Blue Rodeo: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox musical artist | {{Infobox musical artist | ||
| name = Blue Rodeo | | name = Blue Rodeo | ||
| image = | | image = Blue Rodeo (53972453492).jpg | ||
| caption = Blue Rodeo in | | caption = Blue Rodeo in 2024 | ||
| image_size = | | image_size = | ||
| origin = [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]], Canada | | origin = [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]], Canada | ||
| genre = {{hlist|[[Pop rock]]|[[Rock music|Rock]]|[[Country music|Country]]|[[Alternative country]]|[[Alternative rock]]|[[Roots rock]]|[[Folk rock]]|[[Americana (music)|Americana]]}} | | genre = {{hlist|[[Pop rock]]|[[Rock music|Rock]]|[[Country music|Country]]|[[Alternative country]]|[[Alternative rock]]|[[Roots rock]]|[[Folk rock]]|[[Americana (music)|Americana]]}} | ||
| years_active = {{Start date|1984}}–present | | years_active = {{Start date|1984}}–present | ||
| label = [[Warner Music Group|WEA]], [[Warner Music Group]], [[Rounder Records|Rounder]] | | label = [[Warner Music Group|WEA]], [[Warner Music Group]], [[Rounder Records|Rounder]] | ||
| website = {{URL|bluerodeo.com}} | | website = {{URL|bluerodeo.com}} | ||
| current_members = [[Jim Cuddy]]<br />Bazil Donovan<br />[[Greg Keelor]]<br />Glenn Milchem<br />Mike Boguski<br />[[Colin Cripps]]<br />[[Jimmy Bowskill]] | | current_members = [[Jim Cuddy]]<br />Bazil Donovan<br />[[Greg Keelor]]<br />Glenn Milchem<br />Mike Boguski<br />[[Colin Cripps]]<br />[[Jimmy Bowskill]] | ||
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==History== | ==History== | ||
===Founding=== | |||
[[High school]] friends Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor began playing music professionally together after completing university. They put together several bands without commercial success in the late 1970s, releasing a single as Hi-Fi's in 1980. | [[High school]] friends Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor began playing music professionally together after completing university. They put together several bands without commercial success in the late 1970s, releasing a single as Hi-Fi's in 1980. | ||
Cuddy and Keelor moved to [[New York City]] in the early 1980s to further their music careers. There, they met keyboardist and fellow Canadian [[Bob Wiseman]], who, at that time, was working as a producer. Upon returning to [[Toronto]] in the summer of 1984, the trio decided to form a band. The name "Blue Rodeo" had already been chosen for the new group when they met former [[David Wilcox (Canadian musician)|David Wilcox]] drummer [[Cleave Anderson]] and asked him to join. Anderson, in turn, recommended his former bandmate in The Sharks, bassist Bazil Donovan, and the new band's lineup was essentially set.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.bluerodeo.com/people/biography/JimCuddy.aspx| title=Jim Cuddy Biography| work=Official Community of Blue Rodeo| access-date=May 14, 2008| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512092840/http://www.bluerodeo.com/people/biography/JimCuddy.aspx| archive-date=May 12, 2008| df=mdy-all}}</ref> On February 8, 1985, Blue Rodeo played their first show together at [[The Rivoli]] in Toronto;<ref>{{Cite web|last=Schneider|first=Jason|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/blue_rodeo-better_off_as_we_are |title=Timeline: Blue Rodeo: Better Off as We Are|website=[[Exclaim!]]|date=November 20, 2009}}</ref> one week later, they performed at [[Handsome Ned]]'s "Honky Tonk Heart."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/the-birth-of-blue-rodeo/article4124945/#:~:text=Our%20first%20gig%20as%20Blue,and%20a%20quick%2Dgun%20artist.|title="The birth of Blue Rodeo."|newspaper=[[The Globe and Mail]]|date=November 16, 2004}}</ref> | Cuddy and Keelor moved to [[New York City]] in the early 1980s to further their music careers. There, they met keyboardist and fellow Canadian [[Bob Wiseman]], who, at that time, was working as a producer. Upon returning to [[Toronto]] in the summer of 1984, the trio decided to form a band. The name "Blue Rodeo" had already been chosen for the new group when they met former [[David Wilcox (Canadian musician)|David Wilcox]] drummer [[Cleave Anderson]] and asked him to join. Anderson, in turn, recommended his former bandmate in The Sharks, bassist Bazil Donovan, and the new band's lineup was essentially set.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.bluerodeo.com/people/biography/JimCuddy.aspx| title=Jim Cuddy Biography| work=Official Community of Blue Rodeo| access-date=May 14, 2008| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512092840/http://www.bluerodeo.com/people/biography/JimCuddy.aspx| archive-date=May 12, 2008| df=mdy-all}}</ref> On February 8, 1985, Blue Rodeo played their first show together at [[The Rivoli]] in Toronto;<ref>{{Cite web|last=Schneider|first=Jason|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/blue_rodeo-better_off_as_we_are |title=Timeline: Blue Rodeo: Better Off as We Are|website=[[Exclaim!]]|date=November 20, 2009}}</ref> one week later, they performed at [[Handsome Ned]]'s "Honky Tonk Heart."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/the-birth-of-blue-rodeo/article4124945/#:~:text=Our%20first%20gig%20as%20Blue,and%20a%20quick%2Dgun%20artist.|title="The birth of Blue Rodeo."|newspaper=[[The Globe and Mail]]|date=November 16, 2004}}</ref> | ||
