Margaret Urlich (1965-2022) was an acclaimed multi-award winning pop singer and songwriter in NZ and Australia. Auckland-born, she began her musical career in Peking Man in 1984 and also joined When The Cat's Away in 1986. Margaret then launched a solo career and based herself in Australia in 1988. She continued to cross the Tasman to reunite with When The Cat's Away, and joined other musicians touring NZ, Australia and Japan. 

Hit songs with Margaret singing co-lead, lead or back-up vocals include the 'Room that Echoes', 'Melting Pot', 'Escaping', 'Boy in the Moon', and 'The Horses'. Her song-writing skills began with Peking Man and led to four of her solo albums also including tracks that she had written and co-written. Margaret's interpretative dancing and fashion styles added a creative spectacle to live shows and music videos. 

In May 1999, Margaret released her fifth (and last) solo album 'Second Nature' which was a tribute album to Kiwi songwriters. Afterwards, Margaret and her sound engineer husband George Gorga raised their first of two children at their home in NSW's Southern Highlands. She also became a high school music teacher. Margaret continued to co-headline shows and perform solo, with one of her last performances held during December 2019 for a Christmas festive event in Sydney. 

Margaret was inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame in 2021. The following year, news media shared a family statement that Margaret had passed away peacefully on 22 August 2022 after a two-and-a-half-year battle with cancer. 

1.  Growing up in BlocKhouse Bay, Auckland

Margaret Mary Urlich was born in Auckland on 24 January 1965. She was the daughter of Victor Marino Urlich (1926-1996) and Jean Anne Urlich, née Baker (1935-2015), and had six siblings - four sisters and two brothers. Her father was an art teacher at St. Peter's College whose new 'Vic Urlich Visual Art Facility' opened in June 2016. 

In an interview held in 1994 for the Pop History Oral History Project, Margaret discussed her childhood growing up in Blockhouse Bay and attending private Catholic schools. She also shared that her father's ancestry included Yugoslavian (her Croatian grandfather was a gum-digger in Ahipara and Kaitaia) and Māori (Te Popoto o Ngāpuhi ki Kaipara, Te Rarawa). Her ancestors on her mother's side had emigrated from England. 

During a later interview for the book "Kiwi Rock Chicks, Pop Stars & Trailblazers" (published 2010), Margaret recounted that her first experience of performing in front of an audience was at the local shopping centre with three of her older siblings when she was aged six. Later, in 1974, Margaret competed in a talent competition in Auckland, which was her first time on stage as a solo performer. Her family was given a record player by an aunt when she was aged about ten. Artists she had especially enjoyed listening to have included Joni Mitchell, Nina Simone, k.d. lang and Annie Lennox.

 Sources:  

• Geni.com: Margaret Urlich
• YouTube video: "Victor Urlich Art Facility Opening June 2016" (6:51 min) 
• Pop Music Oral History Project: "Interview with Margaret Urlich",  20 Jul 1994  
• Margaret Urlich,  "Margaret Urlich, in her own words", Audioculture (22 Aug 2022), reproduced from "Kiwi Rock Chicks, Pop Stars & Trailblazers", edited by Ian Chapman (HarperCollins, Auckland, 2010) 
• James Perry, "Margaret Urlich, Aotearoa music icon dies", Te Ao Māori News, 23 August 2022
• Margaret Urlich, "Sweet taste of success",  Dominion Post (Wellington, N.Z.), 18 June 2016  
• Gary Steel,  "Margaret Urlich – 1989-style", Witchdoctor, 23 August 2023 (Steel reproduced his 1989 interview)  

2.  PEKING MAN 

In the anthology "Kiwi Rock Chicks, Pop Stars & Trailblazers" (2010), Margaret discussed her early singing career.  She was inspired to become a singer, firstly, by her cousin Peter Urlich who was the lead singer of Th' Dudes, and then by her brother Pat (Patrick) becoming a singer in a band. The year after finishing high school, Margaret had travelled around NZ and worked at a variety of jobs including fruit-picking. Whilst she was away, Pat had joined The Corners, which evolved into becoming Peking Man. On her return to Auckland she saw the band playing at The Esplanade in Devonport and was impressed by her brother's singing performance: 

 "I remember thinking how good he was, and that if he could do it, then maybe I could do it, too – after all we had the same DNA. So suddenly the idea of a least getting up on stage didn’t seem so far-fetched after all."

Source: Margaret Urlich, "Margaret Urlich, in her own words", Audioculture (22 Aug 2022), reproduced from "Kiwi Rock Chicks, Pop Stars & Trailblazers", edited by Ian Chapman (HarperCollins, Auckland, 2010) 

Co-lead singing & dancing by mid-1984

After Margaret started going along to see Peking Man's rehearsals, her brother Pat invited her to sing back-up vocals on demos. By mid-1984, Margaret had become the group's co-lead singer with Pat and was developing her dancing and singing:

"By mid-1984 there were seven in the band. Pat Urlich’s younger sister Margaret was added to the line-up along with Jay “Bula” Foulkes on percussion.  Margaret was 20 years old when she joined Peking Man and she was participating in a Labour Department “Spats Scheme” developing her dancing and singing talents. Prior to joining she had sung background vocals and operated lights for the group.  When Peking Man were interviewed by Shake! magazine (Jan/ Feb 1986) Margaret recalled, “I saw them about two years ago at the Esplanade and I was really blown away. I decided that I would like to be in the band and six months later they asked me to join.” 

