Ron Sexsmith
Encyclopedia
Ronald Eldon "Ron" Sexsmith (born 8 January 1964) is a Canadian
singer-songwriter
from St. Catharines, Ontario
, currently based in Toronto
. He started his own band when he was fourteen years old, and released the first recordings of his own material seven years later, in 1985. Some of the same artists who inspired Sexsmith—Paul McCartney
, Elvis Costello
, Ray Davies
and John Hiatt
—are now people whose praise he has won.
Sexsmith is the subject of a 2010 documentary, Love Shines
.
He decided to start writing songs after the birth of his first child, Christopher, in 1985. He moved to Toronto, formed a band called The Uncool, and released a cassette, Out of the Duff. A year later, he released There’s a Way. Next came the birth of his second child, Evelyne, in 1989.
Meanwhile, he worked as a courier, and released Grand Opera Lane in 1991. On the strength of this album, and the attention garnered by the song "Speaking with the Angels", Sexsmith earned a contract which led to his self-titled album in 1995. The album received wider attention when it was praised by Elvis Costello, for whom Sexsmith later opened.
in 2002. Retriever
, his next album, is a more pop-oriented album and is dedicated to Elliott Smith
and Johnny Cash
. In 2004, he performed at the RuhrTriennale
in the concert series Century of Song hosted by Grammy Award
-winner Bill Frisell
.
On 1 May 2001, Sexsmith performed "Just My Heart Talkin'" on the BBC
's Later... with Jools Holland musical showcase, alongside R.E.M.
, Orbital
, India.Arie
, and Clearlake
. Holland backed him on piano. It was his second appearance on the show. He continued to grow in popularity, and began to have some radio success, particularly on Canadian adult oriented radio.
In 2002, Sexsmith recorded a cover version of "This Is Where I Belong", the title track for a tribute album called This Is Where I Belong - The Songs of Ray Davies and the Kinks, and including contributions from Damon Albarn
, Bebel Gilberto
and Queens of the Stone Age
, among others. About this recording, Ray Davies later wrote, "he has a great voice". On 16 June 2011 Ron and his band performed the Kinks
' song "Misfits" with Ray Davies at the Meltdown Festival
in London
, England
.
The same year, he won a songwriter of the year Juno Award
for "Whatever it Takes".
Sexsmith's most recent album is Long Player Late Bloomer
, released 1 March 2011.
's Chris Martin
. Sexsmith sang on "An Elephant Insect" which appears on the 2003 Shonen Knife
album Heavy Songs
. In 2005, he released a collection of songs recorded with drummer Don Kerr
during the production of Retriever, called Destination Unknown
. Also in 2005, Sexsmith sang on the track "Song No. 6" by Norwegian singer-songwriter
Ane Brun
, which featured on her album A Temporary Dive
and again on her Duets
album later the same year. In 2006 he performed a duet of "So Long Marianne" with Leonard Cohen
in Yorkville, Toronto
.
In addition to Chris Martin, Sexsmith has a number of famous admirers, including Elvis Costello, Elton John
, Paul McCartney, Steve Earle
, and Sheryl Crow
, many of whom have covered Sexsmith's songs. His song "Secret Heart" has been covered by Rod Stewart
, Feist, and Nick Lowe
. Sexsmith co-wrote "Brandy Alexander" with Feist—versions appear on Sexsmith's Exit Strategy of the Soul
, and on Feist's international hit album The Reminder
. More recently, a version of Sexsmith's "Whatever It Takes" appeared on Michael Bublé
's 2009 album Crazy Love
In 2004, fellow Canadian singer-songwriter k.d. lang
covered Ron's song "Fallen" on her album Hymns of the 49th Parallel
. He also wrote the title song of Emmylou Harris' 2011 album, Hard Bargain
.
, directed by Douglas Arrowsmith
and produced by Paperny Films
. Love Shines
premiered at the 2010 Vancouver International Film Festival
on Friday, 8 October 2010.
His partner, Colleen Hixenbaugh, is also a musician. She is a member of By Divine Right
, half of the duo Jack and Ginger, and the duo Colleen and Paul with Paul Linklater.
album.
He has said, "...my main objective is to try and stay out of the way of the song. I want to write songs that are good whether I'm singing them or not."
