Year Born: 1945
Year of Induction: 2002
Member of CAB Hall of Fame
Cockburn, Bruce (1945- )
Singer, composer, producer, Bruce Cockburn’s business could be said to be producing record albums – records, that is, starring Bruce Cockburn, singing songs composed by Bruce Cockburn.
In 2002. Bruce could point to what could be a Canadian record – 26 self-titled albums in 32 years and 20 gold and platinum records.
Ottawa-born, Bruce having decided on a career in music at a young age, enrolled in the early 60s at Boston’s Berklee College of Music. He returned to the nation’s capital in 1970 to play in a series of rock’n roll bands. His first record album was released in 1970 and was followed by a string of records that gave full voice to his inimitable style of singing. He had his first major hit in 1979 when Wondering where the Lions Are achieved international acclaim. Similar success followed in the 80s with songs like The Trouble With Normal, Love is a Dangerous Time, and If I Had a Rocket Launcher – the latter said to have received more radio airplay than any of his many songs.
In the 90s, Bruce decided to try his hand at producing, and together with Colin Linden created The Charity Night and the award-winning Breakfast in New Orleans, Dinner in Timbuktu.
Bruce is the recipient of several awards, including Italy’s Tenco Award for Lifetime Achievement and the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award. He is a member of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and as of 1982, a member of the Order of Canada.
In 2002, Bruce Cockburn was inducted into the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame. In February 2006, the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences named Bruce as the recipient of their inaugural Humanitarian Award for his positive social, humanitarian and environmental contributions to Canadian society.
Written by J. Lyman Potts – October, 2002