Source: Murray Cammick, "Peking Man", Audioculture (30 March 2015)

Songwriting

When Peking Man were interviewed by Shake! magazine (Jan/ Feb 1986), the group commented on their changing approach to writing songs:

“Lately, in the last six months, we’ve started writing individually,” says Perry Marshall. “The output’s increased, the songs are getting better, so I think it’s paying off.” Bassist Tim Calder added, “The final product though is still very much the result of us all sweating together in one room, but the essence of the song is coming from one person.”  A shared, portable 4-track recording system also helped individual band members to write more effectively. 

Source: Murray Cammick, "Peking Man", Audioculture (30 March 2015)

Dancing on the 'Room That Echoes' video & performing live

In an interview in the teen magazine Shake! (Jan/Feb 1986), Peking Man were asked whether the dancing figure in the ‘Room That Echoes’ video was animated or if it was Margaret. She replied, "Yes, it’s me! What they did was put a filter on the camera and I could see my silhouette on the monitor. The room was all blue and they superimposed my silhouette onto the background. The effects were generated by some machine or other.” (Source: Murray Cammick, 'Peking Man", Audioculture, 30 March 2015)  

Margaret shared her enjoyment of performing live in a later interview held during 1989: "I really want to be known as a live performer,” she says. “If I’m not doing any live work I tend to go a bit loopy. It’s a real release for me, like therapy. I get neurotic if I don’t do it. I start to feel all pent-up and frustrated… I like to entertain, to move a lot and be strong onstage.”  (Source: Gary Steel,  "Margaret Urlich – 1989-style", Witchdoctor, 23 August 2023 - Steel reproduced his 1989 interview) 

Fashion style

When the Shake! magazine "wanted pop stars to wear some fashion in their Jan/ Feb 1986 issue, Margaret Urlich and Dianne Swann obliged, along with Jordan Luck and Andrew Fagan. Margaret and brother Pat Urlich appeared in a slick fashion feature for Shake! magazine." 

Source: Murray Cammick, "Peking Man", Audioculture, 30 March 2015  

Margaret wore her hair short for several years, explaining why during an interview for Rip It Up in October 1992.  She acknowledged that her wearing of shorthair went against the norm of what was expected from female musicians...“ [b]ecause I wanted to be taken seriously. It’s such a male-dominated industry that I didn’t want to be a bimbo. I’m a serious musician first, that’s my job, whether I’m male or female is of no consequence."  Later on, "I got to the point where I thought, ‘Margaret, you’re attractive, why are you trying to make yourself not be attractive?'"

Source: Donna Yuzwalk, "Margaret Urlich talks to Donna Yuzwalk", Audioculture, 15 Jan 2021 (republished from Rip It Up, No.183, Oct 1992)  

Album 'Peking Man' released, July 1986

Peking Man's self-titled debut album was recorded within six months at Bruce Lynch’s home studio The Boatshed in Bayswater and at the Mandrill Studio in Parnell. It was released in the first week of July 1986 and peaked at No. 6 on the NZ Album Chart and charted for 11 weeks.  

Source: Murray Cammick, "Peking Man", Audioculture, 30 March 2015  

Margaret co-wrote lyrics & music 

Of the album's ten tracks, Margaret was involved with writing the lyrics for four tracks and contributed the music for seven tracks:

• 'Start at the beginning' - Lyrics (Margaret); Music (Margaret)
• 'Between the Lines' - Lyrics (Margaret); Music (Margaret & Tim Calder) 
• 'Running in the Human Race' - Lyrics & Music (Margaret & Neville Hall)
• 'Lift your Head Up High' - Lyrics: (Margaret & Pat); Music (Margaret & others in the Band)
• 'Afraid of the Dark' - Lyrics (Neville); Music (Neville & Margaret)
• 'Breathe a Sigh of Relief' - Lyrics (Pat); Music (Margaret & others in the Band)
• 'Good Luck to You'- Lyrics (Pat); Music (Margaret & others in the Band)

Source: Wikipedia: "Peking Man (album)"

3.  WHEN THE CAT's Away

 In 1986, whilst performing with Peking Man, Margaret also became part of the newly formed all-female group When The Cat's Away. The idea for the group arose during the 1985 NZ Music Awards. The NZ Listener organised a photo-session by John Reynolds with the four award nominees - Margaret, Debbie Harwood, Annie Crummer, and Dianne Swan.  

In an interview held in 2022, Debbie Harwood reminiscenced: 

“What sparked everything was an interview I did with The Listener on emerging young women in rock,” Debbie says. “The poor interviewer couldn’t get a word in at all because the energy between us was amazing.” After the interview, the women hugged each other goodbye and didn’t want to let go. “We just wanted to stay with each other.”  Debbie remembers first seeing Margaret perform as a 20-year-old at the Gluepot in Auckland and was awed by her talent and her unique sense of style."   

Source: Aroha Awarau (13 Dec 2022), 'Remembering Margaret',  Woman+

How When The Cat's Away formed

During an earlier interview with Murray Cammick in 2015, Debbie Harwood recalled what took place after the 1995 NZ Music Awards:

"At a dinner at her Devonport home in 1986, Debbie Harwood suggested the idea of performing as a group. "I asked Annie and Margaret first,” said Harwood. “Margaret wanted to bring Dianne along and then I thought an odd number would be better so we threw a few ideas around. Annie and I had worked with Kim and we thought she would be a nice balance with her pop voice, so Kim it was. The five of us were there from the first show." 