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
from St. Catharines, Ontario
St. Catharines, Ontario
St. Catharines is the largest city in Canada's Niagara Region and the sixth largest urban area in Ontario, Canada, with 97.11 square kilometres of land...
, currently based in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. He started his own band when he was fourteen years old, and released the first recordings of his own material seven years later, in 1985. Some of the same artists who inspired Sexsmith—Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
, Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
, Ray Davies
Ray Davies
Ray Davies, CBE is an English rock musician. He is best known as lead singer and songwriter for the Kinks, which he led with his younger brother, Dave...
and John Hiatt
John Hiatt
John Hiatt is an American rock guitarist, pianist, singer, and songwriter. He has played a variety of musical styles on his albums, including New Wave, blues and country. Hiatt has been nominated for several Grammy Awards - although he has never won- and has been awarded a variety of other...
—are now people whose praise he has won.
Sexsmith is the subject of a 2010 documentary, Love Shines
Love Shines
Love Shines is a 2010 documentary film about Canadian songwriter Ron Sexsmith by filmmaker Douglas Arrowsmith. The film is produced by Paperny Films and commissioned by The Movie Network and Movie Central with funding from Astral Media’s Harold Greenberg Fund and the Rogers Documentary...
.
Early career
Sexsmith was seventeen when he started playing at a bar, the Lion's Tavern, in his hometown. He would gain a reputation as "The One-Man Jukebox" for his aptitude for playing requests. However, four to five years of this led him to play original songs and more obscure music his audience did not favour.He decided to start writing songs after the birth of his first child, Christopher, in 1985. He moved to Toronto, formed a band called The Uncool, and released a cassette, Out of the Duff. A year later, he released There’s a Way. Next came the birth of his second child, Evelyne, in 1989.
Meanwhile, he worked as a courier, and released Grand Opera Lane in 1991. On the strength of this album, and the attention garnered by the song "Speaking with the Angels", Sexsmith earned a contract which led to his self-titled album in 1995. The album received wider attention when it was praised by Elvis Costello, for whom Sexsmith later opened.
Increased success and recognition
Between 1997 and 2001, Sexsmith released three more albums before the acclaimed Cobblestone RunwayCobblestone Runway
Cobblestone Runway is a 2002 album from Canadian singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith. The album also features a second version of the song "Gold In Them Hills" as a bonus, featuring a duet vocal with Coldplay's Chris Martin...
in 2002. Retriever
Retriever (album)
Retriever is a 2004 album from Canadian singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith.-Track listing:# "Hard Bargain"# "Imaginary Friends"# "Not About to Lose"# "Tomorrow in Her Eyes"# "From Now On"# "For the Driver"# "Wishing Wells"# "Whatever It Takes"...
, his next album, is a more pop-oriented album and is dedicated to Elliott Smith
Elliott Smith
Steven Paul "Elliott" Smith was an American singer-songwriter and musician. Smith was born in Omaha, Nebraska, raised primarily in Texas, and resided for a significant portion of his life in Portland, Oregon, where he first gained popularity...
and Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
. In 2004, he performed at the RuhrTriennale
Ruhrtriennale
The Ruhrtriennale is an annual music and arts festival in the northwestern area of Germany which runs between mid-August and mid-October. It was founded in 2002 by the government of North Rhine-Westphalia with Gerard Mortier, the impresario and former artistic director of the Salzburg Festival, as...
in the concert series Century of Song hosted by Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
-winner Bill Frisell
Bill Frisell
William Richard "Bill" Frisell is an American guitarist and composer.One of the leading guitarists in jazz since the late 1980s, Frisell's eclectic music touches on progressive folk, classical music, country music, noise and more...
.
On 1 May 2001, Sexsmith performed "Just My Heart Talkin'" on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's Later... with Jools Holland musical showcase, alongside R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
, Orbital
Orbital (band)
Orbital are a British electronic dance music duo from Sevenoaks, England consisting of brothers Phil and Paul Hartnoll. Their career initially ran from 1989 until 2004, but in 2009 they announced that they would be reforming and headlining The Big Chill, in addition to a number of other live shows...
, India.Arie
India.Arie
India.Arie is a Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter and record producer . She has sold over 3.3 million records in the U.S. and 10 million worldwide. She has won four Grammy Awards from her 21 nominations, including Best R&B Album.-Background:Simpson was born in Denver, Colorado...
