In Charlotte Diamond terms, that’s a shade under 44,000 hugs — that’s the minimum.
But that’s how many warm embraces the local musician and singer inspired if you subscribed to one of her well-known children’s hits “Four Hugs a Day.”
That song, plus a whole playlist of favourites and some new ones, will be performed at the final Music at the Cannery show this Friday inside the Gulf of Georgia Cannery.
It was October 1985 when Diamond took to the stage and shortly afterwards released 10 Carrot Diamond, a Juno Award-winning debut album.
Since then, there’s been almost countless shows spanning multiple generations of toddlers who have grown up to become parents and attend Diamond’s performances with their own children in tow.
It’s a career Diamond said she never expected to have generated such a following over the years.
“It seems to have gone by in the blink of an eye,” Diamond said, adding that, for over three decades, she has recorded 13 CDs, published numerous music books, and played live to thousands.
“I remember having 10 local kids — including my two boys — on the cover of the LP, getting ready to bite into a carrot,” Diamond said laughing.
Prior to the album release Diamond — a teacher by trade — had gained notoriety locally in parent education programs in preschools.
“Essentially, I was going around explaining all the neat things parents could do musically with kids,” she said.
Then, on Oct. 19, 1985, she played Gateway Theatre and sold out two shows.
“It was 500 in one and 500 in the next,” she said. “I was off to a really good start.”
And while that was encouraging, Diamond said she never thought 30 years later she’d still be making music and drawing crowds.
“I never even thought I’d have the general success I have had with the music,” she said.
“It’s just amazing how many adults know “Four Hugs a Day”, “I am a Pizza”, and “Octopus (Slippery Fish)” is still very popular today.”
Right now, Diamond has been busy putting the final touches on her latest CD, Diamonds by the Sea, which takes her into a new realm by focusing her musical talents on the environment.
It’s plural in “Diamonds” because she is accompanied by her son Matt on the CD.
“Taking care of the environment and becoming acquainted with it, I’ve always been really attached to the ocean and the coming and goings of the salmon,” she said, adding her husband, Harry, was a longtime commercial salmon fisherman before he sold his boat and became her accountant and manager.
“So, songs like “Ottie the Otter” talks about what an otter does,” she said, “how he floats on the kelp and dives down to eat sea urchins.
“Those are some of the things I’ve observed. That’s why there’s a strong environmental focus.”
Last year, Diamond opened the Music at the Cannery series, and now she’s thrilled to close the 2015 version with a bow to her career to date.
“I see this as celebration of not only of what has been, but the writing of 16 brand new songs that few people have heard,” she said. “And it’s a real plunge into new creativity.”
Diamond plays at the Music at the Cannery Aug. 28 starting at 6:30 p.m. Admission is by donation. For more details, visit gulfofgeorgiacannery.org.