 In May 1987 Harwood told Rip It Up writer Chris Bourke, “The Cats is a break from getting our own stuff played, recorded and on the radio. It’s ‘the girls go out to play’ … we’re only there to have fun really – there are no serious messages, just singing our favourites.”  

Debbie Harwood was working at Harlequin Studios, Albert Street, Auckland in the early days of When The Cat’s Away. The studio owner Doug Rogers did a deal with CBS Records for two singles and a live album. 

Source: Murray Cammick, "When The Cat's Away",  Audioculture (published: 7 Jul 2015;  updated: 25 Jul 2022) 

Choosing the group's name & why band became popular

Debbie Harwood explained during a 2019 interview how the group came up with the name 'When The Cat's Away':

"One of the girls said, 'Let's call it The Money Or The Bags'. We were sitting in Annie's lounge. "Someone else said, 'Let's call it Ladies Bring A Plate' and at that point I went, 'Oh let's just sleep on it shall we?' " says Harwood. "So I went home and in the middle of the night I just woke up and went 'When The Cat's Away' – because we were all in bands so we were actually mice in the sense that we were all in original bands and we just wanted to have a break from those bands. I thought the name was perfect."

The reason for the band's popularity, according to Debbie:

"We've all come from incredibly ordinary, tough backgrounds," says Harwood, who grew up in Hawke's Bay. "We're from hard, working-class families. My dad was a bus driver. Margie's dad was a teacher, Annie's family worked in a factory. We all worked in kitchens and waitressing and we were real. There was no one who thought they were special in that group at all. We were just all huddling together. We just had a lot in common.  Plus, we were the sort of people who were prepared to get out on the road and work our guts out for no money."

Debbie's best memories of When The Cat's Away were mostly related to the camaraderie:

"The women were brilliant – really intelligent and hilarious," she says. "If they weren't musicians they would be comedians. We had a ball together. That energy (that we had) we took it on to a stage. The audience were like, 'Wow. This is something we've never seen before'...When performing, the women sometimes wore zany costumes..."There was a little (costume) hire shop in Devonport and we would just go and rummage and say, 'Oh my god, Annie, put this on'."   

Source: Sarah Nealon, "When The Cat's Away singer reflects on band's humble beginnings in new documentary", Stuff.co.nz, 18 April 2019) 

4.  Solo artist 

Initial discussion on going solo held by CBS in second-half of 1986 

CBS New Zealand was keen for local acts they had signed to have international success. Gilbert Egdell played Peking Man's single 'Lift Your Head Up High' to Peter Bond (Asia Pacific director of CBS in Sydney) who then wanted Margaret to go solo in Australia. 

"Exactly when Margaret Urlich chose to go solo is unclear. “I can vividly remember having a meeting with Margaret in Murray Thom’s office”, Egdell recalled. “We convinced her to do a solo career – ‘You’ve done an album, it’s done very well, but it’s time to move on.’  She was a little apprehensive about stepping out on her own. In hindsight, maybe she was too young.” ... The meeting with Margaret and CBS took place in the second half of 1986, before Murray Thom and Gilbert Egdell both left the company later that year. Margaret’s departure from Peking Man was not known to the public until June 1987."  

 Source: Murray Cammick, "Peking Man", Audioculture (30 March 2015)   

Meanwhile, Margaret continued to perform with Peking Man. They went on a national tour at the end of 1986 to the North Island, followed by the South Island during January - February 1987. 

Margaret continued to tour with Peking Man & When The Cat's Away, early 1987 

News about Margaret going solo reported in June 1987

In the May 1987 issue of Rip It Up magazine, an article had appeared about the When The Cat’s Away who were about to embark on their national tour. "The story reassured fans that the singers would return to their solo careers or in Margaret Urlich’s case, head for Sydney with Peking Man."  However, in June 1987, news that Margaret was leaving Peking Man was reported in the 'Rumours' column of the Rip it Up magazine: “Margaret Urlich has left Peking Man to go solo.” (Source: Murray Cammick, Ibid).  

However, Margaret did not depart for Sydney until August 1988. An article released in 2021, gave the following reason: "...[I]n 1987 her family was emotionally grief-stricken at the suicide of their youngest daughter, and it would not be until 1988 when Urlich relocated to Sydney."  (Source: 4The Record, "NZ-Land of the Long White Cloud", 5 May 2021) 

During an interview held in 1992, Margaret had shared: " I write from a very personal angle and I’m not an issues writer. There are quite a few issues I’m concerned with. I’m quite concerned with mental health because I had a sister who committed suicide three years ago. Because I’m personally affected, I’ll talk about it if I think that what I say can maybe change one person’s opinion, but I’m not really a soap-box type of person.”  (Source: Donna Yuzwalk, "Margaret Urlich Talks to Donna Yuzwalk",  Rip It Up, No. 183, October 1992 (republished in Audioculture, 15 Jan 2021)

Began working on solo LP 'Safety in Numbers' in Auckland, 1988

Visited UK in May 1988

In May 1988, Margaret, Gilbert, and photographer Kerry Brown visited the UK. They met with the English producer Robyn Smith and London CBS staff with the intent of also releasing the LP in the UK. Kerry took photos in London and Brighton intended for the album cover. Also present with Margaret and Gilbert were Kerry's partner (Samoan performing artist Rosanna Raymond) and fashion designer Megan Douglas who became Margaret's stylist on the album's cover. (See photo and article: Murray Cammick, "Margaret Urlich", Audioculture, published 17 Apr 2016, updated 22 Aug 2022)   

5.  MARGARET RELOCATED TO SYDNEY, AUG 1988

Visited NZ to receive awards, record & tour with When The Cat's Away

1st solo single 'Escaping' released, Sept 1989

During 1989, Margaret continued to work on her first solo album 'Safety in Numbers' in Sydney with producer Robyn Smith. 

