Lawrence Gowan
Encyclopedia
Lawrence Gowan is a Scottish
-born Canadian
musician. Gowan has been both a solo artist and the current keyboardist and vocalist of the band Styx
. His musical style is usually classified in the category of progressive rock
.
, in Toronto
, Ontario
. Upon graduation, he enjoyed modest local success with the band Rhinegold in 1976.
After the band broke up five years later, Gowan began what was to become a very long and successful solo career under the stage name Gowan, releasing his first album under that name in 1982, which was produced by Rob Freeman and featured Kim Mitchell
of Max Webster
on guitar. This album contained the singles "Victory", "Give In" and "Keep Up the Fight". His 1985 album Strange Animal was his commercial breakthrough in Canada, produced by British producer David Tickle
and featuring a more 'theatrical' Gowan, backed by Peter Gabriel
's rhythm section players Tony Levin
and Jerry Marotta
. The album spawned the hit singles "A Criminal Mind", "(You're a) Strange Animal", "Guerilla Soldier" and "Cosmetics". His 1987 follow up Great Dirty World gave him another hit single with "Moonlight Desires," featuring Jon Anderson
(from Yes
) on backing vocals as well as the fan favourite "Dedication".
1990's Lost Brotherhood had a harder rock sound, and featured such players as Red Rider member Ken Greer, ex Coney Hatch
guitarist Steve Shelski and Rush's
Alex Lifeson
. It produced the singles "Lost Brotherhood", "All the Lovers in the World", and "Out of a Deeper Hunger". This was Gowan's first album for Anthem Records and his first US release.
He released the more acoustic, adult contemporary ...but you can call me Larry in 1993 under his full name, returning to the Canadian pop charts with "When There's Time for Love", "Soul's Road" and "Dancing on My Own Ground". He subsequently released The Good Catches Up in 1995, which featured the single "Guns and God", which received moderate airplay in Canada. Also that same year, Gowan was part of an all-star lineup at Toronto's Massey Hall
to celebrate Ronnie Hawkins
' 60th birthday, as documented on the album Let It Rock
, sharing the stage with veteran rockers Jerry Lee Lewis
, Carl Perkins
and The Band
. In 1997, Gowan released two live CDs: Sololive - No Kilt Tonight containing a rendition of Ragtime's classic "King Chanticleer Rag", and Au Québec with a cover of Harmonium
's "Pour un instant
" as well as his first composition in French, "Stéphanie", for his fan base in Quebec
.
In 1997, Gowan released "Healing Waters" as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales
after her death. "Healing Waters" was officially an unreleased song from Gowan, though it was used in its original form, in the 1995 Jeff Wincott
movie, When the Bullet Hits the Bone.
His song "A Criminal Mind" was covered in 2005 by Canadian hip-hop artist Maestro; Gowan appears in the video and his vocals are sampled on the track. The song was also sampled in a song performed by Akon and Freck Billionaire.
He also guest-starred on the Canadian animated comedy series Chilly Beach
.
In February 2006, Gowan did four orchestra-accompanied concerts in London, Ontario
and Kitchener, Ontario
. Also in 2006, his home was featured on MTV
's Cribs
.
In March 2010, Gowan released "Return of the Strange Animal", a remastered version of 1985's "Strange Animal" plus a making-of documentary and music videos on DVD
. In May 2010, Gowan performed two solo shows in support of the 25th anniversary of the "Strange Animal" album.
at Montreal's Molson Centre
and Quebec City's Colisée
.
Tommy Shaw
admired his talent and vibrant stage charisma, and called him in May 1999 asking him to tour with them for 53 dates, replacing their lead singer Dennis DeYoung
. Since then, Gowan's classic hit, "A Criminal Mind", is often played by Styx.
DeYoung's absence proved a convenient opportunity for a more permanent restructuring of Styx – which had long been plagued by differences in artistic inclination. Gowan subsequently became the band's permanent vocalist. He says "I was in after the third gig".