===Career=== | |||
The band quickly earned a following in Toronto and was subsequently signed to Canadian independent record label Risque Disque. They entered the studio in 1986 with [[Rush (band)|Rush]] producer [[Terry Brown (record producer)|Terry Brown]] and recorded several songs that would comprise Blue Rodeo's debut album, ''[[Outskirts (album)|Outskirts]]''. Released in March 1987, ''Outskirts'' met with moderate success in Canada until "[[Try (Blue Rodeo song)|Try]]" was released as a single in October of that year. The single was an immediate hit, going to number one on the ''RPM Country Tracks'' chart and number six on the ''RPM Top Singles'' chart, establishing Blue Rodeo as one of Canada's top new bands and carrying ''Outskirts'' to 4× Platinum status in sales. The music video for the single featured Keelor's then-girlfriend [[Michelle McAdorey]], who soon had success with her own band, [[Crash Vegas]]. | The band quickly earned a following in Toronto and was subsequently signed to Canadian independent record label Risque Disque. They entered the studio in 1986 with [[Rush (band)|Rush]] producer [[Terry Brown (record producer)|Terry Brown]] and recorded several songs that would comprise Blue Rodeo's debut album, ''[[Outskirts (album)|Outskirts]]''. Released in March 1987, ''Outskirts'' met with moderate success in Canada until "[[Try (Blue Rodeo song)|Try]]" was released as a single in October of that year. The single was an immediate hit, going to number one on the ''RPM Country Tracks'' chart and number six on the ''RPM Top Singles'' chart, establishing Blue Rodeo as one of Canada's top new bands and carrying ''Outskirts'' to 4× Platinum status in sales. The music video for the single featured Keelor's then-girlfriend [[Michelle McAdorey]], who soon had success with her own band, [[Crash Vegas]]. | ||
In 1992, the band's song "After the Rain," written by Cuddy and Keelor, was the most-performed song in Canada.<ref name="Inc.1992">{{cite magazine|author=Larry LeBlanc|title='Do it for you' does it at the SOCAN Awards|magazine=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QhAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA48|date=14 November 1992|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|pages=48–|issn=0006-2510}}</ref> By 1999 the band had sold more than two million albums in Canada.<ref name="Inc.1999">{{cite magazine|author=Bettsy Powell|title=There's no place like home|magazine=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TQ0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA58|date=January 16, 1999|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|pages=50 and 58|issn=0006-2510}}</ref> | In 1992, the band's song "After the Rain," written by Cuddy and Keelor, was the most-performed song in Canada.<ref name="Inc.1992">{{cite magazine|author=Larry LeBlanc|title='Do it for you' does it at the SOCAN Awards|magazine=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QhAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA48|date=14 November 1992|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|pages=48–|issn=0006-2510}}</ref> By 1999 the band had sold more than two million albums in Canada.<ref name="Inc.1999">{{cite magazine|author=Bettsy Powell|title=There's no place like home|magazine=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TQ0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA58|date=January 16, 1999|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|pages=50 and 58|issn=0006-2510}}</ref> | ||
On August 5, 2013, former keyboard player James Gray died as the result of a heart attack. He was 52 years old.<ref>{{cite web|last=Schneider |first=Jason |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/former_blue_rodeo_keyboardist_james_gray_dies_at_52 |title=Former Blue Rodeo Keyboardist James Gray Dies at 52|publisher=Exclaim.ca |date=August 5, 2013 |access-date=August 9, 2013}}</ref> | |||
Canadian guitarist [[Colin Cripps]] joined Blue Rodeo as a full member in 2013 due to Greg Keelor's inability to play electric guitar live anymore because of hearing issues.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/music/blue-rodeo-the-complete-conversation|title=Blue Rodeo: the complete conversation |newspaper=[[Montreal Gazette]]|date=November 1, 2013|access-date=August 13, 2023}}</ref> | |||
In September 2015, Blue Rodeo released the protest song and video "Stealin All My Dreams" which "chronicle the failings of the current government," referring to the government under Prime Minister [[Stephen Harper]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bluerodeo.com/stealingdreams/" |title=Stealin' All My Dreams |website=BlueRodeo.com |access-date=October 5, 2015}}{{title missing|date=May 2022}}</ref> | |||
