George Canyon
Encyclopedia
George Canyon is a Canadian country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...

 singer. He was runner up Nashville Star
Nashville Star
Nashville Star is an American reality television program. It was transmitted during mid-2008 on NBC, following five seasons on USA Network. It premiered on March 8, 2003, and its five seasons on USA made it the longest-running competition series on cable television. In Canada, the show aired on CMT...

 2 in 2004. He grew up in Fox Brook, Pictou County, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...

 and later lived in Hopewell
Hopewell, Nova Scotia
Hopewell is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Pictou County .One of Canada's first automobiles was manufactured at Hopewell, Nova Scotia in 1898, named 'The Victorian'...

, Nova Scotia (where he still owns land) before he moved west. He currently lives in High River, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...

. He also holds an appointment in the Canadian Forces as Honorary Colonel at 14 Wing Greenwood.

Biography

He was born to Fred Lays Sr. and Cheryl Lays in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
New Glasgow is a town in Pictou County, in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It is situated on the banks of the East River of Pictou, which flows into Pictou Harbour, a sub-basin of the Northumberland Strait....

.

With the look of a Hollywood leading man and the build of a professional athlete, people who see him for the first time often ask "who is he?" If you were to pose that question to George Canyon himself, he'd immediately tell you that he's a dedicated husband and a proud father of two.

Family being his first priority, Canyon, a man of Faith, abandoned his musical aspirations years ago to work as a bylaw officer in order to support his family. His wife, Jennifer, urged him to keep writing songs and performing however George felt that it was no longer practical, and put music on the back burner.

In 2004, Jennifer persuaded him to audition for U.S.A Network’s "Nashville Star"- an internationally televised performance competition similar to the "American Idol" format. Canyon showed up, wowed the worldwide audiences and nearly won the entire contest. The rest is history punctuated by industry accolades, achievements and sustained success.

His integrity and dedication to his family lives as a theme through the songs he writes and the stories he tells with his music and the way he lives his life. It is also the same force that drives him to inspire youth through his role as a national spokesperson for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 14, Canyon was informed that he would have to forgo his ambitions and dreams to serve his country as a pilot in the Canadian Air Force. Years later he would learn to manage his disease through diet, lifestyle and the effective use of insulin pump technology. In 2009, Canyon passed a series of medical tests and as a result of this was able to obtain his pilot's license.

On February 21, 2008 he was recognized for all his philanthropic work in support of the Canadian troops and was appointed Honorary Colonel for the Canadian Air Force at 14 Wing Greenwood in Nova Scotia.

He never could have predicted the journey, but he finally realized the dream that had evaded him as a young man of serving in the Air Force. Later that year, Canyon took his personal story and his own plane across Canada and organized several talks and concerts to inspire youngsters afflicted with type 1 diabetes, with his inspiring message, a project he named “The Sky’s Not The Limit”. He urged them to take ownership of their disease, pursue their dreams, and achieve their goals. "Being a kid is hard enough without having a disease that limits your choices. If I can tell my story and change a life or two, that's the kind of imprint I want to leave" Canyon says. The message has been effective, and George's story continues to resonate.

In the fall of 2010, George performed and spoke to over 20,000 people at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles at a JDRF fund-raising event.
His 2010 hit single "I Believe in Angels" has been adopted as a theme song by the JDRF in the United States and Canyon appeared on "GOOD MORNING AMERICA" to encourage youngsters with his story.
The song, “I Believe in Angels” received a SOCAN award in November 2011, for one of the most played songs at Canadian Country Radio in 2010.

As Canyon's charitable work continues, his achievements grow with it. In the past two years, he has been recognized as the most played Canadian artist at Canadian country radio. He's also one of the most recognizable and requested stars on CMT (Country Music Television). His videos garner hundreds of thousands of hits on YouTube and he has won multiple Juno, East Coast Music Awards and Canadian Country Music Awards including "Humanitarian of the Year Award" for his philanthropic endeavors.

