albums w/ jackets & lyrics
Nancy Nash was born and raised in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, growing up singing in local garage and dance bands. She moved to Edmonton and soon became one of Alberta's fastest rising stars in the early 1970s, often appearing at talent shows and other lower profile gigs.

She was noticed by entertainer Bob Ruzicka and made several appearances on his CBC TV program, "Homemade Jam." From there she continued doing live performances until '76, when Ruzicka recommended her for an upcoming CBC project, an album called LOVE'S LABOUR LOST. It featured her first recording, a song she wrote herself called "Get To Know You," as well as featuring her on harmonica on Betty Chaba's "Empty Stage."

Wes Dakus took an interest in her and signed her to a deal later that year, producing several tracks with her in his Damon Studios over the next couple of years. Scoring a contract with Mustrard Records, she released the single "Fact of Life" b/w "One More Time" in '76. Given good reception, she followed it up with "Nothin' Comes Easy" the following spring and with "We're Gonna Show The World" in '78.

The b-side, "I'd Like To Get To Know You" made it to her debut album, NATURAL BORN later that year. "Gonna Boogie With The Boys" b/w "Angel Harp" was released as the first single and started a shift from light pop to dance-oriented music. But when Mustard went bankrupt soon after its release, Nash found herself without a label. She also lent her vocal talents to other performers' projects, including Walter Horton's "Worried Worried" and "

After relocating to Vancouver, she formed Nash Records in '79 and released a cover of Steam's "Na Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye)" b/w "Ain't Nothin' Without You" as a dance single which showed promise. That same year she was approached by producer Martin Shaer to join his studio group Touché) with Mary Saxton and Rosalind Keene. Their only album, self-titled, was on the store shelves that same year and produced the moderate hit "Take A Look (But Don't Touch)."

When that project ran its course, she returned to a solo career, and released a pair of singles on A&M in 1980 - "Can't You Do Anything Right" b/w "Starting All Over Again" and "Running For Love" b/w "I Just Want To Tell You." She spent the next couple of years as a studio singer, performing most noteably on Loverboy's first two albums, and Bon Jovi's "Living On A Prayer."

Although neither single from her last album charted, label execs were encouraged enough to distribute a full album in '82 on the Avalon label, LETTING GO. The only single released was a duet with her brother Agent, "When Love Has A Hold" b/w "Do It All Again." Other noteable tracks on the album included the acoustically-driven "Nobody" and "Surrender," covered later by Agent.

After developing the pop vocal/music program for Vancouver Community College (later known as Musicology), she returned to releasing music on her own label in 1986 with the 12" single, "Hand In Mine" and "To Give Our Love." Although the music was updated with an AOR feel, it went nowhere, and although enough material was recorded at Little Mountain Studios for a full album, she was unable to find a distributor, and the project was scrapped.

After being adopted into three different First Nations communities in the late '80s, she took the name Sazacha Red Sky, and moved to Los Angeles. There she taught black and Hispanic children the roots of the blues on harmonica. She moved back to Canada in time to record RED SKY RISING IN 1995. The critically-acclaimed album was nominated for a Juno in the Best Music of Aboriginal Canada category with "The Prayer Song." Controversy ensued however when it was discovered 'her' song was actually a traditional Aboriginal Australian tune.

She recorded another Aboriginal album before the end of the decade, SING IT TO THE WIND. LOVE IS ALL THAT MATTERS followed in 2004, and 4:11 SPECIAL in 2010. During this period she established The Rainbow Spirit Sanctuary in BC's Okananagan, a wildlife sanctuary where she offers workshops and interactive getaways between people and nature. All proceeds from her album sales go toward supporting the Rainbow Spirit Animal Shelter.

In addition to her many other musical credits, Nash has also performed live supporting the likes of Bob Hope, Cher, and Bryan Adams.

  • With notes from Dave Degenstein

    natural born
    NATURAL BORN (1978)
    Blacksheep Man
    Empty Stage
    Gonna Boogie With The Boys (All Night)
    Stranger
    Leaving You
    Greener Fields
    Fact Of Life
    I'd Like To Get To Know You
    Brook Song
    One More Time
    Angel Harp
    Natural Born
    letting go
    LETTING GO (1982)
    Love Has A Hold
    Beginner's Luck
    Doesn't Anybody Know
    Nobody
    Take It
    Surrender
    Say Goodbye
    Do It All Again
    Ami
    hand in mine
    HAND IN MINE (1986)
    Hand In Mine
    To Give Our Love

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