The band is a member of the Canadian charity Artists Against Racism.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://artistsagainstracism.org/artists/|title = Artists - Artists Against Racism}}</ref> | |||
===Solo work and collaborations=== | |||
Cuddy, Keelor, Donovan, Boguski and Cripps have all released solo albums. Glenn Milchem performs his own solo music under the pseudonym "the swallows" and had co-founded, with his twin brother John, the rock duo [[Starvin Hungry]]. Keelor has also gone on to produce for other artists, notably alt-country group [[Cuff the Duke]], who have also toured as support for Blue Rodeo.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://exclaim.ca/articles/multiarticlesub.aspx?csid1=139&csid2=9&fid1=42671| archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709190255/http://exclaim.ca/articles/multiarticlesub.aspx?csid1=139&csid2=9&fid1=42671| url-status=dead| archive-date=July 9, 2012| title=Blue Rodeo Timeline| work=Exclaim Magazine| access-date=July 5, 2010}}</ref> | Cuddy, Keelor, Donovan, Boguski and Cripps have all released solo albums. Glenn Milchem performs his own solo music under the pseudonym "the swallows" and had co-founded, with his twin brother John, the rock duo [[Starvin Hungry]]. Keelor has also gone on to produce for other artists, notably alt-country group [[Cuff the Duke]], who have also toured as support for Blue Rodeo.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://exclaim.ca/articles/multiarticlesub.aspx?csid1=139&csid2=9&fid1=42671| archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709190255/http://exclaim.ca/articles/multiarticlesub.aspx?csid1=139&csid2=9&fid1=42671| url-status=dead| archive-date=July 9, 2012| title=Blue Rodeo Timeline| work=Exclaim Magazine| access-date=July 5, 2010}}</ref> | ||
Blue Rodeo members have collaborated extensively with other notable Canadian artists, including [[Sarah McLachlan]], [[The Tragically Hip]], [[Burton Cummings]], [[Great Big Sea]], [[Jann Arden]], [[The Sadies]], [[Skydiggers]], Cuff the Duke, [[Crash Vegas]], [[Cowboy Junkies]], [[Sarah Harmer]], [[Jill Barber]], and [[Kathleen Edwards]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/local-arts/bluesfest-review-blue-rodeo-flexed-their-musical-muscle-and-naughty-by-nature-came-to-please|title=Bluesfest review: Blue Rodeo vs Naughty By Nature |publisher=Ottawa Citizen|first=Lynn|last=Saxberg|work=ottawacitizen |date=2018-07-13|language=en|access-date=2019-03-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://junoawards.ca/juno-tv/videos/blue-rodeo-ft-sarah-mclachlan-lost-together-live-at-the-juno-awards/|title=Blue Rodeo ft. Sarah McLachlan|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/2017/02/03/gord-downie-makes-surprise-appearance-at-blue-rodeo-show-for-lost-together.html|title=Gord Downie makes surprise appearance at Blue Rodeo show for 'Lost Together'|newspaper=The Toronto Star|date=February 3, 2017|language=en|access-date=2019-03-12}}</ref> They have won many Canadian music awards, including twelve [[Juno Award]]s and seven [[Society of Composers, Authors, and Music Publishers of Canada|SOCAN]] awards.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://junoawards.ca/awards/top-winners/|title=Top Winners|website=The JUNO Awards|access-date=2019-03-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.socan.com/what-socan-does/socan-awards/|title=SOCAN Awards|date=June 18, 2018 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-12}}</ref> | Blue Rodeo members have collaborated extensively with other notable Canadian artists, including [[Sarah McLachlan]], [[The Tragically Hip]], [[Burton Cummings]], [[Great Big Sea]], [[Jann Arden]], [[The Sadies]], [[Skydiggers]], Cuff the Duke, [[Crash Vegas]], [[Cowboy Junkies]], [[Sarah Harmer]], [[Jill Barber]], and [[Kathleen Edwards]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/local-arts/bluesfest-review-blue-rodeo-flexed-their-musical-muscle-and-naughty-by-nature-came-to-please|title=Bluesfest review: Blue Rodeo vs Naughty By Nature |publisher=Ottawa Citizen|first=Lynn|last=Saxberg|work=ottawacitizen |date=2018-07-13|language=en|access-date=2019-03-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://junoawards.ca/juno-tv/videos/blue-rodeo-ft-sarah-mclachlan-lost-together-live-at-the-juno-awards/|title=Blue Rodeo ft. Sarah McLachlan|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/2017/02/03/gord-downie-makes-surprise-appearance-at-blue-rodeo-show-for-lost-together.html|title=Gord Downie makes surprise appearance at Blue Rodeo show for 'Lost Together'|newspaper=The Toronto Star|date=February 3, 2017|language=en|access-date=2019-03-12}}</ref> They have won many Canadian music awards, including twelve [[Juno Award]]s and seven [[Society of Composers, Authors, and Music Publishers of Canada|SOCAN]] awards.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://junoawards.ca/awards/top-winners/|title=Top Winners|website=The JUNO Awards|access-date=2019-03-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.socan.com/what-socan-does/socan-awards/|title=SOCAN Awards|date=June 18, 2018 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-12}}</ref> | ||