Also an actor Canyon has appeared on some highly rated Canadian television series’ such as CBC-TV’s "Heartland" and Showcase’s "Trailer Park Boys" and has starred in many television programs and specials.
He recently starred alongside Dean Cain and Luke Schroder in a made for TV movie, “A Mile In His Shoes” which aired in September 2011 in the US on GMC, and in Canada on Showcase in November 2011. George will also host “The Gift Of Giving” a star studded show and incentive to raise funds for food banks across Canada through the sale of a compilation album. The show is scheduled for multiple airings during December 2011 on CMT, YTV and OWN networks.

George regularly tours Europe, the US and engages his fans the old fashioned way - by playing over 100 shows a year in his home country. "I'm trying to get better at twittering. I know that it is the new social medium but there is nothing that replaces the face-to-face connection. It is very rewarding to meet the fans who afford me the opportunity to share my music from the stage because they spend their hard earned money to be in the audience. It's really humbling when you think about it." Canyon says.

In 2007 George took the reins and created his first album performed and produced entirely by him. “Classics” was George’s tribute to the traditional country artists and songs inspired him as a child. “This is the album I've always wanted to make.” George says. “It was a labour of love to record these songs that influenced me so many years ago. It was important for me to keep the arrangements true to the original in the hope that when people listen to this it recreates the magic I experienced when hearing these songs on the radio the first time round.” “Classics” was enthusiastically received by George’s audience and even produced a hit version of the Johnny Cash favourite “Ring of Fire.” “Classics” was certified Gold in October 2011.
He has sold over 250,000 albums and his critically acclaimed music continues to grow with every record. In 2008 multi-platinum artist and pop/rock icon Richard Marx signed on to produce Canyon's "What I Do” album. The record yielded 7 hit singles including "Just Like You", the album’s debut single, which was written for George's son, Kale. "I was driving my kids to school when the song came on the radio. Kale was in the backseat with his sister and I looked in the rear view mirror. He had the biggest smile on his face, but he didn't say a word. As a parent there is no better feeling than when your kid is speechless with joy." His young daughter, Madi got her own song too, which appeared George’s “Somebody Wrote Love” album (2006) "Madi's Song" continues to be one of Canyon's most requested cuts at his live shows.

Marx and Canyon teamed up again to write and record songs for the 2011 album "Better Be Home Soon." The enhanced digital version of the album includes songs written and co-written by the likes of Marx, Matt Scannell, Johnny Reid and Kenny Rogers. "I was honored when Richard phoned me to say that he and Kenny Rogers had written a song especially for me. It was one of those 'breathtaking moments' that I have been lucky enough to have a few of, in my career and life." And the song? "It's called 'When Love Is All You've Got'. Richard and I actually recorded it as a duet. It has a powerful message that resonates well in times of economic strife and we felt that it was a story that had to be told. We went deep with the songwriting in this record. There are some great ballads, but there are also a lot of fun tracks. I think it's important to achieve a balance on a record and take the listener through some peaks and valleys." says Canyon. “Better Be Home Soon” was certified Gold in April 2011, making this album his fastest selling album to date.
When George Canyon is performing live onstage, he is most at home. He has the entire audience in the palm of his hand and you just can’t help but want to be a part of his unique family. He is respected and well-loved and one of the most successful entertainers in the country today.
For more information on George Canyon, visit:
www.georgecanyon.com

Band

  • Jay Buettner (Guitar)
  • Chris Byrne (Bass)
  • Ed Ringwald (Pedal Steel Guitar)
  • Shane Guse (Fiddle & Mandolin)
  • Adam Dowling (Drums)
  • Mike Little (Keyboard & Accordion)

Studio albums

Year Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales threshold
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...