, and Clearlake
Clearlake (band)
Clearlake are an indie rock band, based in Brighton, England. The members of the band are:*Jason Pegg *David 'Woody' Woodward *Toby May *Jim Briffett -History:...
. Holland backed him on piano. It was his second appearance on the show. He continued to grow in popularity, and began to have some radio success, particularly on Canadian adult oriented radio.
In 2002, Sexsmith recorded a cover version of "This Is Where I Belong", the title track for a tribute album called This Is Where I Belong - The Songs of Ray Davies and the Kinks, and including contributions from Damon Albarn
Damon Albarn
Damon Albarn is an English singer-songwriter and record producer who has been involved in many high profile projects, coming to prominence as the frontman and primary songwriter of Britpop band Blur...
, Bebel Gilberto
Bebel Gilberto
Bebel Gilberto is a Brazilian popular singer often associated with bossa nova. She is the daughter of João Gilberto and singer Miúcha. Her uncle is singer/composer Chico Buarque...
and Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age is an American rock band from Palm Desert, California, United States, formed in 1997. The band's line-up has always included founding member Josh Homme , with the current line-up including longtime members Troy Van Leeuwen and Joey Castillo , alongside Michael Shuman and...
, among others. About this recording, Ray Davies later wrote, "he has a great voice". On 16 June 2011 Ron and his band performed the Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
' song "Misfits" with Ray Davies at the Meltdown Festival
Meltdown (festival)
Meltdown is an annual, English festival, held in London, featuring a mix of music, art, performance and film. Meltdown is held in June at Southbank Centre, the arts complex covering and including the Royal Festival Hall, the Queen Elizabeth Hall and The Hayward...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
The same year, he won a songwriter of the year Juno Award
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...
for "Whatever it Takes".
Sexsmith's most recent album is Long Player Late Bloomer
Long Player Late Bloomer
Long Player Late Bloomer is the 12th studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith, released in 2011.On June 16, the album was named as a longlisted nominee for the 2011 Polaris Music Prize...
, released 1 March 2011.
Collaborations and covers
Sexsmith has collaborated with many artists. A version of his song "Gold in Them Hills" from his 2002 album Cobblestone Runway features vocals from ColdplayColdplay
Coldplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...
's Chris Martin
Chris Martin
Christopher Anthony John "Chris" Martin is an English song-writer, who is the lead vocalist, pianist and rhythm guitarist of the band Coldplay. He is married to actress Gwyneth Paltrow.-Early life:...
. Sexsmith sang on "An Elephant Insect" which appears on the 2003 Shonen Knife
Shonen Knife
Shonen Knife, written in Japanese characters as 少年ナイフ, which transliterates as Shōnen Naifu, literally "Boy Knife," is an all-female Japanese pop-punk band formed in Osaka, Japan, in 1981...
album Heavy Songs
Heavy Songs
Heavy Songs is a 2002 album by the Japanese rock group Shonen Knife.-Track listing:#"A Map Master"#"AAA"#"Golden Years Of Rock'n Roll"#"Rubber Band"#"Heavy Song"#"A Boogie Monster"#"Mushroom Hair Cut"#"Whatever"#"Pigmy Jerboa"...
. In 2005, he released a collection of songs recorded with drummer Don Kerr
Don Kerr
Don Kerr is a Canadian multi-instrumentalist and record producer.He was a member of Rheostatics from 1995 to May 2001. He plays in Ron Sexsmith's band, and sometimes with The Kelele Brothers. He and Sexsmith released an album together, Destination Unknown, in 2005...
during the production of Retriever, called Destination Unknown
Destination Unknown (Ron Sexsmith album)
Destination Unknown is an album by Ron Sexsmith and Don Kerr, released in 2005.-Track listing:#"Listen" – 2:33#"One Less Shadow" – 2:53#"Lemonade Stand" – 3:31#"Reacquainted" – 3:26#"Chasing Forever" – 3:52#"Counting on Time" – 3:06...
. Also in 2005, Sexsmith sang on the track "Song No. 6" by Norwegian singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Ane Brun
Ane Brun
Ane Brun is a songwriter, guitarist and vocalist. Since 2003 she has recorded eight albums, four of which are studio albums, a live DVD and a collection of duets...
