Rich Dodson
Encyclopedia
Rich Dodson is a Juno Award
winning singer, song-writer and producer. He is the guitarist and a founding member of Canadian Rock
trio, The Stampeders
. He is most well known for penning the groups' biggest hit, "Sweet City Woman
" which hit #1 in Canada, and #8 on Billboard
in 1971. He also wrote many other notable hits for the band such as "Wild Eyes" (1972), "Devil You" (1971), "Johnny Lightning" (1974) and "Carry Me" (1971).
Dodson has stated that his influences come from instrumental bands of the 1960s such as The Ventures
, and The Shadows
, as well as Lovin' Spoonful and The Zombies
. On stage, he is known for playing his self-designed Fender
double neck guitar
.
Dodson left the Stampeders in 1978 to pursue his interests in music production and built his own 24-track recording studio called Marigold Studios, where he produced his own solo material as well as produced and engineered "Fate Stay with Me" (1987) for Alanis Morissette
. In that same year, he began his nationally-distributed independent record label called Marigold Productions. Dodson went on to have a successful solo career with three top-ten hits in Canada including "Lookin' Back" (1981), "She's Comin' Back/Your Own Kind of Music" (1985), and "Cruel Emotion" (1986). In 1994, Dodson released his solo songs on an album called "Secret Hits" on Aquarius Records
.
In 1992, Dodson re-united with his Stampeders bandmates. The band continue to this day to tour Canada doing fairs, festivals, casinos and theatres.
In 1994, Dodson was inducted into the SOCAN Hall of Fame for composing "Sweet City Woman" and "Carry Me".
In February 2006, Dodson was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame
with "Sweet City Woman" His daughter, Holly Dodson is a singer-songwriter, vocalist, and key member in Canadian synth-pop trio Parallels (band)
.
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
winning singer, song-writer and producer. He is the guitarist and a founding member of Canadian Rock
Canadian rock
Canadian rock describes a wide and diverse variety of music produced by Canadians, beginning with American style rock 'n' roll in the mid-20th century. Since then Canada has had a considerable impact on the development of the modern popular music called rock...
trio, The Stampeders
The Stampeders
The Stampeders are a Canadian rock trio, consisting of Rich Dodson, Ronnie King, and Kim Berly.-Career:The band formed in Calgary, Alberta in 1964 as The Rebounds....
. He is most well known for penning the groups' biggest hit, "Sweet City Woman
Sweet City Woman
Sweet City Woman is a 1971 song by Canadian rock band The Stampeders. The song appeared on their debut album Against the Grain...
" which hit #1 in Canada, and #8 on Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
in 1971. He also wrote many other notable hits for the band such as "Wild Eyes" (1972), "Devil You" (1971), "Johnny Lightning" (1974) and "Carry Me" (1971).
Dodson has stated that his influences come from instrumental bands of the 1960s such as The Ventures
The Ventures
The Ventures is an American instrumental rock band formed in 1958 in Tacoma, Washington. Founded by Don Wilson and Bob Bogle, the group in its various incarnations has had an enduring impact on the development of music worldwide. With over 100 million records sold, the group is the best-selling...
, and The Shadows
The Shadows
The Shadows are a British pop group with a total of 69 UK hit-charted singles: 35 as 'The Shadows' and 34 as 'Cliff Richard and the Shadows', from the 1950s to the 2000s. Cliff Richard in casual conversation with the British rock press frequently refers to the Shadows by their nickname: 'The Shads'...
, as well as Lovin' Spoonful and The Zombies
The Zombies
The Zombies are an English rock band, formed in 1961 in St Albans and led by Rod Argent, on piano and keyboards, and vocalist Colin Blunstone. The group scored a UK and US hit in 1964 with "She's Not There"...