)
CAN
Canadian Albums Chart
The Canadian Albums Chart is the official album sales chart in Canada. It is compiled every Wednesday by U.S.-based music sales tracking company Nielsen Soundscan, and published every Thursday by Jam! Canoe and Billboard, along with its sister charts the Canadian Singles Chart and the Canadian BDS...

US Country US Heat
Top Heatseekers
Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical...

1996 Ironwolf
Ironwolf
Ironwolf is the first studio album by Canadian country music singer George Canyon.-Track listing:# One of These Days - 2:59# Workin' For A Livin' - 2:00# My Love's Unchanged - 4:03# Angelyna - 4:03# Tryin' To Forget - 3:29# Ironwolf - 3:29...

  • Release date: 1996
  • Label: Shoreline Records
    Shoreline Records
    Shoreline Records is an independent record label based in Kingsville, Ontario, Canada. The music label was established in 1996 by Matthew Nettleton. It is distributed through the Universal Music Group.-Artist Roster:* Barra MacNeils* Chunk...

1999 George Canyon
George Canyon (album)
George Canyon is the second studio album by Canadian country music singer George Canyon. The album was originally released in 1999 on Shoreline Records...

  • Release date: 1999
  • Label: Shoreline Records
  • 80
    2004 One Good Friend
    One Good Friend
    One Good Friend is the third studio album by Canadian country music artist George Canyon. It is the first album released by Canyon since he competed on Nashville Star 2, and his first release in the United States. In 2005, the album won Canyon a Juno Award for Country Recording of the Year...

  • Release date: September 28, 2004
  • Label: Universal South Records
  • 20 35 23
  • CAN
    Canadian Recording Industry Association
    Music Canada is a Toronto-based, non-profit trade organization that was founded 9 April 1963 to represent the interests of companies that record, artists, manufacture, production, promotion and distribution of music in Canada...

    : Gold
  • 2006 Somebody Wrote Love
    Somebody Wrote Love
    Somebody Wrote Love is the fourth studio album by Canadian country music artist George Canyon. In 2007, the album won Canyon a Juno Award for Country Recording of the Year....

  • Release date: September 12, 2006
  • Label: Universal Canada
    Universal Music Group
    Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...

  • 23
    2007 Classics
    Classics (George Canyon album)
    Classics is the fifth studio album by Canadian country music singer George Canyon. The album is a collection of classic country songs covered by Canyon...

  • Release date: October 9, 2007
  • Label: Universal Canada
  • 26
    2008 What I Do
    What I Do (George Canyon album)
    What I Do is the sixth studio album by Canadian country music artist George Canyon. The album was released on November 11, 2008 by 604 Records. Its first single, "Just Like You," has reached the Top 20 of the Radio & Records Canadian country singles chart.-Track listing:#"Just Like You" -...

  • Release date: November 11, 2008
  • Label: Universal Canada
  • 85
    2011 Better Be Home Soon
    Better Be Home Soon (album)
    -Album:-Singles:^ Current single.-Certifications:-External links:*[ Better Be Home Soon] at Allmusic...

  • Release date: March 22, 2011
  • Label: Universal Canada
  • 25
  • CAN: Gold
  • "—" denotes the album failed to chart or not released

    Holiday albums

    Year Album details Peak positions
    CAN
    2005 Home for Christmas
    Home for Christmas (George Canyon album)
    Home for Christmas is the first Christmas album by Canadian country music singer George Canyon.-Track listing:# Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - 2:05# Blue Christmas - 4:08...

    • Release date: November 8, 2005
    • Label: Universal South Records
    77

    1990s

    Year Single Peak positions Album
    CAN Country
    RPM (magazine)
    RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,...


    1999 "Her Everything" George Canyon
    "Enough Said" 71
    "—" denotes releases that did not chart

    2000s

    Year Single Peak chart
    positions
    Album
    CAN
    Canadian Hot 100
    The Canadian Hot 100 is a music singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks songs in Canada. The chart debuted in the Billboard issue dated June 16, 2007 and was made available for the first time via their online services on June 7, 2007...