Styx's 2003 album Cyclorama
was Gowan's first studio album with the band. Gowan sings two songs on Cyclorama, "Fields of the Brave" and "More Love for the Money", both of which have an easily recognizable Gowan signature. He then continued recording with Styx for their 2005 album, Big Bang Theory.
nominations:
On November 16, 1998, Gowan received the prestigious National Achievement Award from the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN).
In 2003, Gowan was presented with the SOCAN award (along with three other musicians) for songs that have surpassed the 100,000 radio airplay mark for his song, "Moonlight Desires".
In 2011, Gowan was presented with a star on the Scarborough Walk of Fame-Entertainment.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
-born Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
musician. Gowan has been both a solo artist and the current keyboardist and vocalist of the band Styx
Styx (band)
Styx is an American rock band that became famous for its albums from the late 1970s and early 1980s. The Chicago band is known for melding the style of prog-rock with the power of hard rock guitar, strong ballads, and elements of American musical theater....
. His musical style is usually classified in the category of progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
.
Career
At the age of nineteen, he earned an ARCT in classical piano performance from the Royal Conservatory of MusicRoyal Conservatory of Music
The Royal Conservatory of Music is a music school and performance venue in Toronto, Canada. Other uses of the term include:*The Madrid Royal Conservatory, Spain*The Royal Academy of Music, London, United Kingdom...
, in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. Upon graduation, he enjoyed modest local success with the band Rhinegold in 1976.
After the band broke up five years later, Gowan began what was to become a very long and successful solo career under the stage name Gowan, releasing his first album under that name in 1982, which was produced by Rob Freeman and featured Kim Mitchell
Kim Mitchell
Joseph Kim Mitchell is a Canadian guitarist. He was the lead singer and guitarist for the band Max Webster before going on to lead a solo career. He is currently a radio show host for CILQ-FM in Toronto....
of Max Webster
Max Webster
Max Webster was a Canadian rock band of the 1970s and early 1980s.-Career:The band was formed in 1973 in Toronto, Ontario and originally consisted of guitarist and vocalist Kim Mitchell, keyboardist Terry Watkinson, bassist Mike Tilka and drummer Paul Kersey. Mitchell and Pye Dubois would write the...
on guitar. This album contained the singles "Victory", "Give In" and "Keep Up the Fight". His 1985 album Strange Animal was his commercial breakthrough in Canada, produced by British producer David Tickle
David Tickle
David Tickle is a British record producer and engineer. As a producer, he is most noted for his work with Split Enz, and in Canada, for his mid-80s work with Red Rider, Platinum Blonde and Gowan...
and featuring a more 'theatrical' Gowan, backed by Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
's rhythm section players Tony Levin
Tony Levin
Tony Levin is an American progressive rock musician, specializing in bass guitar, Chapman stick and upright bass ....
and Jerry Marotta
Jerry Marotta
Jerry Marotta is a drummer currently residing in Woodstock, New York. He is the brother of Rick Marotta, who is also a well-known drummer and composer....
. The album spawned the hit singles "A Criminal Mind", "(You're a) Strange Animal", "Guerilla Soldier" and "Cosmetics". His 1987 follow up Great Dirty World gave him another hit single with "Moonlight Desires," featuring Jon Anderson
Jon Anderson
Jon Anderson is an English singer-songwriter and musician best known as the former lead vocalist in the progressive rock band Yes...
(from Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
) on backing vocals as well as the fan favourite "Dedication".
Coney Hatch
Coney Hatch is a Canadian hard rock band who released 3 albums in the 1980s. Based in Toronto, Ontario, the band consisted of vocalist and guitarist Carl Dixon who would also go on to play with April Wine and a Burton Cummings-less Guess Who for several years, as well as touring solo and releasing...
guitarist Steve Shelski and Rush's
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
Alex Lifeson
Alex Lifeson
Aleksandar Živojinović, OC, better known by his stage name Alex Lifeson, is a second generation Serbian-Canadian musician, best known as the guitarist of the Canadian rock band Rush. In the summer of 1968, Lifeson founded the band that would become Rush with friend, drummer John Rutsey...
