGBT lifestyle.
Heather Bishop has generously donated this clip of “Seed in the Ground” to Rainbow Rumpus. Please respect her generosity by listening on-site only. “Seed in the Ground” is on the album Bellybutton and available for purchase at Heather Bishop’s website.
This song was originally published as part of Bellybutton in 1982. © Copyright 2008 by Heather Bishop.
Support the artists who support Rainbow Rumpus! Bellybutton is available for purchase at Heather Bishop’s website. Your purchase helps Rainbow Rumpus bring more great writing, music, and video to you. Go to www.heatherbishop.com and buy Bellybutton today!
Click here to listen to "Seed in the Ground."
