Singer, Comedienne. Born Anna Claudia Russell-Brown. Encouraged by her father, Claud Russell Brown, she studied at the Royal Academy of Music. Married and divorced twice, first to John Denison and second to artist Charles Goldhamer. Her early career included appearing as a folk singer on BBC radio in 1931. Her mother was Canadian and the family returned in 1939 to Toronto, after her father's death. Her first one-woman show was in 1942; her international career as a "musical cartoonist" began in 1944. The recording "Anna Russell Sings?" became a best seller and won awards. Appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show" and also performed at New York's Carnegie Hall and London's Royal Albert Hall. Known for deadpan humor and mockery of pretension. Most remembered for "The Ring of the Niebelungs (An Analysis)"—a humorous 30-minute synopsis of Richard Wagner's "Der Ring des Niebelungen" opera cycle—and her parody called "How to Write Your Own Gilbert and Sullivan Opera." President of the B & R Music Publishing Company. Received the Canadian Women's Press Club Award in 1956 as the best Canadian comedy writer of the year. Retired to Unionville, Ontario, Canada, in the late 1960s, living on a street named after her. In her last years she moved to Australia where she lived in Batemans Bay, New South Wales, until her death.
Singer, Comedienne. Born Anna Claudia Russell-Brown. Encouraged by her father, Claud Russell Brown, she studied at the Royal Academy of Music. Married and divorced twice, first to John Denison and second to artist Charles Goldhamer. Her early career included appearing as a folk singer on BBC radio in 1931. Her mother was Canadian and the family returned in 1939 to Toronto, after her father's death. Her first one-woman show was in 1942; her international career as a "musical cartoonist" began in 1944. The recording "Anna Russell Sings?" became a best seller and won awards. Appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show" and also performed at New York's Carnegie Hall and London's Royal Albert Hall. Known for deadpan humor and mockery of pretension. Most remembered for "The Ring of the Niebelungs (An Analysis)"—a humorous 30-minute synopsis of Richard Wagner's "Der Ring des Niebelungen" opera cycle—and her parody called "How to Write Your Own Gilbert and Sullivan Opera." President of the B & R Music Publishing Company. Received the Canadian Women's Press Club Award in 1956 as the best Canadian comedy writer of the year. Retired to Unionville, Ontario, Canada, in the late 1960s, living on a street named after her. In her last years she moved to Australia where she lived in Batemans Bay, New South Wales, until her death.
Bio by: Vincent Astor
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