I nominate Valdy
I just found this in my "sent items" folder. I had nominated Valdy for an Estelle Klein award. The very deserving Ken Whiteley won, but there will be other chances. I offer this for consideration out there.
Although he lives on the West Coast now (when he’s home!), Valdy was a son of Ottawa who shed the uniform of a blueblood private school for the faded jeans of an itinerant musician. His career has been inextricably linked to Ontario, and he still spends a great deal of time and effort promoting folk music and worthy causes in this province. He’s a long-time favourite of the festival scene here, and deservedly so. No one has lived the life of the independent Canadian musician more authentically, or more successfully.
Valdy has been an influence and a mentor to many, many folk and roots artists in Ontario. During the 1970s his songs rang over the airwaves across the province, part of a burst of recorded Canadian folk that included Gordon Lightfoot and Murray McLachlan. For some of us, Valdy’s tunes were among the first Canadian songs we’d ever heard on the radio. In my own case “Rock & Roll Song” was the first song I learned when I picked up a guitar at age 17. Valdy won Junos before they were even called Junos – and characteristically carted them around behind the seat of his truck. He claims he used them as chucks when changing tires!
There is no more generous spirit, more open heart, more tireless preacher of the roots gospel than Valdy. Love songs, protest songs, sad songs, funny songs… any and all ways of touching the audience with music, laughter, and positive energy are tricks of this troubadour’s trade. His immense talent is only overshadowed by his incredible human spirit. He remembers people. He cares about people. He blesses people by being around them. He dedicates himself to causes - whether saving blue herons, celebrating other musicians or striking down hypocrisy on the golf course - with passion and commitment. Valdy lives in a state of joy. He brings a sense of amiable dignity to the noble and often thankless pursuit of sharing music in real ways, with real people at every turn along the long and winding road.
Although he lives on the West Coast now (when he’s home!), Valdy was a son of Ottawa who shed the uniform of a blueblood private school for the faded jeans of an itinerant musician. His career has been inextricably linked to Ontario, and he still spends a great deal of time and effort promoting folk music and worthy causes in this province. He’s a long-time favourite of the festival scene here, and deservedly so. No one has lived the life of the independent Canadian musician more authentically, or more successfully.
Valdy has been an influence and a mentor to many, many folk and roots artists in Ontario. During the 1970s his songs rang over the airwaves across the province, part of a burst of recorded Canadian folk that included Gordon Lightfoot and Murray McLachlan. For some of us, Valdy’s tunes were among the first Canadian songs we’d ever heard on the radio. In my own case “Rock & Roll Song” was the first song I learned when I picked up a guitar at age 17. Valdy won Junos before they were even called Junos – and characteristically carted them around behind the seat of his truck. He claims he used them as chucks when changing tires!
There is no more generous spirit, more open heart, more tireless preacher of the roots gospel than Valdy. Love songs, protest songs, sad songs, funny songs… any and all ways of touching the audience with music, laughter, and positive energy are tricks of this troubadour’s trade. His immense talent is only overshadowed by his incredible human spirit. He remembers people. He cares about people. He blesses people by being around them. He dedicates himself to causes - whether saving blue herons, celebrating other musicians or striking down hypocrisy on the golf course - with passion and commitment. Valdy lives in a state of joy. He brings a sense of amiable dignity to the noble and often thankless pursuit of sharing music in real ways, with real people at every turn along the long and winding road.
Labels: estelle klein, folk, songwriting, valdy
posted by David Newland at 2.9.05
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