, which featured on her album A Temporary Dive
A Temporary Dive
A Temporary Dive is the second album by the Norwegian singer-songwriter Ane Brun, initially released in Norway and Sweden on 7 February 2005. The album debuted at #1 in her native Norway....
and again on her Duets
Duets (Ane Brun album)
-Track listing:#"Little Lights" – 4:11#"Lift Me" – 4:04#"Rubber & Soul" – 3:11#"This Road" – 3:56#"Stop" – 3:41...
album later the same year. In 2006 he performed a duet of "So Long Marianne" with Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
in Yorkville, Toronto
Yorkville, Toronto
Yorkville is a district in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, well known for its shopping. It is a former village, annexed by the City of Toronto. It is roughly bounded by Bloor Street to the south, Davenport Road to the north, Yonge Street to the east and Avenue Road to the west, and is considered part of...
.
In addition to Chris Martin, Sexsmith has a number of famous admirers, including Elvis Costello, Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
, Paul McCartney, Steve Earle
Steve Earle
Stephen Fain "Steve" Earle is an American singer-songwriter known for his rock and Texas Country as well as his political views. He is also a producer, author, a political activist, and an actor, and has written and directed a play....
, and Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Suzanne Crow is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, and actress. Her music incorporates elements of rock, folk, hip hop, country and pop...
, many of whom have covered Sexsmith's songs. His song "Secret Heart" has been covered by Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
, Feist, and Nick Lowe
Nick Lowe
Nicholas Drain "Nick" Lowe , is an English singer-songwriter, musician and producer.A pivotal figure in UK pub rock, punk rock and new wave, Lowe has recorded a string of well-reviewed solo albums. Along with vocals, Lowe plays guitar, bass guitar, piano and harmonica...
. Sexsmith co-wrote "Brandy Alexander" with Feist—versions appear on Sexsmith's Exit Strategy of the Soul
Exit Strategy of the Soul
Exit Strategy of the Soul is the title of the 2008 studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith.-Track listing:All songs by Ronald Eldon Sexsmith except when specified#"Spiritude"#"This Is How I Know"#"One Last Round"#"Ghost of a Chance"...
, and on Feist's international hit album The Reminder
The Reminder
The Reminder is the third full-length album by indie artist Feist. It was released on April 23, 2007 in countries outside of North America, and May 1, 2007 in the United States and Canada....
. More recently, a version of Sexsmith's "Whatever It Takes" appeared on Michael Bublé
Michael Bublé
Michael Steven Bublé is a Canadian singer. He has won several awards, including three Grammy Awards and multiple Juno Awards. His first album reached the top ten in Canada and the UK. He found worldwide commercial success with his 2005 album It's Time, and his 2007 album Call Me Irresponsible was...
's 2009 album Crazy Love
Crazy Love (Michael Bublé album)
Crazy Love is the fourth studio album released by Canadian vocalist Michael Bublé. After only three days of sales, the album opened atop the Billboard 200 chart with 132,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan, making the album Bublé's second number #1 album...
In 2004, fellow Canadian singer-songwriter k.d. lang
K.D. Lang
Kathryn Dawn Lang, OC , known by her stage name k.d. lang, is a Canadian pop and country singer-songwriter and occasional actress...
covered Ron's song "Fallen" on her album Hymns of the 49th Parallel
Hymns of the 49th Parallel
Hymns of the 49th Parallel is the ninth studio album by Canadian singer and songwriter k.d. lang, released in 2004. It is an album of songs by Lang's favourite Canadian songwriters, and includes remake version of her original composition initially appeared on 2000 album Invincible Summer.-Title:The...
. He also wrote the title song of Emmylou Harris' 2011 album, Hard Bargain
Hard Bargain (Emmylou Harris album)
Hard Bargain is a country/folk album by Emmylou Harris, released on 26 April 2011, recorded at Tragedy/Tragedy, TN. It marks the 26th studio album from Harris and her third solo recording for Nonesuch Records....
.
On film
Ron Sexsmith is the subject of the film Love ShinesLove Shines
Love Shines is a 2010 documentary film about Canadian songwriter Ron Sexsmith by filmmaker Douglas Arrowsmith. The film is produced by Paperny Films and commissioned by The Movie Network and Movie Central with funding from Astral Media’s Harold Greenberg Fund and the Rogers Documentary...