The opening song 'Escaping', written by Smith and Barry Blue, was released as a single in NZ in September 1989, prior to the release of the LP in October 1989. The song peaked at No. 1 for three weeks in NZ and remained in the charts for 19 weeks. It was also released in Australia (peaked at No. 17), the UK and Europe.

Margaret had performed 'Escaping' on Australian TV, appearing on the 'Hey Hey It's Saturday' series and the 'Countdown Revolution' series in late 1989. This was followed by future appearances on the same shows and other Australian programmes to promote the release of new singles.

For a list of Australian TV programmes and songs sung by Margaret from 1989 - 2012, see Wikipedia: Margaret Urlich

1st solo LP 'Safety in Numbers' released, 10 Nov 1989

During the launch of her debut album 'Safety in Numbers' in NZ, Margaret was interviewed by Gary Steel for the November 1989 cover story of the RTR Countdown magazine. She backgrounded the making of the album with producer Robyn Smith for CBS Records, and shared her experience of recording as a solo performer and the selecting of songs, of which she was involved with the writing of three tracks. 

Excerpts from the interview:  

“We recorded the album in two batches, and actually started eighteen months ago,” says Margaret... Halfway through the recording, Margaret upped and moved to Sydney semi permanently... “I was a bit freaked out with the whole thing to start off with, and I just had to calm down and trust [Smith]. Eventually we got some good performances but it took a while! To get live energy on tape is pretty hard to do, and I’ve improved a hundred-fold from beginning to end. Because I’m not a session singer, if the situation’s not right, I just can’t perform.”   Margaret found the whole thing a bit scary. Although she has carried through her career with some determination, she found it “kinda weird doing my own solo thing because I went into it blind. I’ve never had a fixed plan, never sorted myself out, image-wise or whatever.”  

The songs, which are grooving but silky smooth and sophisticated, are one-third self-penned, with some contributions from Smith, and even a song by Margaret’s good buddy Dave Dobbyn. Finding good songs was easy, but finding songs that she felt comfortable singing was another thing. “I have this honesty thing,” she says, “where I have to think ‘this does sound like me’. If it doesn’t feel right I won’t do it, because I don’t want to be caught singing a song that’s not really me. ‘Just joking, it’s not really me guys!’” 

When asked about favourite singers, Margaret responded:  “KD Lang… a white chick singing country with so much soul; Joni Mitchell… a wonderful singer, and so honest.”  

Source: Gary Steel,  "Margaret Urlich – 1989-style", Witchdoctor, 23 August 2023 (Steel reproduced his 1989 interview) 

Songwriting & Keyboards

''Of the album's 11 tracks, two were written by Margaret ('Give me some credit' and 'The Tide Keeps Rolling In') and one was co-written with Robyn Smith ('Slip on By'). Margaret also played keyboards on the track, 'God Bless The Child'. Backing vocalists included Mark Williams on five tracks.

For an image of the cover of the album 'Safety in Numbers' and listing of songs, see Wikipedia:Safety in Numbers (Margaret Urlich album)

Although Kerry Brown had taken photographs for the cover of the album during the May 1988 UK trip, a re-shoot was done by NZ photographer, Polly Walker.  Margaret's stylist for her hair and make-up was Debbie Watson.

Also toured & recorded with other musicians, 1990

Margaret joined When The Cat's Away for the 'Free Ride summer 1988/89 tour, whilst waiting for her solo album 'Safety in Numbers' to be released in Australia (which occurred on 9 March 1990 - four months after it's NZ release). During the summer tour, When The Cat's Away single 'Free Ride' was released in January and peaked at No. 12.  

In an interview published in Shake! magazine (April 1990), Margaret had said:

“I was reticent about doing the tour because the Australian record company didn’t want me to do it. The company felt [negatively] about it – but they don’t understand When The Cat’s Away. The band are just friends and we get together and we have fun – and I am so glad I did that tour because I was getting tense about what I’m doing. It was two weeks of absolute hilarity and support. The support I get from Annie, Debbie, Kim and Dianne means so much to me. People say, ‘Don’t do that, you’re solo now and they’re just stupid girls’. But that’s bullshit. It means much more to me than that.” 

       Source: Murray Cammick, "Margaret Urlich", Audioculture (published 17 Apr 2016, updated 22 Aug 2022) 

Backing vocals for cult classic 'The Horses' (released Jan 1991, 10x-platinum)

In 1990, Margaret sang backing vocals for the song 'The Horses' on Daryl Braithwaite's album 'Rise'. The song was released as a single in Australia on 28 January 1991. It debuted at No. 38 on 3 March, peaked at No. 1 on 19 May, and spent 12 weeks in the Top 10 and 23 weeks in the Top 50. 'The Horses' was certified ten-times platinum (over 700,000 sales) in Australia and has become a cult classic.  

