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Perhaps our best-known folk star, Toronto's Gordon Lightfoot began his career playing drums in local jazz bands before moving to LA where he studied music at Westlake College. He returned home in 1959 and was a member of the chorus on CBC's 'Country Hoedown'. He also worked with The Gini Silvi Singers, before recording three records from '61 - '63 as one half of The 2 Tones. It was during this time that he also had his first single as a solo artist, 1962's "Remember Me". Lightfoot's name was already established on a worldwide scale, landing him a job hosting a 'c&w' variety show in England the next year. Throughout his illustrious career his songs have been covered by artists as diverse as Elvis, Dylan, Nana Mouskouri and Barbra Streisand. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986, other Lightfoot classics over the years include '74's "Sundown", "Alberta Bound", "Don Quixote", the classic "Canadian Railroad Tragedy" and the timeless "The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald" in 1976.
Born in Montreal in 1936, Leondard Cohen was the true innovator of merging poetry with music. A well-respected and published poet by the mid 60's, he moved to Nashville and pursued music full-time, eventually writing for the likes of Judy Collins. His first album was released in 1968 and served as the backdrop for a unique style of folk-country-easy listening. He's worked with some of the industry's top performers, written for countless others and inspired still more while winning countless awards for both his music and written works.
Originally from Vancouver, Ian Tyson moved to Toronto in 1958, where he met and subsequently married fellow folk star Sylvia Fricker. Along with Sylvia and The Great Speckled Bird, he was instrumental in defining the cross over of country and folk thru the formative years. In 1961 he penned the folk classic "4 Strong Winds", which has closed the Edmonton Folk Music Festival every year since its inception in 1980. Ian & Sylvia Tyson were jointly inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991.
Ottawa native Bruce Cockburn had fronted such local acts as The Esquires and The Children before going solo. From his debut in 1970, he helped shape the sound of the day with such hits as "Musical Friends" and "All The Diamonds". His tastes would shift to a more pop-oriented rhythm by the early 80's, culminating in more gold, such as "Wondering Where The Lions Are" in '79 . He also wrote the soundtrack to the Canadian film Going Down The Road in 1970 and has had a huge impact on today's stars, highlighted by his music covered by the likes of The Skydiggers and The Bare Naked Ladies. He has lent his name and time to various charities and non-profit organizations, with these influences the topics of some of his most potent lyrics, including the scathing political commentary "If I Had A Rocket Launcher" in 1984. Cockburn's countless contributions to the Canadian music scene were recognized in 2001, when he was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
Also born in Ottawa, Valdy learned the craft of Canadian folk from practically all four corners of the country. Born Valdemar Horsdal in Ottawa, he had already studied guitar and piano while learning orchestration at a private music school in Victoria. By the mid 60's he was a member of the London Town Criers, and then moved to Montreal to play with The Prodigal Sons. He also gained a taste for country while playing backup for Blake Emmons. His solo career began in '72, with his first single "Rock and Roll Song" going gold. By '76 he'd already recorded five albums, and was second only to Lightfoot in sales by a Canadian folk artist. He's played folk fests as far away as Poland and has released an incredible 22 singles over his career, 10 alone during the 1970's. Recognized around the world as one of folk music's true legends, Valdy has received countless awards, including a '73 Juno for Canadian folk artist of the year.
Meanwhile
Buffy St. Marie, a native of Craven, Saskatchewan, had by this time made Toronto her home, where by the early 60's she'd gained notoriety as Canada's first aboriginal star, and a direct influence on the good fortunes of such stars of today as Lawrence Martin, Tom Jackson and Susan Aglukark. Her biggest hit was writing "Universal Soldier" for Donovan in 1965. But her contributions to the Canadian music scene in general were recognized with her induction into The Hall of Fame in 1995.
By this time Anne Murray had outgrown her role on the CBC's 'Singalong Jubilee' and was on her way to international country and folk superstardom. A former phys-ed teacher from Nova Scotia, her first single was "What About Me" in 1967. Her other hits throughout the years are numerous, including "Snowbird" in 1970, the first single by a Canadian woman to exceed a million sales in the US, "Danny's Song" in 1973, and "You Needed Me" in '78. Still at the top of the charts today, her sound is distinct and unmistakeable. She's received countless awards and recognitions, including an amazing 26 Junos here at home and was inducted into The Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1993, making her quite simply Canada's greatest female artist of all time.
Born in Fort MacLeod, Alberta, Roberta Joan Anderson moved from Saskatoon back to Alberta in 1964 to attend music school in Calgary. After only one year, she followed her destiny to the Toronto area and the folk scene which encompassed it. After marrying fellow folk singer Chuck Mitchell, the two moved to Detroit in '65. From Joni Mitchell's first lp in '68, the critics and fellow musicians, including the likes of Graham Nash and David Crosby, knew she had something special to offer. Her first single was the monster hit from 1970, "Big Yellow Taxi" - covered later by BB Gabor, and has had her material recorded by such artists as Tom Rush and Tom Scott. She's been the recipient of countless Junos and Grammys, and was inducted into The Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1981.
Neil Young had fronted the Winnipeg group The Squires before heading to Yorkton, ON. After a brief stint with the pre-funk group The Myna Birds, he folowed his folk roots to international acclaim. He was a mainstay with Buffalo Springfield when, along with Steven Stills, they left the band to form half of Crosby Stills Nash & Young. It was there that Young would collaberate some of the era's most powerful music, including the hit "Ohio". His recordings with Crazy Horse and his solo ventures often composed of social and political commentaries, such as the timeless classics "Southern Man", "The Killing of Valdez" and "Heart of Gold" and "Old Man' from 1972's HARVEST album. Never to be held to a label or limited to any specific genre Young strays from his folk roots long enough to pen such rock anthems as "Cinnamon Girl" and "My My Hey Hey". Still at the top of his game today, Young has inspired countless others and was inducted into The Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1982. His vast repetoire makes him truly one of rock and roll's musical geniuses.
In 1968, two Vancouver musicians would meet and form Canada's most successful group of the 'flowers and beads' genre. Terry Jacks would soon marry Susan Pesklevits, and together they formed The Poppy Family, whose biggest chart success was "Which Way You Going Billy?", which went gold here and peaked at #2 on Billboard in 1970. Both husband and wife went on to critical success as solo artists, most noteably Terry's '74 classic which defined the era "Seasons In The Sun". The song won countless awards worldwide, topped Billboard's chart and was the first Canadian single to sell 100,000 copies. Both Jacks would go on to successful solo careers before Terry got into producting other acts.