===Awards and recognition=== | |||
On June 16, 2009, it was announced that the band would receive a star on [[Canada's Walk of Fame]] in Toronto. The induction ceremony was held on September 12, 2009. They are the fifth band to receive the honour.<ref name="ind2009">{{cite web|url=http://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/news/the-stars-align-12th-annual-canadas-walk-fame|title=The Stars Align at the 12th Annual Canada's Walk of Fame|date=June 16, 2009|publisher=Canada's Walk of Fame|access-date=June 16, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090620081814/http://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/news/the-stars-align-12th-annual-canadas-walk-fame|archive-date=June 20, 2009|df=mdy-all}}</ref> | On June 16, 2009, it was announced that the band would receive a star on [[Canada's Walk of Fame]] in Toronto. The induction ceremony was held on September 12, 2009. They are the fifth band to receive the honour.<ref name="ind2009">{{cite web|url=http://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/news/the-stars-align-12th-annual-canadas-walk-fame|title=The Stars Align at the 12th Annual Canada's Walk of Fame|date=June 16, 2009|publisher=Canada's Walk of Fame|access-date=June 16, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090620081814/http://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/news/the-stars-align-12th-annual-canadas-walk-fame|archive-date=June 20, 2009|df=mdy-all}}</ref> | ||
Blue Rodeo was inducted into the [[Canadian Music Hall of Fame]] at the [[Juno Awards of 2012|41st Juno Awards]] on April 1, 2012,<ref>[https://ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/Blue+Rodeo+taking+well+deserved+place+Canada+cultural+history/6374354/story.html "Blue Rodeo taking a well-deserved place Canada's cultural history"]. ''[[Ottawa Citizen]]'', March 28, 2012.</ref> joining other Canadian music icons including [[Rush (band)|Rush]], [[Leonard Cohen]], [[Neil Young]], [[The Band]], [[Oscar Peterson]], [[Bruce Cockburn]], [[Daniel Lanois]], [[Joni Mitchell]], [[Anne Murray]] and [[Tom Cochrane]]. | Blue Rodeo was inducted into the [[Canadian Music Hall of Fame]] at the [[Juno Awards of 2012|41st Juno Awards]] on April 1, 2012,<ref>[https://ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/Blue+Rodeo+taking+well+deserved+place+Canada+cultural+history/6374354/story.html "Blue Rodeo taking a well-deserved place Canada's cultural history"]. ''[[Ottawa Citizen]]'', March 28, 2012.</ref> joining other Canadian music icons including [[Rush (band)|Rush]], [[Leonard Cohen]], [[Neil Young]], [[The Band]], [[Oscar Peterson]], [[Bruce Cockburn]], [[Daniel Lanois]], [[Joni Mitchell]], [[Anne Murray]] and [[Tom Cochrane]]. According to CARAS, on selecting Blue Rodeo as the 2012 inductee, "Spanning nearly three decades, Blue Rodeo has sold in excess of four million records and won an unprecedented 11 JUNO Awards, establishing themselves as one of the premier groups in Canadian music history."<ref>[http://canadianmusichalloffame.ca/inductees/blue-rodeo/ "Canadian Hall of Fame Inductees: Blue Rodeo 2012"], Retrieved April 5, 2012.</ref> | ||
According to CARAS, on selecting Blue Rodeo as the 2012 inductee, "Spanning nearly three decades, Blue Rodeo has sold in excess of four million records and won an unprecedented 11 JUNO Awards, establishing themselves as one of the premier groups in Canadian music history."<ref>[http://canadianmusichalloffame.ca/inductees/blue-rodeo/ "Canadian Hall of Fame Inductees: Blue Rodeo 2012"], Retrieved April 5, 2012.</ref> | |||
In May 2014, the band received a [[Governor General's Performing Arts Award]] (GGPAA) for Lifetime Artistic Achievement, Canada's highest honour in the performing arts.<ref>{{cite web|title=Blue Rodeo|url=http://ggpaa.ca/award-recipients/2014/blue-rodeo.aspx|website=Governor General's Performing Arts Awards|publisher=Governor General's Performing Arts Awards Foundation|access-date=July 25, 2014}}</ref> At the Gala honouring GGPAA recipients on May 10, the band delivered the evening's surprise finale. | In May 2014, the band received a [[Governor General's Performing Arts Award]] (GGPAA) for Lifetime Artistic Achievement, Canada's highest honour in the performing arts.<ref>{{cite web|title=Blue Rodeo|url=http://ggpaa.ca/award-recipients/2014/blue-rodeo.aspx|website=Governor General's Performing Arts Awards|publisher=Governor General's Performing Arts Awards Foundation|access-date=July 25, 2014}}</ref> At the Gala honouring GGPAA recipients on May 10, the band delivered the evening's surprise finale. | ||