When the video for the song was filmed, Margaret chose not to appear in it. The video showed Daryl singing on a beach, with a model, Gillian Bailey, riding a horse and lip-synching to Margaret's voice. In 2016, Margaret had commented to News Corp:

"I was recording an album in London when they did the video. I could have come back to do the video but I was doing my own thing by that stage. A lot of people know it's my singing, but they don't put two and two together that it's not me in the video. In retrospect it was probably a little bit silly because the song was so huge. But at the time I was young and a bit stupid, I did what I thought was right. But it was absolutely no disrespect to Daryl."

Source:  NZ Herald, "New Zealand musician Margaret Urlich dies at 57 after two-year cancer battle" (3 August 2022) 

RELATIONSHIPS, EARLY 1990S

During 1990, when Australian band Ratcat was recording their album 'Blind Love', they commented in a Rolling Stone magazine (10/90) interview that their Australian producer and engineer Nick Mainsbridge was engaged to Margaret who did backing vocals on the album.  (Source:  Epods Ratcat Site) In a later interview with Roger Watkins held in 1994 for the Pop History Oral Project, Margaret mentioned her marriage to Nick Mainsbridge from whom she had since separated. (Source: Pop Music Oral History Project: 'Interview with Margaret Ulrich', 20 July 1994)  

Margaret then entered a relationship with George Gorgas. During an interview held in 1999, Margaret commented, "His dad is Argentinian, his mother Brazilian. He speaks Spanish with an Aussie accent...He started out as my sound engineer, we fell in love, and we’ve been together seven years."  (Source: Chris Bourke, 'Margaret Urlich: Second Nature', Audioculture (17 Jan 2023), which is a reprint of the interview in Pacific Wave, August 1999.) 

George was an audio engineer who set up sound systems for stage and television performances. He'd won the Best Live Sound Engineer at the ARIA Music Awards in 1991, at which Margaret had won “Breakthrough Artist – Album'  for 'Safety in Numbers'. In 1995, George and Margaret formed the company Mountain High Management, to provide sound systems for live shows, which also evolved into recording and mixing music for other musicians. (Source: MHM: Mountain High Management Pty Ltd)    

2ND Solo album 'Chameleon Dreams', 1991-1992

Co-wrote songs in Sydney, London & Los Angeles

In March 1991, Margaret commenced working on her second solo album 'Chameleon Dreams' in Sydney. With a budget of about half a million dollars from Sony Records (who had changed its name from CBS Records on 1 January 1991), she also travelled to London and Los Angles to work with songwriters and producers in recording studios. The outcome was Margaret co-writing eight of the album's ten tracks. The album was released in September 1992 by Sony Records. 

 In an interview held after the launch of her album, Margaret discussed her songwriting:

"I believe if artists can write they should", she says. 'There's no sense in collecting a bunch of covers - all you are doing is rehashing what somebody else has done." 'I've been really wanting to develop my songwriting abilities. I've haven't done a lot but I've been writing since I first got into this business in New Zealand eight years ago. Some songs don't work out, some do. I wrote 'Chameleon Dreams' in three batches - some in London, some in Sydney and some in LA over 14 months. I also decided to use more than one producer as I didn't have any one person in mind with whom I wanted to do the whole record." 

Source: "Chameleon shades green", The Canberra Times (Vol. 67, No. 21), 26 Nov 1992, p. 19 

For an image of the cover of the album 'Chameleon Dreams' & list of tracks and songwriters, see Wikipedia: Chameleon Dreams

 In Australia, the singles released from the album charted as follows: In 1992: 'Boy In The Moon’ (No. 21), ‘Human Race’ (No. 55); and in 1993: ‘Burnt Sienna’ (No. 33).  In NZ in 1992: 'Boy In The Moon’ (No. 9), and in 1993: ‘Second Best' (No. 39)  

TourING & recording with other musicians, 1993

Reunited with When The Cat's Away, 1993

3rd solo album 'Live', 1994

During Margaret's 1992/1993 tour, which followed the release of her 'Chameleon Dreams' album, recordings were made of her live performances. Eleven songs were selected for release on her next solo album called 'Live'. In addition, the twelfth and final track on the album was her studio recording with Rick Price, 'Where is the Love', which had been released on a three-track CD in Australia. On 30 March 1994, Rick and Margaret's CD was nominated for the award of Best Adult Contemporary Album at the ARIA awards held at the State Theatre in Sydney. 

For an image of the cover of Margaret's album 'Live', and list of tracks, see Wikipedia: Live (Margaret Urlich album) 

Starred in concert production of 'Jesus Christ Superstar' in NZ 1994

Three-track EP 'All By Myself' released Nov 1994

On 4 November 1994, Margaret's three-track EP 'All By Myself' was released by Sony. Tracks: 'All By Myself' (written by Eric Carmen), 'Song For The Unknown Child (Lullé)' (written by Robyn Smith) and 'Escaping' (The Blue Mix) (written by Barry Blue and Robyn Smith).  

For an image of the cover of Margaret's EP, see Spotify: All By Myself

Guest appearances on Australian TV series, 1995

During 1995, Margaret continued to be a guest on Australian TV programmes. For a list of Australian TV programmes and songs sung by Margaret from 1989 - 2012, see Wikipedia: Margaret Urlich.

4th solo album 'The Deepest Blue' released, July 1995

In July 1995, Margaret's fourth solo album "The Deepest Blue" was released and peaked in NZ at No. 18 and in Australia at No. 17.

