More Info on Gordon DownieSimilar Undetermined MusicSearch Artistopia
Biography
Use dmy dates|date=March 2012Refimprove|blp|date=August 2010Infobox musical artist | name = Gordon Downie| image = The Hip 03.jpg| caption = Gordon Downie performing in Ottawa, Ontario| image_size =| background = solo_singer| birth_name =| alias =| birth_date = birth date and age|df=yes|1964|2|6|birth_place = Amherstview, Ontario | death_date =| origin = Kingston, Ontario , Canada| instrument = Vocals, guitar| genre = Rock, alternative rock | occupation = Musician, actor| years_active = 1983–present| label =| associated_acts = The Tragically Hip , The Country of Miracles| website = URL| http://www.wienerart.net| notable_instruments =Gordon Edgar Downie (born 6 February 1964) is a Canadian rock musician, writer and occasional actor. He is the lead singer and lyricist for the Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip. He has released three solo albums, Coke Machine Glow in 2001, Battle of the Nudes in 2003, and The Grand Bounce in 2010. On each album he was backed by The Country of Miracles.cite web|title=Snob's Music: Gord Downie & the Country of Miracles: "The Grand Bounce" (album review)|url= http://www.snobsmusic.net/2010/05/gord-downie-country-of-miracles-grand.html|accessdate=30 March 2012 The Grand Bounce is credited to Gord Downie and The Country of Miracles.
Career
Gordon Downie (also called Gord Downie) formed The Tragically Hip with Rob Baker, Johnny Fay, Davis Manning, and Gord Sinclair in 1983. Saxophone player Davis Manning left the band and guitarist Paul Langlois joined in 1986.cite web|title=The Tragically Hip|url= http://canadianmusichalloffame.ca/inductees/the-tragically-hip/|publisher=2010 Canada Music Hall of Fame|accessdate=29 March 2012 Originally, the band started off playing covers songs in bars and quickly became famous once MCA Records president, Bruce Dickinson, saw them performing at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto and offered them a record deal.cite web|title=The Tragically Hip Biography|url= http://www.starpulse.com/Music/Tragically_Hip,_The/Biography/|publisher=Starpluse.com|accessdate=30 March 2012 This much-loved Canadian band has won over many fans through the incorporation of Downie’s stories and myths about life in Canada in his songs, and his wild antics and rantings on stage.cite web|first=delunser|title=Gordon Downie's Biography|url= http://www.last.fm/music/Gordon+Downie/+wiki|publisher=Last.fm|accessdate=30 March 2012 In 2001, Downie diverted from the band and started his solo career with the release of his album Coke Machine Glow . Along with this release he published his first poetry and prose book named after his solo album.cite web|last=Wilson|first=MacKenzie|title=Gordon Downie Biography|url= http://music.yahoo.com/gordon-downie/biography/|publisher=Yahoo& #33; Inc.|accessdate=30 March 2012 He went on to create a second solo albums, Battle of the Nudes in 2003. After making three more albums with The Tragically Hip, made The Grand Bounce in 2010, which is credited to Gord Downie and the Country of Miracles.cite web|title=Gord Downie – The Grand Bounce|url= http://www.gorddownie.com/albums.html|publisher=Gord Downie|accessdate=30 March 2012 The Country of Miracles have backed Downie for each of his solo albums, but this is the first album to be credited this way. This is also the first album to have Death Cab for Cutie 's Chris Walla involved in the production.cite web|title=Snob's Music: Gord Downie & the Country of Miracles: "The Grand Bounce" (album review)|url= http://www.snobsmusic.net/2010/05/gord-downie-country-of-miracles-grand.html|accessdate=30 March 2012
Collaborations
Gordon Downie has collaborated with fellow Canadian and international artists. His most famous Canadian collaborations are with Richard Terfry (better known as Buck 65 ), Dallas Green (musician)|Dallas Green of City and Colour , and The Sadies . These collaborations do not include the musicians who have helped Gordon Downie to create his solo albums.
Richard Terfry collaborated with Gordon Downie on the song Whispers of the Waves off the album 20 Odd Years . Richard composed the track and with the help of Charles Austen, his co-writer, decided Gordon's vocals would be the best fit for their song. http://www.nme.com/nme-video/youtube/id/xN_CGw48nrE
In his solo project City and Colour, Dallas_Green_(musician)|Dallas Green had Gordon Downie sing on the track Sleeping_Sickness_(song)| Sleeping Sickness off City and Colour's hit album Bring Me Your Love . The album debuted at number 11 of the Top Heatseekers chart in March 2008.
