Margaret Urlich, an award-winning New Zealand singer, passed away unexpectedly at the age of 57. Cancer was determined as the cause of Urlich’s death; The singer passed away in the comfort of her home in South Wales.
One of the most talented singers to ever emerge from New Zealand has died after a long battle with cancer. The singer was known for the distinctive sounds and songs she created.
The singer was surrounded by loved ones at the time of her death and although her friends and family were aware of her health condition, they kept it a secret at the request of the singer’s family.
It is surprising what Margaret Urlich could have earned before her death
New Zealand singer Margaret Urlich is estimated to have a net worth of between $1 million and $2 million. Her fruitful music profession was her main financial support due to its success.
Margaret is a major figure in the music industry in New Zealand and Australia. A multiple award winner, she has captured the hearts of people around the world as a magnificent singer-songwriter with a unique voice and sense of style.
In 1985 she was the leader of the new wave outfit that included Peking Man before joining the pop trio When the Cat’s Away. Her song “Melting Pot” was a smash hit, topping the charts in New Zealand.
In 1988, Urlich uprooted his life and moved to Australia to launch a successful solo career. Her first solo single “Escaping” took her to the top of the New Zealand music chart, becoming the country’s first female solo artist. Her debut album, Safety in Numbers, was named Best Debut Album by a Female Artist of the Year by the Aria Awards.
George Gorga was Margaret Urlich’s husband and they were married
George Gorga was Margaret Urlich’s husband and the couple had one child together. Her faithful husband was there for her until the end of her life. He is widely regarded as one of the most talented live sound engineers on the Australian music scene.
At the Australian Music Industry Awards in 1991 he received the award for Best Live Sound Engineer. Gorga began his work in the entertainment industry in the late 1970s building sound systems for live performances by rock bands. This was the beginning of his career.
His talents were immediately in high demand, and he was asked to record, mix and even occasionally produce songs for some of the world’s most well-known artists. Ava, who was so beautiful, had Urlich for her mother.
Despite being eight months pregnant, the actress did her best to keep it a secret in what was her most successful year.
Margaret Urlich’s parents are Marino Urlich and Anne Urlich
Margaret Urlich’s father is Marino Urlich and her mother is Anne Urlich; She was born in New Zealand but rose to fame after moving to Australia. Her parents’ names are Marino and Anne Urlich.
She was born into a fairly musical household. Margaret discovered her passion for singing at the age of six, influenced by her upbringing in a musical family. Margaret grew up with three older siblings.
Urlich recalled playing in front of loved ones, including her family and friends. But since she was rather reserved, she never thought of making a career out of it. Despite this, she decided to become a musician when her brother Pat started playing for the band Corners and followed in his footsteps.
Cancer is considered the cause of Margaret Urlich’s death
The New Zealand singer has died at the age of 57 after a two-year battle with cancer.
Cancer took Urlich’s life on Monday and she died at her home in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales. Urlich was born in Auckland.
In a statement, Margaret Urlich’s family said: “It is with deep regret that we inform you that Margaret Urlich passed away peacefully surrounded by her family after a very long battle with cancer.” Urlich’s death came after a long and heroic battle against cancer Illness.
Urlich’s health was known to her family and close friends, but the information was kept secret from the public at her family’s request.
Margaret Urlich Career
As the lead singer of the new wave band Peking Man, which also included her brother Pat, Tim Calder, Perry Marshall, Jan Foulkes, Neville Hall, John Fearon and Jay F-bula, Margaret Mary Urlich[3] started her career. With songs like “Good Luck to You” (reaching #6), “Lift Your Head Up High” (reaching #21) and 1985’s “Room That Echoes,” Peking Man had a string of hits in New Zealand. Beijing Man also won the Shazam in 1984! Battle of The Bands (a TVNZ music show) (#1).