The City of Toronto named Blue Rodeo Drive, a street in the [[Riverdale, Toronto|Riverdale]] neighbourhood near the band's studio, after the band in 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Friend |first1=David |title=Blue Rodeo Drive: Toronto country-rock act gets Toronto street named after them |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/blue-rodeo-drive-toronto-country-rock-act-gets-toronto-street-named-after-them/article_8c6636c0-d9ed-5bcc-880f-d6531a582246.html |access-date=8 February 2024 |work=Toronto Star |agency=The Canadian Press |date=31 May 2022 |language=en}}</ref> | The City of Toronto named Blue Rodeo Drive, a street in the [[Riverdale, Toronto|Riverdale]] neighbourhood near the band's studio, after the band in 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Friend |first1=David |title=Blue Rodeo Drive: Toronto country-rock act gets Toronto street named after them |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/blue-rodeo-drive-toronto-country-rock-act-gets-toronto-street-named-after-them/article_8c6636c0-d9ed-5bcc-880f-d6531a582246.html |access-date=8 February 2024 |work=Toronto Star |agency=The Canadian Press |date=31 May 2022 |language=en}}</ref> | ||
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==Television and film== | ==Television and film== | ||
* The entire band is seen on-screen backing [[Meryl Streep]] in the 1990 film ''[[Postcards from the Edge (film)|Postcards from the Edge]]''. Streep sings "I'm Checkin' Out", written by [[Shel Silverstein]]. | |||
* Blue Rodeo's song "Flying" appears on the [[Due South: The Original Television Soundtrack|soundtrack to the television show ''Due South'']] as track 10, album released in 1996. | * Blue Rodeo's song "Flying" appears on the [[Due South: The Original Television Soundtrack|soundtrack to the television show ''Due South'']] as track 10, album released in 1996. | ||
* Blue | * Blue Rodeo's song "Lost Together" (from [[Lost Together (Blue Rodeo album)|the album of the same name]]) is featured near the conclusion (and plays over the end credits) of ''[[Resident Alien (TV series)|Resident Alien]]'' season 3, episode 3 ("141 Seconds"). | ||
* The song "Hasn't Hit Me Yet" is played in a 2003 episode of the American television series | * The song "Hasn't Hit Me Yet" is played in a 2003 episode of the American television series [[Ed (TV series)|''Ed'']], as well as the 2015 British documentary, ''[[The Fear of 13]],'' about exonerated death row inmate [[Nick Yarris]]. | ||
* The songs "Try" and "Heart Like Mine" are played in the episode "Cupid's Quiver" of the TV show ''[[Friday the 13th The Series]]''. | * The songs "Try" and "Heart Like Mine" are played in the episode "Cupid's Quiver" of the TV show ''[[Friday the 13th The Series]]''. | ||
* The song "Bad Timing" is played towards the end of the season 4 finale of the hit Canadian show ''[[Corner Gas]]''. | * The song "Bad Timing" is played towards the end of the season 4 finale of the hit Canadian show ''[[Corner Gas]]''. | ||
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On January 1, 2017, Blue Rodeo took part in CBC's The Strombo Show's Hip 30, covering "[[Bobcaygeon (song)|Bobcaygeon]]".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbcmusic.ca/posts/17763/strombo-show-tragically-hip-30|title=The Strombo Show presents Hip 30|newspaper=CBC Music|access-date=December 21, 2016}}</ref> | On January 1, 2017, Blue Rodeo took part in CBC's The Strombo Show's Hip 30, covering "[[Bobcaygeon (song)|Bobcaygeon]]".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbcmusic.ca/posts/17763/strombo-show-tragically-hip-30|title=The Strombo Show presents Hip 30|newspaper=CBC Music|access-date=December 21, 2016}}</ref> | ||
[[File:Blue Rodeo at Slush Puppie Place (11.20.25).jpg|thumb|Blue Rodeo performs at [[Slush Puppie Place]] in [[Kingston, Ontario]] on November 20th, 2025]] | |||
Blue Rodeo hosts an annual concert each summer at [[Budweiser Stage]]. 2020 was the first time in years the concert did not take place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, the band performed on [[Citytv]]'s ''[[Budweiser Stage at Home]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livenationentertainment.com/2020/05/budweiser-stage-brings-summer-concerts-to-fans-homes-with-budweiser-stage-at-home/|title = Budweiser Stage Brings Summer Concerts to Fans' Homes with "Budweiser Stage at Home"|date = May 25, 2020}}</ref> | Blue Rodeo hosts an annual concert each summer at [[Budweiser Stage]]. 2020 was the first time in years the concert did not take place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, the band performed on [[Citytv]]'s ''[[Budweiser Stage at Home]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livenationentertainment.com/2020/05/budweiser-stage-brings-summer-concerts-to-fans-homes-with-budweiser-stage-at-home/|title = Budweiser Stage Brings Summer Concerts to Fans' Homes with "Budweiser Stage at Home"|date = May 25, 2020}}</ref> | ||
In 2025, they embarked on a 40th anniversary tour, playing shows in 22 cities across 8 provinces of Canada. The tour began on October 1st, 2025 with two shows at the [[Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium]] in [[Calgary]] and will conclude in January 2026 with two shows at [[Massey Hall]] in [[Toronto]]. They are joined on tour by [[Adam Baldwin (singer)|Adam Baldwin]], who is opening for them.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lapierre |first1=Megan |title=Blue Rodeo Celebrate 40th Anniversary with Canadian Tour |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/blue-rodeo-celebrate-40th-anniversary-with-canadian-tour |website=Exclaim! |access-date=21 November 2025}}</ref> | |||