, directed by Douglas Arrowsmith
Douglas Arrowsmith
Douglas Arrowsmith is a Canadian film director and writer. He has produced award-winning current affairs documentaries and video stories for CBC News Network, as well as feature-length films for BBC Four, The Movie Network and HBO Canada....
and produced by Paperny Films
Paperny Films
Paperny Entertainment is a Vancouver-based, Academy Award nominated producer of television programming and films, ranging from character-driven documentaries to provocative comedy to quirky reality shows...
. Love Shines
Love Shines
Love Shines is a 2010 documentary film about Canadian songwriter Ron Sexsmith by filmmaker Douglas Arrowsmith. The film is produced by Paperny Films and commissioned by The Movie Network and Movie Central with funding from Astral Media’s Harold Greenberg Fund and the Rogers Documentary...
premiered at the 2010 Vancouver International Film Festival
Vancouver International Film Festival
The Vancouver International Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada for two weeks in late September and early October...
on Friday, 8 October 2010.
Personal life
Sexsmith has two children with his ex-wife Jocelyne: a son, Christopher (born in 1985); and a daughter, Evelyne (born in 1989). Their fifteen-year marriage ended in 2001.His partner, Colleen Hixenbaugh, is also a musician. She is a member of By Divine Right
By Divine Right
By Divine Right is a Canadian indie rock band, led by guitarist and vocalist José Miguel Contreras.-History:The band was formed in 1989 by high school friends Contreras, drummer Mark Goldstein, bassist Liz Teear and guitarist Steve Berman. They put out a number of independent releases before...
, half of the duo Jack and Ginger, and the duo Colleen and Paul with Paul Linklater.
Style
His first five albums are generally melancholic pop folk with elegant melodies, accentuated use of guitars and economic application of other instruments. On his sixth album, Cobblestone Runway, producer Martin Terefe supplemented this style with, among other things, synthesizers, back-up singers, gospel choirs, and string sections. Retriever is considered his most pop-influencedPop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
album.
He has said, "...my main objective is to try and stay out of the way of the song. I want to write songs that are good whether I'm singing them or not."
Success
In a July 1999 interview, a Triste Magazine contributor said the following: "Every record seems to get great reviews, but then your sales don't ever really match." Sexsmith responded, Sexsmith has since had quite a bit of success on Canadian adult oriented radio.Albums
- 1991: Grand Opera Lane (independent, produced by Bob WisemanBob WisemanBob Wiseman is a Juno winning Canadian musician, filmmaker, singer-songwriter, and actor. Wiseman was an original member of Blue Rodeo.-Career:Wiseman was raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He studied piano at York University...
, with The Uncool) - 1995: Ron SexsmithRon Sexsmith (album)Ron Sexsmith is the major label debut album of Canadian singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith, released in 1995.-Track listing:#"Secret Heart" – 3:16#"There's a Rhythm" – 3:11#"Words We Never Use" – 3:04#"Summer Blowin' Town" – 2:19...
(Interscope/Warner, produced by Mitchell Froom, ("there's a rhythm" produced by Daniel Lanois) - 1997: Other Songs (Interscope/Warner)
- 1999: Whereabouts (Interscope/Warner)
- 2001: Blue BoyBlue Boy (album)Blue Boy is a 2001 album from Canadian singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith. It was recorded in Nashville, and was produced by Steve Earle and his partner Ray Kennedy as the "Twangtrust." It includes a cover of the Kyp Harness song "Thumbelina Farewell."...
(produced by Steve EarleSteve EarleStephen Fain "Steve" Earle is an American singer-songwriter known for his rock and Texas Country as well as his political views. He is also a producer, author, a political activist, and an actor, and has written and directed a play....
and Ray Kennedy) - 2002: Cobblestone RunwayCobblestone RunwayCobblestone Runway is a 2002 album from Canadian singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith. The album also features a second version of the song "Gold In Them Hills" as a bonus, featuring a duet vocal with Coldplay's Chris Martin...