. It produced the singles "Lost Brotherhood", "All the Lovers in the World", and "Out of a Deeper Hunger". This was Gowan's first album for Anthem Records and his first US release.
He released the more acoustic, adult contemporary ...but you can call me Larry in 1993 under his full name, returning to the Canadian pop charts with "When There's Time for Love", "Soul's Road" and "Dancing on My Own Ground". He subsequently released The Good Catches Up in 1995, which featured the single "Guns and God", which received moderate airplay in Canada. Also that same year, Gowan was part of an all-star lineup at Toronto's Massey Hall
Massey Hall
Massey Hall is a venerable performing arts theatre in the Garden District of downtown Toronto. The theatre originally was designed to seat 3,500 patrons but, after extensive renovations in the 1940s, now seats up to 2,765....
to celebrate Ronnie Hawkins
Ronnie Hawkins
Ronald "Ronnie" Hawkins is a Juno Award-winning rockabilly musician whose career has spanned more than half a century. Though his career began in Arkansas, USA, where he'd been born and raised, it was in Ontario, Canada where he found success and settled for most of his life...
' 60th birthday, as documented on the album Let It Rock
Let It Rock (Ronnie Hawkins album)
Let It Rock is a Juno Award-nominated album that documents American-Canadian singer Ronnie Hawkins' 60th birthday celebration and concert at Massey Hall in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The concert took place on January 8, 1995 and featured performances by Hawkins, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, The...
, sharing the stage with veteran rockers Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis is an American rock and roll and country music singer-songwriter and pianist. An early pioneer of rock and roll music, Lewis's career faltered after he married his young cousin, and he afterwards made a career extension to country and western music. He is known by the nickname 'The...
, Carl Perkins
Carl Perkins
Carl Lee Perkins was an American rockabilly musician who recorded most notably at Sun Records Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, beginning during 1954...
and The Band
The Band
The Band was an acclaimed and influential roots rock group. The original group consisted of Rick Danko , Garth Hudson , Richard Manuel , and Robbie Robertson , and Levon Helm...
. In 1997, Gowan released two live CDs: Sololive - No Kilt Tonight containing a rendition of Ragtime's classic "King Chanticleer Rag", and Au Québec with a cover of Harmonium
Harmonium (band)
Harmonium was a Canadian progressive rock band from Montreal, Quebec.-History:Lead vocalist and guitarist Serge Fiori met Michel Normandeau in a theatre music meeting on November 1972. Later on in 1973 they met bassist Louis Valois and became Harmonium. In November 1973 the group performed their...
's "Pour un instant
Pour Un Instant
"Pour Un Instant" is the first and one of the best known singles from the Quebec band Harmonium. It was released on a vinyl and contained two songs....
" as well as his first composition in French, "Stéphanie", for his fan base in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
.
In 1997, Gowan released "Healing Waters" as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
after her death. "Healing Waters" was officially an unreleased song from Gowan, though it was used in its original form, in the 1995 Jeff Wincott
Jeff Wincott
Jeffrey Howard Piero Wincott is a Canadian actor and athlete.-Personal life:Jeff is the elder brother of actor Michael Wincott....
movie, When the Bullet Hits the Bone.
His song "A Criminal Mind" was covered in 2005 by Canadian hip-hop artist Maestro; Gowan appears in the video and his vocals are sampled on the track. The song was also sampled in a song performed by Akon and Freck Billionaire.
He also guest-starred on the Canadian animated comedy series Chilly Beach
Chilly Beach
Chilly Beach is a Canadian animated series, which airs on CBC Television in Canada and The Comedy Channel in Australia. The series is a comedic depiction of life in the fictional Canadian town of Chilly Beach, described by the producers as "a bunch of Canadians doing the stuff that Canadians do,...
.
In February 2006, Gowan did four orchestra-accompanied concerts in London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
and Kitchener, Ontario
Kitchener, Ontario
The City of Kitchener is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It was the Town of Berlin from 1854 until 1912 and the City of Berlin from 1912 until 1916. The city had a population of 204,668 in the Canada 2006 Census...