    US Country
    Hot Country Songs
    Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...


    2000 "Way Too Much" George Canyon
    2004 "Good Day to Ride"
    "I'll Never Do Better Than You" One Good Friend
    2005 "My Name" 44
    "Who Would You Be"
    "One Good Friend"
    2006 "Somebody Wrote Love" Somebody Wrote Love
    "Drinkin' Thinkin'"
    2007 "I Want You to Live" 76
    "Ring of Fire
    Ring of Fire (song)
    "Ring of Fire" or "The Ring of Fire" is a country music song popularized by Johnny Cash and co-written by June Carter Cash and Merle Kilgore. The single appears on Cash's 1963 compilation album, Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash...

    "
    Classics
    2008 "Seven Spanish Angels
    Seven Spanish Angels
    "Seven Spanish Angels is a 1984 single written by Troy Seals and Eddie Setser and recorded by Ray Charles with Willie Nelson. "Seven Spanish Angels" would be the most successful of Ray Charles' eight hits on the country chart...

    "
    "Just Like You" 64 What I Do
    2009 "All or Nothing" 99
    "Let It Out" 86
    "Betty's Buns" 92
    "In Your Arms Again" (with Crystal Shawanda
    Crystal Shawanda
    Crystal Shawanda is a Canadian country music artist. CMT documented her rise to fame in the six-part series Crystal: Living the Dream, which aired in February 2008. Signed to RCA Records in 2007, she released her debut single, "You Can Let Go," in Canada in January 2008...

    )
    "—" denotes releases that did not chart

    2010s

    Year Single Peak positions Album
    CAN
    Canadian Hot 100
    The Canadian Hot 100 is a music singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks songs in Canada. The chart debuted in the Billboard issue dated June 16, 2007 and was made available for the first time via their online services on June 7, 2007...


    2010 "I Believe in Angels" 85 What I Do
    "Pretty Drunk Out Tonight"
    "Better Be Home Soon
    Better Be Home Soon
    "Better Be Home Soon" is a 1988 song written by Neil Finn and performed by New Zealand/Australian band Crowded House. The song was released as a single in July 1988 by Capitol Records. It performed modestly on both the American and British charts, but managed to peak at number two on the...

    "
    87 Better Be Home Soon
    2011 "Surrender" 98
    "Sunshine" 96
    "When Love Is All You've Got" (with Richard Marx
    Richard Marx
    Richard Noel Marx is an American adult contemporary and pop/rock singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He had a string of hit singles in the late 1980s and 1990s, including "Endless Summer Nights", "Right Here Waiting", "Now and Forever", and "Hazard"...

    )
    A
    "—" denotes releases that did not chart

    • A Current single.

    Music videos

    Year Video Director
    1999 "Her Everything"
    "Enough Said"
    2000 "Way Too Much"
    2004 "I'll Never Do Better Than You"
    2005 "My Name" Shaun Silva
    Shaun Silva
    Shaun Silva is a music video director who works primarily in the country music field. He has directed a number of music videos for many country music artists, including many of Kenny Chesney's music videos. His other clients include: Jack Ingram, Sugarland, Luke Bryan, Brooks & Dunn, and Rascal...

    "One Good Friend" Margaret Malandruccolo
    2006 "Somebody Wrote Love"
    "Drinkin' Thinkin'"
    2007 "I Want You to Live"
    "Ring of Fire"
    2008 "Seven Spanish Angels"
    "Just Like You"
    2009 "Let It Out"
    "Betty's Buns"
    2010 "I Believe in Angels"
    "Better Be Home Soon" Oswaldo Quiroz/Warren P. Sonoda
    2011 "Surrender" Blake Horobin
    "When Love Is All You've Got" (with Richard Marx
    Richard Marx
    Richard Noel Marx is an American adult contemporary and pop/rock singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He had a string of hit singles in the late 1980s and 1990s, including "Endless Summer Nights", "Right Here Waiting", "Now and Forever", and "Hazard"...