. On stage, he is known for playing his self-designed Fender
Fender
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, commonly referred to as simply Fender, of Scottsdale, Arizona is a manufacturer of stringed instruments and amplifiers, such as solid-body electric guitars, including the Stratocaster and the Telecaster...
double neck guitar
Double neck guitar
A multi-neck guitar is a guitar that has multiple fingerboard necks. They exist in both electric and acoustic versions. Although multi-neck guitars are quite common today, they are not by any means a modern invention...
.
Dodson left the Stampeders in 1978 to pursue his interests in music production and built his own 24-track recording studio called Marigold Studios, where he produced his own solo material as well as produced and engineered "Fate Stay with Me" (1987) for Alanis Morissette
Alanis Morissette
Alanis Nadine Morissette is a Canadian-American singer-songwriter, guitarist, record producer, and actress. She has won 16 Juno Awards and seven Grammy Awards, was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards and also shortlisted for an Academy Award nomination...
. In that same year, he began his nationally-distributed independent record label called Marigold Productions. Dodson went on to have a successful solo career with three top-ten hits in Canada including "Lookin' Back" (1981), "She's Comin' Back/Your Own Kind of Music" (1985), and "Cruel Emotion" (1986). In 1994, Dodson released his solo songs on an album called "Secret Hits" on Aquarius Records
Aquarius Records
Aquarius Records is an independent record label founded in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in 1969. The first president was Terry Flood and the other founding owners were Donald Tarlton, Bob Lemm, Dan Lazare and Jack Lazare. Originally the label was distributed by London Records of Canada.Among the first...
.
In 1992, Dodson re-united with his Stampeders bandmates. The band continue to this day to tour Canada doing fairs, festivals, casinos and theatres.
In 1994, Dodson was inducted into the SOCAN Hall of Fame for composing "Sweet City Woman" and "Carry Me".
In February 2006, Dodson was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame
Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame
The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame is a Canadian non-profit organization, founded in 1998 by Frank Davies, that inducts Canadians into their Hall of Fame within three different categories: songwriters, songs, and those others who have made a significant contribution with respect to...
with "Sweet City Woman" His daughter, Holly Dodson is a singer-songwriter, vocalist, and key member in Canadian synth-pop trio Parallels (band)
Parallels (band)
Parallels is a synthpop band formed in October 2008 in Toronto, Canada. The band consists of Holly Dodson , Cameron Findlay and Joey Kehoe .- History :...
.
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN |
CAN AC | CAN Country | ||
| 1972 | "Julia Get Up" | 11 | — | — |
| 1979 | "Give You That Love" | 79 | 23 | — |
| 1980 | "Natalie" | — | 16 | — |
| 1981 | "Lookin' Back" | — | 6 | — |
| 1982 | "Hollywood" | — | 20 | — |
| 1983 | "That's What I Say" | — | 22 | — |
| 1984 | "If You Got a Heart" | — | 17 | — |
| "Givin' It Up for Love" | — | 16 | — | |
| 1985 | "No Time to Say Goodbye" | — | 11 | — |
| "She's Comin' Back / Your Own Kind of Music" |
— | 8 | — | |
| 1986 | "Cruel Emotion" | — | 10 | 40 |
| "Lonely Lovers" (with Debbie Johnson) | — | 16 | — | |
| 1988 | "Holiday" | — | 17 | — |
| 1990 | "Cruel Emotion" | — | 26 | — |
| 1991 | "Love City" | — | 19 | — |
Stampeders songs written by Dodson
- "Morning magic" (1967)
- "Be a Woman" (1968)
- "Crosswalk" (1969)
- "Carry Me" (1971)
- "Sweet City WomanSweet City WomanSweet City Woman is a 1971 song by Canadian rock band The Stampeders. The song appeared on their debut album Against the Grain...
" (1971) - "Devil You" (1971)
- "Monday Morning Choo Choo" (1972)
- "Wild Eyes" (1972)
- "Johnny Lightning" (1973)
- "Running Wild" (1974)
- "Ramona" (1974)
- "San Diego" (1976)
- "Baby with you" (1984)
- "Oh Belinda" (1996)
- "Hometown Boy" (1997)