. Also in 2006, his home was featured on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's Cribs
Cribs
Cribs may refer to:*The Cribs, a band from the United Kingdom*MTV Cribs, a reality television program on MTV...
.
In March 2010, Gowan released "Return of the Strange Animal", a remastered version of 1985's "Strange Animal" plus a making-of documentary and music videos on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
. In May 2010, Gowan performed two solo shows in support of the 25th anniversary of the "Strange Animal" album.
Styx
In 1996 during Styx's "Return to the Paradise Theatre" tour, Gowan performed as a supporting act for StyxStyx (band)
Styx is an American rock band that became famous for its albums from the late 1970s and early 1980s. The Chicago band is known for melding the style of prog-rock with the power of hard rock guitar, strong ballads, and elements of American musical theater....
at Montreal's Molson Centre
Bell Centre
The Bell Centre , formerly known as the Molson Centre , is a sports and entertainment complex in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It opened on March 16, 1996 after nearly three years under construction...
and Quebec City's Colisée
Colisée Pepsi
Colisée Pepsi , formerly the Colisée de Québec , is a multi-purpose arena in Quebec City, Quebec.It was the home of the WHA and NHL Quebec Nordiques from 1972–1995, and is currently the home of the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League...
.
Tommy Shaw
Tommy Shaw
Tommy Roland Shaw is an American guitarist, best known for his work with the rock band Styx. In between his stints with Styx, he has played with the supergroup Damn Yankees and Shaw Blades, and has released several solo albums....
admired his talent and vibrant stage charisma, and called him in May 1999 asking him to tour with them for 53 dates, replacing their lead singer Dennis DeYoung
Dennis DeYoung
Dennis DeYoung is an American singer, songwriter, musician and producer best known for being a founding member of the rock band Styx, a tenure that lasted from 1970 to 1999.-Early life:...
. Since then, Gowan's classic hit, "A Criminal Mind", is often played by Styx.
DeYoung's absence proved a convenient opportunity for a more permanent restructuring of Styx – which had long been plagued by differences in artistic inclination. Gowan subsequently became the band's permanent vocalist. He says "I was in after the third gig".
Styx's 2003 album Cyclorama
Cyclorama (album)
Cyclorama is the fourteenth studio album by Styx, released in. This was the first studio album with Lawrence Gowan, following the departure of group co-founder Dennis DeYoung in 1999. It was also the only album released by the Lawrence Gowan/Tommy Shaw/James Young/Glen Burtnik/Todd Sucherman...
was Gowan's first studio album with the band. Gowan sings two songs on Cyclorama, "Fields of the Brave" and "More Love for the Money", both of which have an easily recognizable Gowan signature. He then continued recording with Styx for their 2005 album, Big Bang Theory.
Awards and nominations
The following are Gowan's JunoJuno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
nominations:
- 1983 - Nominated - "Most Promising Male Vocalist of the Year"
- 1985 - Winner - "Best VideoJuno Award for Video of the YearThe Juno Award for "Video of the Year" has been awarded since 1984, as recognition each year for the best music video in Canada. The award was previously called the "Best Video".-Best Video :...
" for "Criminal Mind" with director Rob QuartlyRob QuartlyRobert "Rob" Quartly is a Canadian music video, television and commercial director. During the 1980s, Quartly produced numerous Juno award-winning music videos for artists including Corey Hart, Gowan, Platinum Blonde and Rush....
Animation & Direction by Greg Duffell / Lightbox Studios Inc. - 1985 - Winner - "Best Album GraphicsJuno Award for CD/DVD Artwork Design of the YearThe Juno Award for "CD/DVD Artwork Design of the Year" has been awarded since 1975, as recognition each year for the best album art for a music recording in Canada...
" for Strange Animal (awarded to designers Rob MacIntyre and Dimo Safari) - 1985 - Nominated - "Male Vocalist of the Year"
- 1985 - Nominated - "Album of the Year" for Strange Animal
- 1985 - Nominated - "Best Selling Single" for "A Criminal Mind"
- 1985 - Nominated - "Best Video" for "You're a Strange Animal" Animation by Greg Duffell / Lightbox Studios Inc.