Margaret was involved with co-writing nine of the eleven tracks:

"I think songwriters are lucky", she laughs. "We have a chance to really think about the way we feel - and while that can be a really draining experience, it's also fantastic to tap into that depth of emotion we all have. I put a lot of energy into every song I write. I take a lot of the things that happen to me and I try to present them in an original way". 

Source: Music.Net.NZ: Margaret Urlich 

For an image of the cover of the album 'The Deepest Blue' & list of tracks and songwriters, see Wikipedia: The Deepest Blue

6.  Record contract not renewed by Sony, 1998

Sales of the album 'The Deepest Blue' and the three singles did not chart as high as Margaret's previous releases in NZ and Australia. Furthermore, Sony Music was not able to achieve Northern Hemisphere releases or success. Consequently, Margaret's five-year contract with Sony Music was not renewed in 1998. 

When interviewed by Russell Baillie  (NZ Herald 30 June 2000), Margaret had said, “It was good because the relationship had gone a bit sour, a bit tired. In a way, I wanted to get out as well.”  (Source: Murray Cammick, "Margaret Urlich', Audioculture, published 17 Apr 2016, updated 22 Aug 2022) 

MARRIAGE, NEW ALBUM & PARENTHOOD 

During an interview with Chris Bourke for an article which appeared in Pacific Wave (August 1999), Margaret backgrounded what followed:

When Urlich shifted to Australia, she found even more massive success as a dance-pop solo act. Her debut album Safety in Numbers sold “triple-platinum”: that’s 240,000 copies in Australasia. When her follow-up albums – unsurprisingly – didn’t repeat those figures, Urlich was dropped by her record company. That almost suited her; by then, Urlich had married her sound engineer, George Gorga, and settled in Bowral, New South Wales. Ninety minutes from Sydney, with wooden houses and pastoral landscape, it’s a rural town that reminded Urlich of home. “It was a bit of a fresh start, leaving Sony, getting out of the Sydney rat-race – I’ve never been that comfortable with music business schmoozing anyway. I was at a crossroads, deciding what was next: did I want to even pursue music anymore?” 

Margaret was then approached by Murray Thom (former manager of CBS New Zealand who had signed Peking Man) to produce a new album on his Thom Marketing Label. 

"Urlich and Gorga set to work, building a home studio for the recording sessions. Now, the album, Second Nature, has arrived, along with the couple’s first child, daughter Ava."  

Source:  Chris Bourke, "Margaret Urlich: Second Nature", Audioculture (17 Jan 2023), which is a reprint of the interview in Pacific Wave, August 1999. 

NEW ALbum: 'Second Nature' released, MAY 1999

In 1998, Margaret was approached by former CBS Manager Murray Thom (who had signed Peking Man) to produce a new album on his Thom Marketing Label. As Margaret had not been writing new material, Thom suggested that she record "cover versions, or a Linda Ronstadt-style album of jazz standards, or an album re-exploring her own hits  – none of these appealed to Urlich ".  Then Australian record producer Mark Opitz, who was also living in Bowral, "came up with the idea of an album celebrating New Zealand’s unheralded icons: its songwriters. Thom loved the idea."  (Source:  Chris Bourke, Ibid) 

Songs were Kiwi classics

Margaret selected the Kiwi classics to sing cover versions on the album which was called 'Second Nature'.  As explained by Margaret:

 "This is not about better versions of existing songs as I feel that the original versions, sung and played by the original musicians are the definitive versions, and to compete with that would be futile. I guess that this album is about me having a brilliant time recording some excellent songs and learning a lot more about songwriting in the process."   (Source: Music.Net.NZ: Margaret Urlich)   

 “It’s a tribute album,” says Urlich, “and an education for me in great songwriting. For a small country, New Zealand seems to have produced a lot of good songwriters. I didn’t feel awed, but I felt respect for the writers. Writing a good pop song is really hard, though a great pop song sounds like you could write it in five minutes. In my experience, that’s not the case.”... “It’s unashamedly a nostalgia trip”, says Urlich... But the person Urlich regrets will never hear it is her father, a musician and painter who passed away three years ago. “He was such a big supporter of me and Pat, my brother. Some parents say, get a real job. Our parents always validated what we did, never treated it as a hobby.”  (Source: Chris Bourke,  'Margaret Urlich: Second Nature', Audioculture (17 Jan 2023), which is a reprint of the interview in Pacific Wave, August 1999)   

The album was produced by Eddie Rayner from Split Enz and recorded with musicians from Australia and NZ.  After recording the album in The Shed studio at Margaret and George's home in Bowral, it was mastered at Bernie Grundman Mastering in Hollywood, California, and released in NZ in May 1999. 

For an image of the cover of the album 'Second Nature' & list of tracks, see Wikipedia: Second Nature (Margaret Urlich album)

Expecting first child

During the recording of the album, Margaret and George were expecting their first child, daughter Amy. 

The album's cover "had as its artwork a series of New Zealand landscapes by Auckland painter Justin Boroughs, as well as some childhood photos of Urlich and family. Oh, and a recent shot of her lying prone in long grass: "I was eight months pregnant then, trying to camouflage the bulge. It's very uncomfortable lying like that," she laughs." 

