The Music Issue: Jim Cuddy

How this local legend influenced rock music

No doubt, Jim Cuddy is one of the greatest artists in Toronto music history, and lucky for us, he’s still rockin’.

The Blue Rodeo frontman, who helped turn Queen Street West into the city’s live-music mecca back in the ’80s, continues to perform and record with the iconic country- rock band as well as his eponymous side project.

With Blue Rodeo, Cuddy has cut a dozen albums, collected seven Junos and seven SOCAN Awards and in 2009 claimed a coveted spot on Canada’s Walk of Fame. This past March, he assumed the role of music director for a special tribute to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Junos.

It all began at North Toronto Collegiate Institute where a teenaged Cuddy met his counterpart in Greg Keelor. After university, the fast friends started playing music together, eventually formed Blue Rodeo, cut their teeth with a performance at the Rivoli and within a few years produced their debut album, Outskirts, the second single from which skyrocketed the band to fame.

“Try” has since become one of Canada’s all-time greatest love songs. “It is extremely flattering to have a song be part of any canon,” Cuddy says humbly. “It made it a lot easier to have a career [in music].”

It’s a career that has inspired countless others, including a new wave of alt- country groups, such as well- loved Torontonians Cuff the Duke.

“We’re very fortunate, you know,” Cuddy says of his wide- reaching influence and longevity. “We have very mixed audiences, young and old. They’re not losing interest … audiences are having as much fun as we are.”

Cuddy is taking the fun across Canada and Europe this summer, performing in concerts with Blue Rodeo. Never one to disappoint the hometown, the band is making a stop in Toronto in August.

Article exclusive to STREETS OF TORONTO