- 1986 - Nominated - "Best Video" for "Cosmetics" (director: Rob Quartly)
- 1987 - Nominated - "Male Vocalist of the Year"
- 1987 - Nominated - "Album of the Year" for Great Dirty World
- 1987 - Nominated - "Canadian Entertainer of the Year"
- 1991 - Nominated - "Male Vocalist of the Year"
On November 16, 1998, Gowan received the prestigious National Achievement Award from the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN).
In 2003, Gowan was presented with the SOCAN award (along with three other musicians) for songs that have surpassed the 100,000 radio airplay mark for his song, "Moonlight Desires".
In 2011, Gowan was presented with a star on the Scarborough Walk of Fame-Entertainment.
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN Canada Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean... |
CAN AC Canada Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean... |
Album | ||
| 1982 | "Keep Up the Fight" | — | — | Gowan |
| 1982 | "Make It Alone" | — | — | |
| 1985 | "A Criminal Mind" | 5 | 14 | Strange Animal |
| 1985 | "(You're a) Strange Animal" | 15 | — | |
| 1985 | "Guerilla Soldier" | 40 | — | |
| 1985 | "Cosmetics" | 41 | — | |
| 1987 | "Moonlight Desires" | 10 | 2 | Great Dirty World |
| 1987 | "Awake the Giant" | 36 | — | |
| 1987 | "Living in the Golden Age" | 78 | — | |
| 1990 | "All the Lovers in the World" | 6 | 6 | Lost Brotherhood |
| 1990 | "Lost Brotherhood" | 44 | — | |
| 1990 | "Out of a Deeper Hunger" | 36 | 17 | |
| 1993 | "When There's Time (For Love)" | 6 | 11 | ...but you can call me Larry |
| 1994 | "Dancing on My Own Ground" | 15 | 17 | |
| 1994 | "Soul's Road" | 13 | 15 | |
| 1994 | "Your Stone Walls" | 46 | — | |
| 1995 | "Heart of Gold" | 88 | 46 | Borrowed Tunes: A Tribute to Neil Young Borrowed Tunes: A Tribute to Neil Young Borrowed Tunes is a tribute album to Neil Young, released in 1994. The album was released as a two-CD set, one compiling acoustic songs and one compiling rock-oriented ones, although the two discs were also each sold individually. The album features a variety of Canadian musicians covering songs... |
| 1995 | "I'll Be There in a Minute" | 41 | — | The Good Catches Up |
| 1995 | "Guns and God" | 14 | 20 | |
| 1996 | "Laura" | — | 33 | |
| 1996 | "The Good Catches Up" | 18 | 21 | |
| 1997 | "Get It While You Can" | 21 | — | |
| 1997 | "Healing Waters" | — | 13 | Best of... |
Original studio albums
| Release date | Title | Chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| Canada Canada Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean... RPM Album charts |
||
| September 1982 | Gowan | #82 |
| January 1985 | Strange Animal | #5 |
| March 1987 | Great Dirty World | #4 |
| July 1990 | Lost Brotherhood | #26 |
| September 1993 | ...but you can call me Larry | #60 |
| November 1995 | The Good Catches Up |
Compilation albums
| Release date | Title | Chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| Canada Canada Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean... RPM Album charts |
||
| October 1997 | Best of... | #87 |
| April 2010 | Return of the Strange Animal (remastered reissue of Strange Animal with bonus tracks + DVD) |
|
Live albums
- 1996 Sololive: No Kilt Tonight
- 1997 Gowan au Quebec
- 1998 Home Field (UK only)
With Styx
- 2000 Arch Allies - Live with REO Speedwagon
- 2001 Styx World: Live 2001
- 2002 At the River's Edge: Live In St. Louis
- 2002 21st Century Live (CD/DVD set)
- 2002 A Classic Rock Christmas (featuring: "All I Want for Christmas")
- 2003 Cyclorama
- 2005 Big Bang Theory
- 2006 One with Everything: Styx and the Contemporary Youth Orchestra
- 2011 LA County Fair Live with REO Speedwagon