Children's singer Charlotte Diamond plays the Sea to Sky Hotel Ballroom on Friday (April 8) as the keynote entertainer of the fourth annual Sea to Sky Early Childhood Development (ECD) Conference.
Born and raised in Richmond, Diamond has 13 successful kids' albums under her belt as well as a Juno Award for Best Children's Album and numerous nominations.
It's hardly the career you'd expect from someone who originally studied French and zoology and then spent a dozen years teaching high school.
"There were several steps along the way," Diamond said from her home in Sechelt. "I always had a strong interest in science and the life sciences. I wrote a song about slugs. I had two boys, so I wrote more on the extreme side things eating other things. But I also had a love of languages, and I didn't want to give that up, so I did a double major."
But along with languages (she speaks and records in French and Spanish) and the sciences, Diamond also had a keen interest in music.
"I used lots of music to teach French," she said. "I also started teaching it at the high school level."
Diamond was also performing outside the school in local folk bands and performed intro sets for the likes of Pete Seeger and Tom Paxton.
"The real catalyst for it all was my children, though," she said. "I started looking for songs to sing to my children, and then I started writing them myself."
Her debut album10 Carrot Diamond not only won a Juno Award, but it also became a Certified Gold Record in Canada and also won a Parents' Choice Classic Award and an American Library Association Award in the U.S.
She has also used her work to support charities and was awarded the Queen's Golden Jubilee Commemorative Medal in recognition of her support of UNICEF.
But Diamond said she couldn't have done any of it without her family.
"My husband was a salmon fisherman, so when he was off during the winter, he could take care of the kids during those early tours," she said. "Now, because he also has a degree in business and accounting, he's also my manager and accountant. But my kids, who I wrote my songs for, still help me write great songs and are my biggest critics."
Diamond said there wasn't really a magic formula for becoming a successful children's singer.
"Just hard work," she said. "I've had 25 years of working at it. Maybe I'm always listening to what other people say about parenting and reflecting that in catchy, but not simplistic songs. Of course, you also need to have a great band to back you up and I'm lucky there too."
Diamond is working on material for her 14th CD, some of which she may treat Squamish audiences to April 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the Sea to Sky Hotel Ballroom.
"There are always new things to write about," she said. "I'm always writing new songs, and I may play some new ones in Squamish. I'm anxious to get back there. I've always felt that mountain range was an extension of my home."
Tickets are available at The Early Learning Centre and the Sea to Sky Community Services Society for $10 for adults, $5 for kids ages four to 10, and children up to three get in for free.
Go to www.charlottediamond.com for more info on Charlotte Diamond or www.seatoskychildrenfirst.ca for info on the conference.