==Personnel== | ==Personnel== | ||
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===Former members=== | ===Former members=== | ||
* [[Cleave Anderson]] – drums <small>(1984–1989)</small> | * [[Cleave Anderson]] – drums <small>(1984–1989)</small> | ||
* [[Bob Wiseman]] – piano, organ <small>(1984–1992)</small> | * [[Bob Wiseman]] – piano, organ, accordion <small>(1984–1992)</small> | ||
* Mark French – drums <small>(1989–1991)</small> | * Mark French – drums <small>(1989–1991)</small> | ||
* James Gray – piano, organ <small>(1992–2005; died 2013)</small> | * James Gray – piano, organ <small>(1992–2005; died 2013)</small> | ||
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* Bob Egan – pedal steel, mandolin, guitar <small>(2000–2016)</small> | * Bob Egan – pedal steel, mandolin, guitar <small>(2000–2016)</small> | ||
{{col-end}} | {{col-end}} | ||
===Timeline=== | |||
<timeline> | <timeline> | ||
ImageSize = width: | ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:25 | ||
PlotArea = left:100 bottom:60 top:0 right:40 | PlotArea = left:100 bottom:60 top:0 right:40 | ||
Alignbars = justify | Alignbars = justify | ||
DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy | DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy | ||
Period = from:01/01/1985 till:31/12/ | Period = from:01/01/1985 till:31/12/2025 | ||
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy | TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy | ||
ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1985 | ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1985 | ||
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bar:Jim Cuddy from:01/01/1985 till:end color:guitar width:3 | bar:Jim Cuddy from:01/01/1985 till:end color:guitar width:3 | ||
bar:Greg Keelor from:01/01/1985 till:end color:guitar width:3 | bar:Greg Keelor from:01/01/1985 till:end color:guitar width:3 | ||
bar:Colin Cripps from:01/01/2012 till:end color:guitar | |||
bar:Colin Cripps from:01/01/2012 till:end color:bvox width:3 | |||
bar:Kim Deschamps from:01/01/1992 till:31/12/1999 color:pdlstlin | bar:Kim Deschamps from:01/01/1992 till:31/12/1999 color:pdlstlin | ||
bar:Bob Egan from:01/01/2000 till:20/08/2016 color:pdlstlin | bar:Bob Egan from:01/01/2000 till:20/08/2016 color:pdlstlin | ||
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bar:Bob Egan from:01/01/2000 till:20/08/2016 color:guitar width:3 | bar:Bob Egan from:01/01/2000 till:20/08/2016 color:guitar width:3 | ||
bar:Jimmy Bowskill from:01/01/2017 till:end color:guitar width:7 | bar:Jimmy Bowskill from:01/01/2017 till:end color:guitar width:7 | ||
bar:Bob Wiseman from:01/01/1985 till:31/08/1992 color:keys | |||
bar:James Gray from:01/09/1992 till:31/05/2005 color:keys | |||
bar:Bob Wiseman from:01/01/1985 till:31/ | |||
bar:James Gray from:01/ | |||
bar:Bob Packwood from:01/06/2005 till:31/08/2008 color:keys | bar:Bob Packwood from:01/06/2005 till:31/08/2008 color:keys | ||
bar:Mike Boguski from:01/09/2008 till:end color:keys | bar:Mike Boguski from:01/09/2008 till:end color:keys | ||
bar:Bazil Donovan from:01/01/1985 till:end color:bass | bar:Bazil Donovan from:01/01/1985 till:end color:bass | ||
bar:Cleave Anderson from:01/01/1985 till:01/ | bar:Cleave Anderson from:01/01/1985 till:01/11/1989 color:drums | ||
bar:Mark French from:01/ | bar:Mark French from:01/12/1989 till:30/11/1991 color:drums | ||
bar:Glenn Milchem from:01/12/1991 till:end color:drums | bar:Glenn Milchem from:01/12/1991 till:end color:drums | ||
</timeline> | </timeline> | ||
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[[Category:Blue Rodeo| ]] | [[Category:Blue Rodeo| ]] | ||
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1984]] | [[Category:Musical groups established in 1984]] | ||
[[Category:Canadian country rock groups]] | [[Category:Canadian country rock groups]] | ||
[[Category:Alternative rock groups from Toronto]] | |||
[[Category:Juno Award for Single of the Year winners]] | [[Category:Juno Award for Single of the Year winners]] | ||
[[Category:Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductees]] | [[Category:Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductees]] | ||
Latest revision as of 14:32, 22 December 2025
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Blue Rodeo is a Canadian rock band formed in 1984 in Toronto, Ontario. They have released 16 full-length studio albums, four live recordings, one greatest hits album, and two video/DVDs, along with multiple solo albums, side projects, and collaborations.[1]
History
Founding
High school friends Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor began playing music professionally together after completing university. They put together several bands without commercial success in the late 1970s, releasing a single as Hi-Fi's in 1980.