Urlich later joined the all-girl pop trio When The Cat’s Away in New Zealand. In 1988 Urlich moved to Australia. Safety in Numbers, her debut solo album, was recorded at Sydney’s Studios 301; It was released in Australia and New Zealand in March 1990. The album achieved triple platinum status in Australia, peaking at number 4 on the New Zealand Albums Chart in December 1989 and number 5 on the Australian Albums Chart in December 1990. In 1991 Urlich won the “Best Breakthrough Artist” ARIA Award.
In 1990, Australian musician Daryl Braithwaite used backing vocals on a track on his second solo album Rise, released in November 1990. At the time, Urlich was only moderately well known outside of New Zealand. She appeared in the Rickie Lee Jones ballad “The Horses,” which became Braithwaite’s first No. 1 hit. In the video clip, Urlich’s voice was lip-synched by a model while Braithwaite sang on a beach. Having just released Safety in Numbers and trying to establish herself as a solo artist, Urlich made the decision not to appear in Braithwaite’s video clip.
With a recording budget of $500,000, Urlich returned to the studio in March 1991 to begin pre-production with English writer and producer Robyn Smith on Chameleon Dreams, the follow-up to her hugely popular debut album. In mid-year, Urlich and Smith entered Studios 301 to record their two songs, plus a third song co-written by Smith and Barry Blue. The same group had produced “Escaping” and “Guilty People”, two songs from Safety in Numbers, and their most recent song “Boy in the Moon” proved essential to the mood of the new album. Traveling around the world made it possible to collect additional tracks.
Urlich traveled to London to work with other writers, including Rob Fisher, with whom she co-wrote the song “Chameleon Dreams,” the album’s lead single. Grammy Award-winning writer/producer Ian Prince was the first person she met when she arrived in Los Angeles. Together they wrote two songs for the album and produced four tracks. Upon returning to London, she worked on several songs with Tony Swain and Simon Law before completing the project with three tunes produced by Swain. At the 1992 World Music Awards in Monte Carlo, thanks to the popularity of Chameleon Dreams, Urlich received the award for Best Selling New Zealand Artist of the Year. She performed “Love Train” at the awards ceremony.
Urlich took part in the second Wizards of Oz promotion in 1993, run by Export Music Australia (EMA) and Austrade. She toured Japan with Yothu Yindi and fellow musician Rick Price. I’ve Got You Under My Skin was covered by Urlich and Dale Barlow for Kate Ceberano’s 1994 album Kate Ceberano and Friends.
Living in New Zealand for most of 1994, she portrayed Mary Magdalene in a major concert performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar. I Don’t Know How to Love Him was covered by Urlich and peaked at number 44 on the New Zealand Singles Chart.
Urlich has resumed her long-standing collaboration with British writer/producer Robyn Smith for her third album, The Deepest Blue. All but two of the songs on the album were co-written by her and Smith. When The Deepest Blue was released in August 1995, it didn’t make as much impact as their first two albums, peaking at No. 18 in New Zealand and No. 17 in Australia.
She relocated to the southern Highlands of New South Wales in 1998 after her contract with Sony Music expired, where she and her partner set up a home and new recording studio. It was at this location that she worked on her fourth album, Second Nature, produced by Split Enz’s Eddie Rayner. The recording work spanned a period of 12 months and included musicians from Australia and New Zealand. Some of Urlich’s favorite New Zealand songs from her childhood were covered on the album. Among others, songs by Split Enz, Crowded House, Dave Dobbyn, Max Merritt, Shona Laing, Don McGlashan and Tim Finn were played. When the album was released in New Zealand in 1999, it peaked at number 11 and was certified platinum. Her last studio album was this one.
Urlich appeared as a special guest performer on Series 1, Episode 6 of The Micallef Program, singing a light-hearted duet with Shaun Micallef on the Carly Simon classic You’re So Vain. The two had previously performed a comedic duet on the Frank and Nancy Sinatra song “Something Stupid” on the sketch comedy show Full Frontal, in which Micallef starred as Milo Kerrigan.
She died on August 22, 2022 at the age of 57 at her home in the Southern Highlands surrounded by her family after a two and a half year battle with cancer.