Gordon has begun a new project with The Sadies, a Toronto band most noted for their 2010 Polaris Music Prize nomination. Gordon commented on working with the Sadies, saying, "I enjoy getting together with those guys; it's a whole other universe. They're writing all the music and I'm writing all the lyrics and we're coming up with some neat stuff. You do it for the company but I'm genuinely shocked by the themes and things you touch on based on the music you're singing to. That's really compelling to me." He also says they are planning on creating ten songs together.cite news|last=Khanna|first=Vish|title=Gord Downie Sheds Light on Collaborative Album with the Sadies|url= http://exclaim.ca/News/Gord_Downie_Sheds_Light_on_Collaborative_Album_with_Sadies|accessdate=30 March 2012|newspaper=Exclaim!
In other media
Downie has cameo appearances in Men with Brooms , in which The Tragically Hip play a curling team.cite web|title=Men with Brooms (2002) – Trivia|url= http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0263734/trivia|publisher=IMDb.com, Inc.|accessdate=30 March 2012 Downie also made a cameo appearance in the 2008 indie drama Nothing Really Matters , directed by Jean-Marc Piché.cite web|title=Gord Downie – Filmography by type|url= http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0970841/filmotype|publisher=IMDb.com, Inc.|accessdate=30 March 2012 Downie also appears in the Trailer Park Boys movie Trailer Park Boys: The Big Dirty|The Big Dirty , in which he and Alex Lifeson play a pair of police officers.cite web|title=Trailer Park Boys: The Moive (2006)|url= http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0425601/|publisher=IMDb.com, Inc.|accessdate=30 March 2012 More recently, he and other members of the band can be seen in the final episode of Trailer Park Boys , entitled "Say Goodnight to the Bad Guys", in which he is harassed while eating a bologna sandwich at a singles dance.cite web|title=Gord Downie – Filmography by type|url= http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0970841/filmotype|publisher=IMDb.com, Inc.|accessdate=30 March 2012 Downie is also featured in the sitcom Corner Gas in the episode "Rock On!" in which The Tragically Hip are shown as a local band practising in the main character's garage.cite web|title="Corner Gas" Rock On& #33; (TV episode 2005)|url= http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0546128/|publisher=IMDb.com, Inc.|accessdate=30 March 2012Colin James is also featured in the same episode. Most recently, Downie appeared in Michael McGowan 's film, '' One Week (2008 film)|One Week '.”cite web|title=Gord Downie|url= http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0970841/|publisher=IMDb.com, Inc|accessdate=30 March 2012
Social work
Environmental work
Gordon is heavily involved in environmental movements, especially regarding his work concerning water rights. He is an active member of Waterkeeper Alliance and is recognized as a valued member.cite web|title=Lake Ontario Waterkeeper|url= http://www.waterkeeper.ca/whoweare-trustees/|publisher=Waterkeeper Alliance MEMBER|accessdate=30 March 2012 Although his work can be considered environmentalism he does not consider himself an environmentalist, but a “free market capitalist.”cite news|last=Boyden|first=Joseph|title=Maclean's Interview: Gord Downie|url= http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/04/13/maclean%E2%80%99s-interview-gord-downie/|accessdate=30 March 2012|newspaper=Macleans|date=13 April 2009 With Waterkeeper Alliance, Gordon helped work on a cause to prevent a cement company from burning tires for fuel. Along with the Waterkeeper Alliance, he is also a part of Swim Drink Fish Music club, which is a project that unites artists and environmentalists in a music club to raise money for Waterkeeper organizations in Canada.cite web|title=GreenHeroes : This Month Gord Downie, Mark Mattson and Lake Ontario Waterkeeper|url= http://www.greenheroes.tv/webisode/3091599-Gord-Downie|publisher=Sustainability Network|accessdate=30 March 2012
The Great Moon Gathering
Downie, with The Tragically Hip, played at the Great Moon Gathering, a yearly educational conference that takes place in Fort Albany, Ontario. Its focus is on youth learning and combining Cree education with the contemporary world.cite news|last=Boyden|first=Joseph|title=North of the 52nd with the Tragically Hip|url= http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/02/29/north-of-the-52nd/|accessdate=30 March 2012|newspaper=Macleans|date=29 February 2012 The venue was small and not typical of the band. Author Joseph Boyden, who invited them, said their motivation was to “initiate a guerrilla act of love for a people who are so thoroughly underrepresented but now, somehow, overexposed for only their shortcomings. A guerrilla act of love to show the rest of the country what strength and artistry, grace and humour the Cree possess.” In addition to the Tragically Hip's performance, Downie sang a song with a local band, Northern Revolution.
The Tragically Hip Persondata| NAME = Downie, Gordon | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = Canadian musician, writer | DATE OF BIRTH = 6 February 1964 | PLACE OF BIRTH = Amherstview, Ontario | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Downie, Gordon Category:1964 births Category:Canadian male singers Category:Canadian rock singers Category:Canadian songwriters Category:Canadian people of Scottish descent Category:Living people Category:Musicians from Ontario Category:Writers from Ontario Category:Queen's University alumni Category:People from Kingston, Ontario Category:The Tragically Hip members