Cuddy and Keelor moved to New York City in the early 1980s to further their music careers. There, they met keyboardist and fellow Canadian Bob Wiseman, who, at that time, was working as a producer. Upon returning to Toronto in the summer of 1984, the trio decided to form a band. The name "Blue Rodeo" had already been chosen for the new group when they met former David Wilcox drummer Cleave Anderson and asked him to join. Anderson, in turn, recommended his former bandmate in The Sharks, bassist Bazil Donovan, and the new band's lineup was essentially set.[2] On February 8, 1985, Blue Rodeo played their first show together at The Rivoli in Toronto;[3] one week later, they performed at Handsome Ned's "Honky Tonk Heart."[4]
Career
The band quickly earned a following in Toronto and was subsequently signed to Canadian independent record label Risque Disque. They entered the studio in 1986 with Rush producer Terry Brown and recorded several songs that would comprise Blue Rodeo's debut album, Outskirts. Released in March 1987, Outskirts met with moderate success in Canada until "Try" was released as a single in October of that year. The single was an immediate hit, going to number one on the RPM Country Tracks chart and number six on the RPM Top Singles chart, establishing Blue Rodeo as one of Canada's top new bands and carrying Outskirts to 4× Platinum status in sales. The music video for the single featured Keelor's then-girlfriend Michelle McAdorey, who soon had success with her own band, Crash Vegas.
In 1992, the band's song "After the Rain," written by Cuddy and Keelor, was the most-performed song in Canada.[5] By 1999 the band had sold more than two million albums in Canada.[6]
On August 5, 2013, former keyboard player James Gray died as the result of a heart attack. He was 52 years old.[7]
Canadian guitarist Colin Cripps joined Blue Rodeo as a full member in 2013 due to Greg Keelor's inability to play electric guitar live anymore because of hearing issues.[8]
In September 2015, Blue Rodeo released the protest song and video "Stealin All My Dreams" which "chronicle the failings of the current government," referring to the government under Prime Minister Stephen Harper.[9]
The band is a member of the Canadian charity Artists Against Racism.[10]
Solo work and collaborations
Cuddy, Keelor, Donovan, Boguski and Cripps have all released solo albums. Glenn Milchem performs his own solo music under the pseudonym "the swallows" and had co-founded, with his twin brother John, the rock duo Starvin Hungry. Keelor has also gone on to produce for other artists, notably alt-country group Cuff the Duke, who have also toured as support for Blue Rodeo.[11]
Blue Rodeo members have collaborated extensively with other notable Canadian artists, including Sarah McLachlan, The Tragically Hip, Burton Cummings, Great Big Sea, Jann Arden, The Sadies, Skydiggers, Cuff the Duke, Crash Vegas, Cowboy Junkies, Sarah Harmer, Jill Barber, and Kathleen Edwards.[12][13][14] They have won many Canadian music awards, including twelve Juno Awards and seven SOCAN awards.[15][16]
Awards and recognition
On June 16, 2009, it was announced that the band would receive a star on Canada's Walk of Fame in Toronto. The induction ceremony was held on September 12, 2009. They are the fifth band to receive the honour.[17]
Blue Rodeo was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame at the 41st Juno Awards on April 1, 2012,[18] joining other Canadian music icons including Rush, Leonard Cohen, Neil Young, The Band, Oscar Peterson, Bruce Cockburn, Daniel Lanois, Joni Mitchell, Anne Murray and Tom Cochrane. According to CARAS, on selecting Blue Rodeo as the 2012 inductee, "Spanning nearly three decades, Blue Rodeo has sold in excess of four million records and won an unprecedented 11 JUNO Awards, establishing themselves as one of the premier groups in Canadian music history."[19]
In May 2014, the band received a Governor General's Performing Arts Award (GGPAA) for Lifetime Artistic Achievement, Canada's highest honour in the performing arts.[20] At the Gala honouring GGPAA recipients on May 10, the band delivered the evening's surprise finale.
The City of Toronto named Blue Rodeo Drive, a street in the Riverdale neighbourhood near the band's studio, after the band in 2022.[21]
In 2024, Cuddy and Keelor were inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.[22] In the same year they were profiled in Dale Heslip's documentary film Blue Rodeo: Lost Together,[23] which was the winner of the Audience Award at the 2024 Whistler Film Festival.[24]
Television and film
- The entire band is seen on-screen backing Meryl Streep in the 1990 film Postcards from the Edge. Streep sings "I'm Checkin' Out", written by Shel Silverstein.
- Blue Rodeo's song "Flying" appears on the soundtrack to the television show Due South as track 10, album released in 1996.
- Blue Rodeo's song "Lost Together" (from the album of the same name) is featured near the conclusion (and plays over the end credits) of Resident Alien season 3, episode 3 ("141 Seconds").
- The song "Hasn't Hit Me Yet" is played in a 2003 episode of the American television series Ed, as well as the 2015 British documentary, The Fear of 13, about exonerated death row inmate Nick Yarris.
- The songs "Try" and "Heart Like Mine" are played in the episode "Cupid's Quiver" of the TV show Friday the 13th The Series.
- The song "Bad Timing" is played towards the end of the season 4 finale of the hit Canadian show Corner Gas.
- Blue Rodeo is the band appearing at the end of the 1990 film Postcards from the Edge.[25]
- The song "Try" is played in the background of the bar in the film Navy SEALs.
- Greg Keelor, one of the band's founding members, composed the soundtrack for the 2010 film Gunless. The soundtrack for the Canadian Western comedy also featured an original ballad by Blue Rodeo titled "Don't Let the Darkness in Your Head."[26]
Concerts
On August 11, 1988, the band played at the Erie County Fair in Hamburg, New York (a suburb of Buffalo). They were the headliners after a high school battle of the bands competition. The disastrous gig was the inspiration for their 1990 hit, "What Am I Doing Here."