Source: Russell Baillie, "The balancing act",  NZ Herald, 30 June 2000 (Interview with Margaret at her NSW home in Bowral, Southern Highlands) 

7.  PARENTHOOD, MUSIC TEACHER, Performer, 1999 -

After her album 'Second Nature' was released in May 1999, Margaret and husband George Gorga raised their first child, daughter Ava, who was followed by their son Carlo three years later. Margaret did not release any further records; however, she continued to be interviewed on TV and radio programmes, and co-headlined shows with other artists, as well as performing solo, in Australia and NZ.

In a 2017 interview with The Star, Margaret discussed what she had been doing over the preceding 18 years since her final album 'Second Nature', which included becoming a high school music teacher. Excerpts were reproduced in the NZ Herald in Aug 2022, including a photo of Margaret performing in her music teacher role at Oxley College in Burradoo, NSW:

The article revealed Urlich lived on a rural property in the NSW Southern Highlands, and now made a living as a high school music teacher, "often mentor[ing] young singers before they sit their university entrance exams." And Urlich said she was happy with her new, quieter life. "I quite like being normal. I only ever started singing because I just love it. The whole fame side of it, I didn't think about it that much and it always felt a little bit uncomfortable to me," she told The Star. "I don't need to have a high profile to be happy – in fact, I think the opposite is true for me."

Source:  Nick Bond, "Why Margaret Urlich turned her back on fame after the '90s", NZ Herald, 23 Aug 2022.

 During an interview first published in 2010, Margaret reflected on the highlights of her career:

"There have been many highlights of my career. Obviously good album sales and industry awards are wonderful. More recently, however, the involvement of my husband George, and my two children in my music, is by far the most rewarding aspect of my career thus far. Seeing the positive effect it has on my family adds a far deeper dimension. The only real low points worth mentioning are all to do with the business side of the music industry. It takes a while to realise that for all the risk, effort, and personal stories we pour into our work, at the end of the day it is a product that may either fail or succeed, in commercial terms. I feel it is important, therefore, to feel proud of my music, irrespective of whether or not it is well received by others. Harder than it sounds, though."    

"I still really enjoy singing and feel that my voice is now better than ever. I’m not desperate for commercial success however, and wouldn’t compromise my family life to achieve it again. My husband and I also record other artists, which I really enjoy. I feel I can bring a lot to the table because I am a recording artist myself, and thus I can empathise in a way that others may not be able to."   

Source: Murray Cammick, "Margaret Urlich, in her own words", Audioculture, 22 August 2022 (reproduced from "Kiwi Rock Chicks, Pop Stars & Trailblazers", edited by Ian Chapman (HarperCollins, Auckland, 2010) 

In December 2019, one of Margaret's last performances was held in Sydney for a Christmas festive event at Parramatta Park. See YouTube Video: "The Christmas Song - Margaret Urlich (Carols in the Crescent 2019)".  She was scheduled to appear with Daryl Braithwaite and other singers at the FireAid2020 fundraising concert at the Bong Bong Racecourse in Bowral on 24 January 2020, but withdrew at the last moment. (Source:  Glenn A Baker, "Margaret Urlich, a rare talent who lit up any room", The Sydney Morning Herald, 23 August, 2022)  

8. NZ Music Hall of Fame, 2021

In December 2021, the five members of When The Cat's Away were inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame at the Aotearoa Music Awards. However, Margaret's husband George advised the organisers that Margaret was not able to attend for health reasons. The induction video chronicling Margaret's singing career that was shown during the ceremony can be viewed at: NZ Music Hall of Fame: Inductees: Margaret Urlich 

Music Awards, 1985 - 2000

 Margaret was a nominee for and winner of several awards in NZ and Australia, and also won an award at the World Music Awards held in Monte Carlo:

New Zealand Music Awards: 

Awards won by Margaret Urlich with Peking Man, When The Cat's Away and as a solo singer:

• Female Vocalist of the Year: Won four times - 1985, 1986, 1989 and 1990
• Album of the Year: Won 1986 ('Peking Man' with Peking Man); Won 1989 ('Safety in Numbers')
• Single of the Year: Nominated 1985 ('Lift Your Head Up High' with Peking Man); Won 1986 ('Room that Echoes' with Peking Man); Won 1989 ('Escaping'); Nominated 1990 ('Number One') 
• International Achievement: Nominated 1990
• Best Group: Peking Man (Nominated 1985 & Won 1986); When The Cat's Away (Won 1989)
• Album Cover: Won 1986 ('Peking Man': Phil O'Reilly); Won 1989 ('Safety in Numbers': Polly Walker/Debbie Watson); Nominated 2000 ('Second Nature': Kimberley Renwick)  
• Engineer: Won 1985 (Graeme Myhre for 'Lift Your Head Up High' by Peking Man); Won 1986 (Graeme Myhre for 'Peking Man')  
• Producer: Nominated 1985 (Graeme Myhre for 'Lift Your Head Up High' by Peking Man); Won 1986 (Bruce Lynch for 'Peking Man' by Peking Man); Nominated 1989 (Ross McDermott/Annie Crummer for 'Melting Pot' by When The Cat's Away)   

Australia's ARIA Music Awards: 

• Breakthrough Artist - Album: Won 1991 ('Safety in Numbers').
• Best Female Artist:  Nominated three times - 1991 ('Safety in Numbers'), 1993 ('Chameleon Dreams'), and 1994 ('Burnt Sienna').
• Album of the Year: Nominated 1991 ('Safety in Numbers')
• Best Adult Contemporary Album: Nominated 1994 ('Where is the Love' with Rick Price)

