Reid Jamieson
| Reid Jamieson | |
|---|---|
 Reid Jamieson 2009 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Reid Allan Jamieson |
| Born |
October 20, 1973 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Genres | Singer-songwriter, Indie rock, folk rock, pop |
| Occupations | Singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist |
| Instruments | Voice, guitar, ukulele, harmonica |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Associated acts | Alvy, Vinyl Cafe Cowboy Junkies Blue Rodeo |
| Website | reidjamieson.com |
Reid Jamieson is a Canadian singer songwriter born October 20, 1973 in Toronto, Ontario.
About
Reid Jamieson is a Canadian singer songwriter, Canadian Musician born and raised in Toronto Ontario and currently living in Vancouver British Columbia. Jamieson is a regular member of the CBC's The Vinyl Cafe and recently won the grand prize for Folk in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest for the song RAIL, co-written with his songwriting partner and wife Carolyn Victoria Mill. Together they champion several causes, often writing songs to promote awareness including food banks, drunk driving, organ donation, Idle No More, and the benefits of a plant-based diet. Comparisons have been made to a male k.d. Lang, a poor man's Michael Bublé or Roy Orbison's long lost song, owing to his considerable vocal abilities.
Jamieson has released six solo albums and records many of them at home.
2004's The Unavoidable Truth, distributed by Universal Music Canada. Produced by Josh Finlayson, The Unavoidable Truth features guest appearances from Sarah Harmer, Mia Sheard, Peter Elkas, John Southworth and Bob Egan (Blue Rodeo, Wilco) .
In 2006 Jamieson became a member of the CBC's The Vinyl Cafe Orchestra and has toured and recorded with them several times. Jamieson moved from Toronto to Vancouver Island (Victoria BC), and then to Vancouver BC to write for his next album.
In August 2007 Jamieson released a '50s era tribute to Elvis Presley named The Presley Sessions. This album was originally titled 'For the Colonel, with Love' as it was recorded as a birthday present for his long-time sweetheart/co-writer and manager Carolyn V. Mill - affectionately nicknamed "the Colonel" after Presley's rambunctious and opportunistic manager Colonel Tom Parker. Together since their first kiss on stage at The Rivoli in Toronto on Valentines Day 2002, the couple got engaged in Hawaii, March 2009 and then married in Stanley Park Vancouver BC October 2, 2010. This husband and wife duo often perform together, blending comedy and harmonies.
In October 2009 Jamieson released a stripped down version of 6 new songs on an EP titled Courting Juniper produced by Byron Kent Wong (David Usher, The Crystal Method) in Toronto, and recorded by Michael Frost of Blackfish Sound in Vancouver. Jamieson toured with CBC's Vinyl Cafe in October 2009. Air date November 14, 15, 17, 2009.
September 2010 Jamieson released 14 track all original album titled Staring Contest. The album features Samantha Parton (Be Good Tanyas), Anne Lindsay (Blue Rodeo) on violin, and fellow Vinyl Cafe bandmate John Sheard on piano. Recorded at various home studios with good friend Michael Frost in Vancouver and mastered with care by Joao Carvalho. Garden gnomes, school crushes, unstoppable trains and no less than three proposals can be found within the lyrics of this collection. The CD release concert was held September 18, 2010 at St James Hall in Vancouver BC.
The album Staring Contest was remastered and a couple of songs cut from the track listing, with the final version of Staring Contest (remastered) being released in May 2011 with 11 tracks.
In 2012 Reid released a collection of winter-themed songs titled Songs For A Winter's Night. Taking a holiday from the usual well worn fare with a couple of festive new originals, plus interpretations of Bruce Cockburn, Nick Lowe, Gordon Lightfoot, Willie Nelson, Steve Miller Band and Tori Amos. Reid sings every note, playing all instruments himself, with the exception of a couple of cameos by fellow Vancouverite Steve Dawson on banjo and slide. Recorded at home, all songs were chosen by Reid’s wife and musical partner Carolyn Victoria Mill, who also co-wrote two of the three original songs on the record. "This Could Be The Year" was written as a tongue-in-cheek ode to The Stanley Cup, And "Sentimental Song", which is dedicated to his late mother and was chosen as a semi-finalist in the International Songwriting Contest, and as a finalist in the Great American Songwriting Contest and the UK Songwriting Contest.
Reid recorded and performed the song "Take Heart (Elbow Room) on the Cowboy Junkies present The Kennedy Suite. He performed the song live with Margo Timmins at the release at The Winter Garden Theatre in Toronto On Nov 22a and 23, 2013.
Jamieson is well known for his compelling covers of cult and classic songs, and his web site boasts a large collection of cover songs on 'Reido Radio', free to anyone who visits. With original takes on everything from Madonna to Lionel Richie, including a rendition of Roy Orbison's "In Dreams" as well as the theme to CTV's Littlest Hobo. Jamieson covered the theme song from the 1997 film Titanic, "My Heart Will Go On", to much acclaim.
Jamieson has been described as somewhere between Neil Young and Paul Young. Comparisons have also been made to Roy Orbison, Neil Finn, Damien Rice, Jeff Buckley, Glenn Tilbrook, Ron Sexsmith, Chris Martin and Gram Parsons. He is often said to resemble fellow vegetarian Morrissey.
Jamieson lost his mother, Brenda Jamieson (née Bridge) to ovarian cancer when he was 15; she was only 35.
His great-uncle also performs; Howie James is his father's uncle who changed his name for show business reasons. Jamieson recently produced a record of all original music for Howie in Nanaimo BC called Don't Be Ashamed featuring John Sheard and Anne Lindsay. Howie was 75 years young at the time or writing and releasing this record.
"Rail" won the grand prize for folk in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest for 2011. The song "Rail" was featured in episode 9 of the TV series Being Human (International version). "Rail" placed in the top 10 of Shore 104's Song Search in 2010.
Song Placements: Jamieson's song "Paperback Fanstasy" appeared on the soundtrack for the movie DAKOTA. . Jamieson's song "My Green Thumb" was used in Chris & John to the Rescue! Summer Camp Episode 6. Jamieson's song "Grass & Dirt" is featured in the The Kate Logan Affair, a 2010 Canadian drama film starring Alexis Bledel and Laurent Lucas, written and directed by Noël Mitrani.
In honour of his friend Stuart Mclean's 65th birthday in April 2013 Reid wrote and released a song called "Hey Big Kid" which included a slide show of the popular host of The Vinyl Cafe.
Discography
Songs For A Winter's Night (Nov 2012)
Staring Contest (Final Version) (May 2011)
Staring Contest (pre-release September 2010)
Courting Juniper EP (2009)
The Presley Sessions (2007)
The Unavoidable truth (2004)
The Noise In My Chest EP (2003)
Cowlick Bravado (2001)'
Reid Jamieson also appears on
The Cowboy Junkies present The Kennedy Suite - 2012
Howie James - Don't Be Ashamed - 2008
Tucksy - The EP 2008
Theresa Sokyrka - Wrapped In Ribbon
The Swallows - The Beauty of Our Surroundings - 2002
Lewis Melville- 60 second songs- 2002
Pop Shop - Alvy(2000)
Alvy - Alvy - (1996)
External links
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