As part of their 20th Anniversary celebrations in 2004, the "original five" lineup of Jim Cuddy, Greg Keelor, Bazil Donovan, Bob Wiseman and Cleave Anderson reunited for a live performance of five songs: "Heart Like Mine," "Try," "Diamond Mine," "Love and Understanding," and "Til I Am Myself Again." The set is included on the DVD In Stereovision: Blue Rodeo.
On Canada Day 2008, Blue Rodeo played on Parliament Hill. The band closed the show before the commencement of the fireworks and was joined on stage by several other artists to perform "Lost Together." On November 28, 2009 the band performed at half-time of the 97th Grey Cup. The band also performed live concerts for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.
Cuddy and Keelor performed at the annual Folk on the Rocks music festival in Yellowknife, NT from July 16 to 18, 2010.[27]
On October 19, 2010, Blue Rodeo played the music viral show BalconyTV[28] for a rare acoustic performance on a small Balcony overlooking Dame Street, Dublin.
On July 1, 2011, Blue Rodeo performed at Trafalgar Square as part of the Canada Day celebrations in London.
Blue Rodeo performed at their induction to the Canadian Music Hall of Fame during the Juno Awards of 2012 at Scotiabank Place in the community of Kanata in Ottawa, Ontario on Sunday, April 1, 2012. They took the stage with long-time friend and collaborator Sarah McLachlan and performed their 1992 hit single, "Lost Together." As the performance ended, the audience rose for a spirited standing ovation recognizing Blue Rodeo as "one of Canada's true musical treasures."[29]
On January 1, 2017, Blue Rodeo took part in CBC's The Strombo Show's Hip 30, covering "Bobcaygeon".[30]
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Blue Rodeo hosts an annual concert each summer at Budweiser Stage. 2020 was the first time in years the concert did not take place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, the band performed on Citytv's Budweiser Stage at Home.[31]
In 2025, they embarked on a 40th anniversary tour, playing shows in 22 cities across 8 provinces of Canada. The tour began on October 1st, 2025 with two shows at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium in Calgary and will conclude in January 2026 with two shows at Massey Hall in Toronto. They are joined on tour by Adam Baldwin, who is opening for them.[32]
Personnel
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Current members
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Former members
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Timeline
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Discography
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Studio albums
- Outskirts (1987)
- Diamond Mine (1989)
- Casino (1990)
- Lost Together (1992)
- Five Days in July (1993)
- Nowhere to Here (1995)
- Tremolo (1997)
- The Days in Between (2000)
- Palace of Gold (2002)
- Are You Ready (2005)
- Small Miracles (2007)
- The Things We Left Behind (2009)
- In Our Nature (2013)
- A Merrie Christmas to You (2014)
- 1000 Arms (2016)
- Many a Mile (2021)
Videography
- Video albums
- Blue Movies (1991)
- In Stereovision (2004) - Certified 3× Platinum by the CRIA.
- Toronto Rocks (SARSfest) (2004) - Canadian edition featuring Blue Rodeo.
- Video singles
- "Bulletproof" (from Watch This!) (2004)
- Soundtrack appearances
- "I'm Checkin' Out" with Meryl Streep (from Postcards from the Edge) (1990)
- Documentaries
- "Blue Rodeo - Lost Together" (2024)[33]
See also
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- Canadian rock
- Music of Canada
- Alternative country
- List of alternative country musicians
- List of bands from Canada
References
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- ↑ "Blue Rodeo taking a well-deserved place Canada's cultural history". Ottawa Citizen, March 28, 2012.
- ↑ "Canadian Hall of Fame Inductees: Blue Rodeo 2012", Retrieved April 5, 2012.
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- ↑ David Friend, "Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame: Sarah McLachlan, Tom Cochrane inducted". Global News, September 29, 2024.
- ↑ David Song, "'The music piece really resonates'". Pique Newsmagazine, November 29, 2024.
- ↑ Jamie Casemore, "Dale Heslip’s Blue Rodeo doc wins over Whistler audiences". Playback, December 16, 2024.
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External links
Template:Sister projectTemplate:Archival records
- Blue Rodeo Official Website
- Jim Cuddy Official Website
- Greg Keelor Official Website
- CanConRox entry
- Template:PAGENAMEBASE discography at Discogs
- Template:Trim/ Template:PAGENAMEBASE at IMDbTemplate:EditAtWikidataScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Blue Rodeo archives at the University of Toronto Media Commons
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Categories:
- Pages with script errors
- Pages with broken file links
- Blue Rodeo
- Musical groups established in 1984
- Canadian country rock groups
- Alternative rock groups from Toronto
- Juno Award for Single of the Year winners
- Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductees
- 1984 establishments in Ontario
- Articles which contain graphical timelines
- Canadian Country Music Association Rising Star Award winners
- Juno Award for Adult Alternative Album of the Year winners
- Juno Award for Group of the Year winners
- Governor General's Award winners