World Music Awards in Monte Carlo:  

• Best Selling NZ Artist of the Year: Won 1992

Source: 

• Aotearoa Music Awards: Awards History Database: Lists nominees and winner for each year
• Wikipedia: ARIA Music Awards 
• Murray Cammick, "Margaret Urlich", Audioculture (published 17 Apr 2016, updated 22 Aug 2022) 

9.  Newsmedia reported Margaret passed away on      22 August 2022

News media, including the NZHerald (23 August 2022), shared the following statement from Margaret's family that she had passed away on 22 August 2022:

"It is with incredible sadness that we inform you that Margaret Urlich passed away peacefully on August 22 2022 at her home in the Southern Highlands of NSW, surrounded by her family after a courageous two-and-a-half-year battle with cancer," a family statement said.

 Beehive media release by the Hon Carmel Sepuloni on 23 August 2022 acknowledged the passing of Margaret: 

 "It is with great sadness that I heard of Margaret Urlich’s passing yesterday,” Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Carmel Sepuloni said. “Yesterday we lost a star of Aotearoa music. Margaret was one of New Zealand’s most successful recording artists, selling over 400,000 albums over her career, and is someone I grew up listening to,” Carmel Sepuloni said. “I’m pleased that her successful career was recognised in [2021] when she was inducted into the NZ Music Hall of Fame. “The gap Margaret leaves is momentous. She dedicated her life to recording music, collaborating with others, and producing tunes that we will long listen to. My thoughts are with all those who knew or worked with Margaret and the New Zealand music industry, but most of all my thoughts are with those who were closest with Margaret – her whānau and friends. Her legacy will live on,” Carmel Sepuloni said.

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 Two former members of When The Cat's Away and cousin Peter Urlich gave the following tributes to Margaret: 

"Margaret was a true and rare talent. She lit up any room, and if you were on stage with her you had to lift your game. She was a uniquely gifted person..."  (Dianne Swann) 

Margaret's got that magic. It’s just in her – nothing learned.  She got kicked out of the school choir because she was so unique. People don't know that she can drum, she can play the piano. She's just the consummate musician, really, and dance. And she is adorable.”  (Debbie Harwood)

“She was the most beautiful woman, on the inside and out. An amazing natural performer, she loved to dance. She was blessed with a great voice. She sang so effortlessly and with such soul and sass, she had her own space and sound, instantly recognisable. She had a level of sophistication that marked her out. Marg was super stylish, she oozed confidence but underneath, she was a female who had to overcome her shyness to try to make it in a male-dominated industry. And she did. When you look at her body of work from Peking Man to Escaping to Boy in the Moon, she absolutely had it all. “I was a total fan and I’m very proud of her.” (Peter Urlich)

Source: David Skipworth,  "Kiwi singer Margaret Urlich, 57, dies after living with cancer for over two years",  Stuff.co.nz. (23 Aug 2022)  

Find out more:

• New Zealand charts portal: charts.org.nz provides NZ and Australian music chart positions for albums and singles
• Aotearoa Music Awards -  Awards History Database: Lists nominees and winner for each year
• Chris Bourke, "Margaret Urlich: Second Nature", Audioculture (17 Jan 2023), which is a reprint of the interview in Pacific Wave, August 1999.  
• David Skipworth, "Kiwi singer Margaret Urlich, 57, dies after living with cancer for over two years",  Stuff.co.nz. (23 Aug 2022)   
• Donna Yuzwalk, "Margaret Urlich talks to Donna Yuzwalk", Audioculture, 15 Jan 2021 (republished from Rip It Up, No.183, Oct 1992) 
• Gary Steel, "Margaret Urlich – 1989-style", Witchdoctor, 23 August 2023 (Steel reproduced his 1989 interview) 
• Glenn A Baker, "Margaret Urlich, a rare talent who lit up any room", The Sydney Morning Herald (23 August, 2022)  
• Margaret Urlich,  "Margaret Urlich, in her own words", Audioculture (22 Aug 2022), reproduced from "Kiwi Rock Chicks, Pop Stars & Trailblazers", edited by Ian Chapman (HarperCollins, Auckland, 2010) 
• Murray Cammick, "Peking Man", Audioculture (30 March 2015)
• Murray Cammick, "When The Cat's Away",  Audioculture (published 7 Jul 2015, updated 25 July 2022)
• Murray Cammick, "Margaret Urlich", Audioculture (published 17 Apr 2016, updated 22 Aug 2022) 
• Music.Net.NZ: "Margaret Urlich"
• Nick Bond, "Why Margaret Urlich turned her back on fame after the '90s", NZ Herald (23 Aug 2022)  
• NZ Herald, "New Zealand musician Margaret Urlich dies at 57 after two-year cancer battle" (3 August 2022)  
• Russell Baillie, "The balancing act",  NZ Herald, 30 June 1990 (Interview with Margaret Ulrich at her NSW home in Bowral, Southern Highlands)
• Sarah Nealon, "When The Cat's Away singer reflects on band's humble beginnings in new documentary", Stuff.co.nz (18 April 2019)
• Wikipedia: "Margaret Urlich" (21 Dec 2022)
• Wikipedia: "Peking Man' (band)" (23 August 2022)
• Wikipedia: "When the Cat's Away (band)" (20 April 2023)

This DigitalNZ Story was compiled in May 2023