Barbra Amesbury

Barbra Amesbury (born 1948) is a Canadian philanthropist, singer-songwriter, composer and filmmaker, who had several Top 40 hits in Canada in the 1970s. Amesbury was the long-time partner of Canadian philanthropist Joan Chalmers until her death in 2016.

Known as Bill Amesbury during her active musical career, Amesbury came out as transgender after leaving the music business.

Music

Amesbury's biggest hit was "Virginia (Touch Me Like You Do)", which was also the first single (1974) to be released on the Casablanca Records label, reaching #14 in Canada. Written by Amesbury, the song also reached No. 59 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and #8 on Toronto's CHUM Chart. "Rock My Roll" reached #94 in Canada later in 1974.

"Can You Feel It" was also a minor hit in 1976. The title album reached #57 in Canada. Amesbury's "Nothin' But a Fool" has been covered by Natalie Cole, and "A Thrill's a Thrill" was recorded in 1979 by Long John Baldry and covered by Mitch Ryder with Marianne Faithfull and John Cougar.

In 1976 and 1977, Amesbury produced "No Charge" by J.J. Barrie, which became a number one hit in England. In 1999, "Virginia" was given an award by SOCAN to mark 100,000 spins on Canadian radio stations.

In 2002, James Collins and Dave Pickell released the single "Do You Mind If We Talk About Bill?", which was written about Amesbury. The exhibition toured throughout North America from 1995 to 1998, accompanied by a companion book. Amesbury also shot a documentary film of the tour.

In 2006 and 2007, her documentary film The G8 is Coming...The G8 is Coming was an official selection of the Rome International Film Festival, the Ashville Film Festival, the Atlanta Film Festival, the Southern Winds Film Festival, and the Dixie Film Festival.

Amesbury and Chalmers have provided support and donations to a variety of charities and organizations through their Woodlawn Arts Foundation.

Discography

Albums

+ Title Date Record Label Cat. No. Format Jus' a Taste of the Kid 10 July 1974 Casablanca NB 9005 LP, 8T Can You Feel It March 1976 Capitol Records ST 11528 LP, CC

Singles

+ Date A-Side B-Side Record Label Cat. No. Album 1972 She's In Love And She Couldn't Give A Damn For You Now Here I Go Again Yorksville YVM-45054 Non-album Single Jan 1974 Virginia (Touch Me Like You Do That Close To Me Casablanca NEB 0001 Jus' A Taste Of The Kid Aug 1974 Rock My Roll She's In Love Casablanca NES 0101 Jan 1975 Frogman Bradley She's In Love Casablanca NB 813 May 1975 Every Girl In The World, Tonight Sailin Casablanca NB 832 A: Can You Feel It B: Jus' A Taste Of The Kid Nov 1975 Every Girl In The World Tonight Lucky Day Power Exchange PX 115 Can You Feel It Apr 1976 Saturday Night (I'll Be Waiting) Jessi Power Exchange PX 204 May 1976 Sugar Pie I Remember Power Exchange PX 218 Jul 1976 I Remember Lucky Day Capitol 4287 Nov 1976 Can You Feel It Jessi Capitol 72779 Apr 1977 You Belong to Me Harlow Capitol 72785 Non-album Single Source:

Production and Songwriting

+ Year Song Title Artist Name Album Title Role 1976 "Granpa (Tell Me One More Story)" Kristine Sparkle I'm A Song Producer 1976 "No Charge" J. J. Barrie The Autumn Of My Life Producer 1978 "Every Girl In The World Tonight" Hush The Singles Album Composer 1979 "A Thrill's a Thrill" Long John Baldry Baldry's Out Composer 1981 "Nothin' But a Fool" Natalie Cole Happy Love Composer 1983 "This Boy" Linda Lewis A Tear And A Smile Composer