Matt Minglewood
Encyclopedia
Matt Minglewood is a Canadian musician whose style can be described as a blend of country
, blues, folk
, roots
and rock
.
, later moving to Glace Bay, Nova Scotia
where he currently resides. He is well known for his ballads, many of which are autobiographical (such as "Me and the Boys" and "Long Way From Texas"). Many of his songs deal with feelings of passion, frustrations, hope, loneliness, love, disappointment and regret as well as his love of the Maritime Provinces.
Minglewood joined his first band, the Rockin’ Saints’, when he was in his late teens, playing local high school dances, and even tavern gigs before he was old enough to get into bars. He played organ and rhythm guitar.
When he was in his early twenties he was part of a band called "Sam Moon, Matt Minglewood & the Universal Power". The group was formed in 1969 with Sam Moon
and Minglewood sharing vocal duties. The band performed regularly in the Halifax Dartmouth metro area and was a staple at the local high schools in the twin cities.
Minglewood briefly sang lead vocals and played guitar for Peppertree, then formed Cold Duck, Moon - Minglewood, and then in 1974, this band later became the Minglewood Band. They recorded their first album with Solar Records in 1975, it is known as The Red Album. Soon after the album was released they signed a record deal with RCA Records.
During 1984—1985, Minglewood took a sabbatical. When he returned, he launched as Matt Minglewood. In the mid 1980s to early 1990s he was also part of an annual seasonal group called the Cape Breton Summertime Revue, consisting of about 12 members performing musical and comedy skits throughout the evening. This group, performing for all ages throughout the Maritimes brought a new generation of fans on board for Minglewood and inspired many young people into music before they were even teenagers.
Minglewood and his band have also toured to Iraq
and other war-torn countries worldwide several times annually in the last decade to play for the Canadian, American and European troops, "It was a huge eye opener for me, and also the most rewarding experience in my life. It was pretty scary over there, I had to put on a bullet proof vest getting off the plane and briefed on survival on the bases. It was an honour to play for them. I'd go back in a heartbeat."
Over his career he has won and been nominated for numerous East Coast Music Awards, Canadian Country Music Awards and Juno Awards.
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...
, blues, folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
, roots
Traditional music
Traditional music is the term increasingly used for folk music that is not contemporary folk music. More on this is at the terminology section of the World music article...
and rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
.
Career
Minglewood was raised in North Sydney, Nova ScotiaNorth Sydney, Nova Scotia
North Sydney is a community in Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Regional Municipality.Located on the north side of Sydney Harbour, along the eastern coast of Cape Breton Island, North Sydney is an important port in Atlantic Canada as it is the western terminus of the Marine Atlantic ferry service...
, later moving to Glace Bay, Nova Scotia
Glace Bay, Nova Scotia
Glace Bay is a community in the eastern part of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality in Nova Scotia, Canada. It forms part of the general area referred to as Industrial Cape Breton....
where he currently resides. He is well known for his ballads, many of which are autobiographical (such as "Me and the Boys" and "Long Way From Texas"). Many of his songs deal with feelings of passion, frustrations, hope, loneliness, love, disappointment and regret as well as his love of the Maritime Provinces.
Minglewood joined his first band, the Rockin’ Saints’, when he was in his late teens, playing local high school dances, and even tavern gigs before he was old enough to get into bars. He played organ and rhythm guitar.
When he was in his early twenties he was part of a band called "Sam Moon, Matt Minglewood & the Universal Power". The group was formed in 1969 with Sam Moon
and Minglewood sharing vocal duties. The band performed regularly in the Halifax Dartmouth metro area and was a staple at the local high schools in the twin cities.
Minglewood briefly sang lead vocals and played guitar for Peppertree, then formed Cold Duck, Moon - Minglewood, and then in 1974, this band later became the Minglewood Band. They recorded their first album with Solar Records in 1975, it is known as The Red Album. Soon after the album was released they signed a record deal with RCA Records.
During 1984—1985, Minglewood took a sabbatical. When he returned, he launched as Matt Minglewood. In the mid 1980s to early 1990s he was also part of an annual seasonal group called the Cape Breton Summertime Revue, consisting of about 12 members performing musical and comedy skits throughout the evening. This group, performing for all ages throughout the Maritimes brought a new generation of fans on board for Minglewood and inspired many young people into music before they were even teenagers.
Minglewood and his band have also toured to Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
and other war-torn countries worldwide several times annually in the last decade to play for the Canadian, American and European troops, "It was a huge eye opener for me, and also the most rewarding experience in my life. It was pretty scary over there, I had to put on a bullet proof vest getting off the plane and briefed on survival on the bases. It was an honour to play for them. I'd go back in a heartbeat."
Over his career he has won and been nominated for numerous East Coast Music Awards, Canadian Country Music Awards and Juno Awards.
Albums
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 1986 | Me and the Boys |
| 1988 | The Promise |
| 1999 | Drivin' Wheel |
| 2003 | Live at Last |
| 2005 | The Story |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN Country | CAN | |||
| 1985 | "Livin' Outside of the Law" | 41 | — | Me and the Boys |
| "Me and the Boys" | — | 94 | ||
| 1986 | "Georgia on a Fast Train" | 24 | — | singles only |
| 1987 | "Cajun Stars" | 34 | — | |
| 1988 | "You Win Again" | 30 | — | The Promise |
External links
- Official web site
- The Canadian Encyclopedia: Matt Minglewood, accessed 13 August 2006