Jim Cuddy OC |
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Jim Cuddy with Blue Rodeo in 2005 at the Spencerville Fair
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Background information | |
Birth name | James Gordon Cuddy |
Born | December 2, 1955 |
Origin | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
Genres | Country, rock |
Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
Instruments | Guitar, piano, mandolin, vocals |
Years active | 1978–present |
Labels | Warner Music Canada |
Associated acts | Blue Rodeo, The Jim Cuddy Band |
Website | jimcuddy |
James Gordon Cuddy, OC (born December 2, 1955) is a Canadian singer-songwriter primarily associated with the band Blue Rodeo.
Cuddy was born in Toronto, Ontario. His Mother was an English teacher at Monarch Park Secondary School. He attended North Toronto Collegiate Institute, where he met and befriended Greg Keelor, his future bandmate. He also went to Upper Canada College and Queen's University.
After graduating from university, Cuddy and Keelor formed a band called the Hi-Fis along with Jim Sublett on drums and Malcolm Schell playing bass. The band released a single in 1980 featuring "I Don't Know Why (You Love Me)" and on the B side "Look What You've Done". The record was not a commercial success, and when they couldn't get a record deal in Toronto, they headed off to New York. In New York they met keyboardist Bob Wiseman, but were still unable to arrange a recording contract. They later moved back to Toronto.
In 1984 Cuddy and Keelor formed a new band, Blue Rodeo, with Wiseman, and recruited Basil Donovan on bass and Cleave Anderson on drums as backup. Since that time, Cuddy has continued to lead the band, which has toured extensively and released 21 albums.
Cuddy performs and has recorded three albums with the Jim Cuddy Band, featuring musicians Bazil Donovan, Colin Cripps, Joel Anderson, Anne Lindsay and Gavin Brown. Guest performers include Kathleen Edwards, former Weeping Tile member Sarah Harmer, and Wilco's Jeff Tweedy.