Blue Rodeo

Blue Rodeo

Blue Rodeo in concert, February 28, 2010 in Whistler, British Columbia
Background information
Origin Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres Country rock
Years active 1984 (1984)–present
Labels WEA, Warner Music Group, Rounder
Website bluerodeo.com
Members
Jim Cuddy
Bazil Donovan
Bob Egan
Greg Keelor
Glenn Milchem
Past members
Cleave Anderson
Kim Deschamps
Mark French
James Gray
Bob Packwood
Bob Wiseman

Blue Rodeo is a Canadian pop and country rock band, which was formed in 1984 in Toronto, Ontario. They have been signed with Warner Music Group since their debut album Outskirts in March 1987. Including Outskirts, they have 12 full-length releases along with multiple solo albums, side projects, and collaborations.

Contents

History

Band

The band consists of original members Jim Cuddy (guitar/vocals), Greg Keelor (guitar/vocals) and Bazil Donovan (bass), plus newer additions of Glenn Milchem (drums) and multi-instrumentalist Bob Egan (formerly of Wilco). Currently, musician Michael Boguski plays and tours with the band as keyboardist and he filled this role on the band's latest album, The Things We Left Behind. Drummers Cleave Anderson and Mark French, keyboardists Bob Wiseman, James Gray and Bob Packwood, and multi-instrumentalist Kim Deschamps are former band members.

Cuddy and Keelor met in high school and became great friends. After university, when all their other friends were starting to get jobs, they decided to form a band and started to play music more often. They put together a few different bands without much luck. They released a single as Hi-Fi's in 1980. Cuddy and Keelor moved to New York City for some adventure and to help their music. There they met Bob Wiseman. When they came back to Toronto in the summer of 1984 they thought about putting another band together. They had already thought of the name for the band before they met Cleave and asked him to join the band. Cleave brought along his friend, Donovan, and with this the band Blue Rodeo was born.[1] In 1985 Blue Rodeo played their first show together at The Rivoli in Toronto.[2]

Blue Rodeo is one of the most successful and well known contemporary Canadian bands, having released 12 full-length studio albums, three live recordings, one greatest hits package and five video/DVDs.[3] Their studio albums have sold over three million copies. Cuddy, Keelor, Donovan and Egan have all released solo albums, and Glenn Milchem performs his own solo music under the pseudonym "the swallows". 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.[4]

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, Crash Vegas, Cowboy Junkies, Sarah Harmer, Jill Barber, and Kathleen Edwards. They have won many Canadian music awards, including seven Juno Awards and seven SOCAN awards.

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.[5]

Band members


Television and film

Notable Performances

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 July 18, 2010.[8]

On October 19, 2010, Blue Rodeo played the music viral show BalconyTV[9] 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 in London celebrations.

On July 6, 2011, Blue Rodeo performed at the Winnipeg Folk Festival.

Discography

Studio albums

Videography

See also

References

External links

Preceded by
Theory of a Deadman
Grey Cup Halftime Show
2009
Succeeded by
Bachman & Turner