Blue Rodeo

2014 Lifetime Artistic Achievement (Popular Music)

Rock band

With sales of more than four million records and an unprecedented eleven JUNO Awards, Blue Rodeo have established themselves as one of Canada’s leading contemporary rock bands. Their success and longevity are widely attributed to their love of touring, their active connection with their fans, and their unwavering commitment to pushing their creative limits. Blending country, blues, folk and rock influences, Blue Rodeo deliver a consistently recognizable, engaging sound while reinventing themselves with every new album and project. They released their 13th studio album, In Our Nature, in 2013.

Blue Rodeo was founded in 1984 by lead singers, guitarists and songwriters Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor. The band’s current membership also includes founding member Bazil Donovan (bass), Glenn Milchem (drums/vocals), Bob Egan (guitar/pedal steel, mandolin), Mike Boguski (keyboards), and Colin Cripps (guitar/vocals).

The band played their first show in 1985 at The Rivoli in Toronto and quickly developed a loyal following on the Toronto music circuit. Their debut album Outskirts (1987), featuring the hit single “Try,” went double platinum, selling over 200,000 copies in Canada and launching a three-decade-long career of headlining almost every club, theatre and arena in the country. Blue Rodeo continue to tour extensively across Canada (including to remote northern communities) and the United States, and perform regularly at benefit concerts and charity events in support of causes ranging from school music programs to community health initiatives and disaster relief.

To date, they have released thirteen full-length studio albums, three live recordings, one greatest hits package, and five video/DVDs. Highlights include Lost Together (1992, double platinum), the acoustic-based Five Days in July (1993, sales of over 600,000 copies), Nowhere to Here (1995, double platinum), and Palace of Gold (2002, platinum). They have also collaborated with such accomplished artists as Jann Arden, Jill Barber, Cowboy Junkies, Crash Vegas, Burton Cummings, Kathleen Edwards, Great Big Sea, Sarah Harmer, Kris Kristofferson, Sarah McLachlan, The Sadies, Skydiggers, and The Tragically Hip.

Blue Rodeo’s awards and honours include a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame, membership in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, 15 SOCAN Classics Awards and National Achievement Award, and the keys to the City of Toronto. Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor were appointed Officers of the Order of Canada in 2013.