    )

    Awards and nominations

    • 2004 – winner, CCMA
      Canadian Country Music Association
      The Canadian Country Music Association was founded in 1976 as the Academy of Country Music Entertainment to organize, promote and develop a Canadian country music industry. The association changed its name to the Canadian Country Music Association in 1987.-Awards:The CCMA held the first Canadian...

      , Chevy Trucks Rising Star Award
    • 2004 – winner, Music Industry of Nova Scotia, New Artist Recording of the Year – for the album George Canyon
    • 2004 – winner, Music Industry of Nova Scotia, Country Recording of the Year – for the album George Canyon
    • 2005 – winner, The East Coast Music Awards, Galaxie Rising Star
    • 2005 – winner, The East Coast Music Awards, Country Recording of the Year – for the album One Good Friend
    • 2005 – winner, The East Coast Music Awards, Entertainer of the Year
    • 2005 – winner, Canadian Radio Music Awards
      Canadian Radio Music Awards
      The Canadian Radio Music Awards are an annual series of awards presented by the Canadian Association of Broadcasters that are part of Canadian Music Week....

      , Best New Group or Solo Artist (Country) for his single Good Day To Ride
    • 2005 – winner, Juno Award
      Juno Awards of 2005
      The Juno Awards of 2005 were held April 3 at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba and were hosted by comedian Brent Butt. Avril Lavigne and k-os won three awards each, while Billy Talent and Feist won 2 apiece.Nominations were announced 7 February 2005....

      , Country Recording of the Year
      Juno Award for Country Recording of the Year
      The Juno Award for "Country Recording of the Year" has been awarded since 1970, as recognition each year for the best country music artist in Canada...

       for One Good Friend
    • 2005 – winner, CCMA, Fans' Choice Award
    • 2005 – winner, CCMA, Male Artist of the Year
    • 2005 – winner, CCMA, SOCAN Song of the Year, for the single "My Name"
    • 2005 – winner, CCMA, Single of the Year, for the single "My Name"
    • 2005 – winner, Music Box Awards (Paris
      Paris
      Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...

      , France
      France
      The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

      ), New Artist Male US/Canada
    • 2005 – winner, 2005 Nova Scotia Crystal Tourism Awards of Excellence, Ambassador Award
    • 2006 – winner, ECMA, Entertainer of the Year
    • 2006 – winner, CCMA, Male Artist of the Year
    • 2006 – winner, CCMA, Single of the Year, for the single "Somebody Wrote Love"
    • 2007 – winner, ECMA, Entertainer of the Year
    • 2007 – winner, ECMA, Country Recording of the Year
    • 2007 – winner, ECMA, Video of the Year, for the video Drinkin' Thinkin
    • 2007 – nominee, ECMA, Best Album of the Year, for the album Somebody Wrote Love.
    • 2007 – winner, Juno Award
      Juno Awards of 2007
      The Juno Awards of 2007 were hosted in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada on the weekend ending 1 April 2007. These ceremonies honoured music industry achievements in Canada during most of 2006...

      , Country Recording of the Year
      Juno Award for Country Recording of the Year
      The Juno Award for "Country Recording of the Year" has been awarded since 1970, as recognition each year for the best country music artist in Canada...

       for Somebody Wrote Love
    • 2008 – winner, ECMA, Entertainer of the Year
    • 2008 – winner, CCMA, Humanitarian Award
    • 2011 – winner, CCMA, Record Producer(s) of the Year with Richard Marx
      Richard Marx
      Richard Noel Marx is an American adult contemporary and pop/rock singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He had a string of hit singles in the late 1980s and 1990s, including "Endless Summer Nights", "Right Here Waiting", "Now and Forever", and "Hazard"...

      , for the album Better Be Home Soon

    External links

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