(produced by Martin Terefe) - 2003: RaritiesRarities (Ron Sexsmith album)Rarities is a 2003 album from Canadian singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith.-Track listing:# "On a Whim"# "Almost Always"# "Good Old Desk"# "You Were There"# "Same Old Eyes"# "Tears Behind the Shades"# "Blade of Grass"# "Too Late"# "Words We Never Use"...
- 2004: RetrieverRetriever (album)Retriever is a 2004 album from Canadian singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith.-Track listing:# "Hard Bargain"# "Imaginary Friends"# "Not About to Lose"# "Tomorrow in Her Eyes"# "From Now On"# "For the Driver"# "Wishing Wells"# "Whatever It Takes"...
(Warner) - 2005: Destination UnknownDestination Unknown (Ron Sexsmith album)Destination Unknown is an album by Ron Sexsmith and Don Kerr, released in 2005.-Track listing:#"Listen" – 2:33#"One Less Shadow" – 2:53#"Lemonade Stand" – 3:31#"Reacquainted" – 3:26#"Chasing Forever" – 3:52#"Counting on Time" – 3:06...
(V2, with Don KerrDon KerrDon Kerr is a Canadian multi-instrumentalist and record producer.He was a member of Rheostatics from 1995 to May 2001. He plays in Ron Sexsmith's band, and sometimes with The Kelele Brothers. He and Sexsmith released an album together, Destination Unknown, in 2005...
, released as Sexsmith & Kerr) - 2006: Time BeingTime BeingTime Being is an album by Ron Sexsmith, released in 2006. It was produced by Mitchell Froom.-Track listing:#"Hands of Time"#"Snow Angel"#"All in Good Time"#"Never Give Up"#"I Think We're Lost"#"Reason for Our Love"#"Cold Hearted Wind"...
(Warner, also released in 2007 by Coppertree Records UK on 180g vinyl) - 2008: Exit Strategy of the SoulExit Strategy of the SoulExit Strategy of the Soul is the title of the 2008 studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith.-Track listing:All songs by Ronald Eldon Sexsmith except when specified#"Spiritude"#"This Is How I Know"#"One Last Round"#"Ghost of a Chance"...
(Yep Roc) - 2011: Long Player Late BloomerLong Player Late BloomerLong Player Late Bloomer is the 12th studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith, released in 2011.On June 16, the album was named as a longlisted nominee for the 2011 Polaris Music Prize...
Other contributions
- 1999: Bleecker Street: Greenwich Village In The 60's - "Reason To Believe"
- 2002: This Is Where I Belong - The Songs of Ray Davies & The Kinks - "This Is Where I Belong"
- 2002: WYEP Live and Direct: Volume 4 - On Air PerformancesWYEP Live and Direct: Volume 4 - On Air PerformancesWYEP Live and Direct: Volume 4 - On Air Performances is a compilation album made of songs that were performed by various artists live on WYEP. WYEP is a non-commercial, community-supported radio station that specializes in eclectic music and programming...
- "Just My Heart Talking" - 2002: Maybe This Christmas - "Maybe This Christmas"
- 2003: Beautiful: A Tribute to Gordon LightfootBeautiful: A Tribute to Gordon LightfootBeautiful: A Tribute to Gordon Lightfoot is a tribute album to Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot, released in 2003 on Borealis Records.-Track listing:# Cowboy Junkies, "The Way I Feel"# Jesse Winchester, "Sundown"# Ron Sexsmith, "Drifters"...
- "Drifters" - 2004: Beautiful Dreamer - The Songs of Stephen Foster - "Comrades Fill No Glass For Me"
- 2008: Northern Songs: Canada's Best and BrightestNorthern Songs: Canada's Best and BrightestNorthern Songs: Canada's Best and Brightest is a compilation album of songs performed by some of Canada's "best and brightest" musicians, released in September 2008 under Rhino Records and sold exclusively at Starbucks locations through their Hear Music label.-Track listing:#Feist -...
- "All in Good Time" - 2008: Redeye 2008 Holiday Sampler - "Something To Hold On To (At Christmas)"
The Kelele Brothers
- Escape from Bover County (Gas Station Recordings)
- Has-Beens & Wives (Gas Station Recordings)
External links
- Ron Sexsmith interview on CBC'sCanadian Broadcasting CorporationThe Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
The Hour