Sharon, Lois & Bram

Sharon, Lois & Bram is the name of a Canadian children's musical trio composed of Sharon Trostin Hampson (born March 31, 1943, Toronto, Ontario), Lois Ada Lilienstein (born July 10, 1936, Chicago, Illinois), and Bramwell "Bram" Morrison (born December 18, 1940, Toronto, Ontario).

During the 1980s, the trio starred in "Sharon, Lois & Bram's Elephant Show" on CBC. The series was later aired in reruns on the U.S. cable network Nickelodeon, through 1994. Each thirty-minute installment featured episode-length storylines, in addition to songs and sketches, featuring the trio alongside a human-sized elephant puppet and children's entertainer, Eric Nagler.

A second series, titled "Skinnamarink TV", featured a different format and new puppet characters. The series ran for 52 episodes on the CBC in Canada and The Learning Channel in the USA from 1997 to 2000.

In 2000, after the death of her husband, Lilienstein retired from touring with the group, which now often performs as Sharon, Bram & Friends "(friends" referring to life-size animal puppets that appear alongside them). Lilienstein has continued to play benefit shows and record with the group.

In 2002 the three were made members of the Order of Canada.

In 2005 Bram announced on CBC News that he had been found to have a benign tumor which was causing deafness in one ear. He underwent an experimental procedure to prevent further hearing loss [http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2005/06/17/hearing-aid050617.html] .

Sharon's husband Joe Hampson died on November 30, 2006. Joe played with the folk group The Travellers for more than 40 years. Lois stepped in and performed with Bram during Sharon's time of mourning.

May 4th 2008 - Sharon, Lois & Bram reunite on stage at the Toronto Jewish Film Festival for a rare performance featuring all three singers and a viewing of their 2004 concert titled "25 Years of Skinnamarink".

Plans for this fall include a DVD release of "25 Years of Skinnamarink" and CD releases of their 1982 album: "One, Two, Three, Four, Live!" and the trio's 1987 album: "Stay Tuned".

External links

*http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sharonloisandbram
* [http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/national/2003/10/24/Arts/orderofcanada241003.html CBC news article about the order of Canada]
*
*
*
*
*
*
* [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=U1ARTU0003178 The Canadian Encyclopedia article]