Sylvia Tyson
Encyclopedia
Sylvia Tyson, CM
(born Sylvia Fricker on 19 September 1940 in Chatham
, Ontario
, Canada
), is a musician
, performer, singer-songwriter
and broadcaster
. From 1959 to 1974, she was half of the popular folk duo Ian & Sylvia with Ian Tyson
.
From the late 1960s to the early 1970s, she and Ian also fronted the country-rock band Great Speckled Bird
. More recently, she has been a member of the all-female folk group Quartette
.
Perhaps her best-known song was "You Were on My Mind
", which was originally recorded by Ian & Sylvia in 1964. The song became a massive hit single in the mid-1960s for the San Francisco-based folk-rock band We Five
and also for the British pop singer Crispian St. Peters
. It has become a rock and roll standard which has been covered numerous times.
She married Ian Tyson in 1964; they divorced in 1975. During their marriage, they had one child, Clay (Clayton Dawson) Tyson. Sylvia has contributed offstage to the Canadian music scene as a board member of FACTOR
and the Juno Award
s. She also established an independent record label
, Salt Records, in the early 1980s.
With Tom Russell
, she was an editor of the 1995 anthology And Then I Wrote: The Songwriter Speaks(ISBN 9781551520230).
in 1994.
She was nominated seven times for a Juno Award
, the first being in 1987 as Country Female Vocalist of the Year. But despite these nominations, she has not yet won a Juno award.
The Canadian Music Hall of Fame
inducted Ian & Sylvia as a duo in 1992. In 2003, Sylvia Tyson herself was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame
.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(born Sylvia Fricker on 19 September 1940 in Chatham
Chatham, Ontario
Chatham is the largest community in the municipality of Chatham-Kent, Ontario. Formerly serving as the seat of Kent County, the governments of the former city of Chatham, the county of Kent, and its townships were merged into one entity known as the Municipality of Chatham-Kent in 1998.Located on...
, 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....
, 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...
), is a musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, performer, singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and broadcaster
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
. From 1959 to 1974, she was half of the popular folk duo Ian & Sylvia with Ian Tyson
Ian Tyson
Ian Tyson CM, AOE is a Canadian singer-songwriter, best known for his song "Four Strong Winds". He was also one half of the duo Ian & Sylvia.-Career:Tyson was born to British immigrants in Victoria in 1933, and grew up in Duncan B.C...
.
From the late 1960s to the early 1970s, she and Ian also fronted the country-rock band Great Speckled Bird
Great Speckled Bird (band)
Great Speckled Bird was a country rock group formed in 1969 by the Canadian musical duo Ian & Sylvia. Ian Tyson sang, played guitar and composed. Sylvia Tyson sang, composed and occasionally played piano...
. More recently, she has been a member of the all-female folk group Quartette
Quartette (band)
Quartette is a Canadian country-folk group featuring Cindy Church, Caitlin Hanford, Gwen Swick and Sylvia Tyson. Each of the four members also records as a solo artist in addition to their work as a group.-Biography:...
.
Perhaps her best-known song was "You Were on My Mind
You Were on My Mind
"You Were On My Mind" is a song written by Sylvia Tyson in 1964. It was originally performed by her and Ian Tyson as the duo Ian & Sylvia and they recorded it for their 1964 album, Northern Journey. It was published in sheet form by M...
", which was originally recorded by Ian & Sylvia in 1964. The song became a massive hit single in the mid-1960s for the San Francisco-based folk-rock band We Five
We Five
We Five was a 1960s folk rock musical group based in San Francisco, California. Their best-known hit was their 1965 remake of Ian and Sylvia's "You Were on My Mind", which reached #1 on the Cashbox chart, #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart...
and also for the British pop singer Crispian St. Peters
Crispian St. Peters
Crispian St. Peters was an English pop singer-songwriter, best known for his work in the 1960s, particularly his 1966 hits, "The Pied Piper" and "You Were on My Mind."-Early career:...
. It has become a rock and roll standard which has been covered numerous times.
She married Ian Tyson in 1964; they divorced in 1975. During their marriage, they had one child, Clay (Clayton Dawson) Tyson. Sylvia has contributed offstage to the Canadian music scene as a board member of FACTOR
FACTOR
FACTOR is a "private non-profit organization, ... dedicated to providing assistance toward the growth and development of the Canadian independent recording industry" ....
and the Juno Award
Juno 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...
s. She also established an independent record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, Salt Records, in the early 1980s.
With Tom Russell
Tom Russell
Thomas George "Tom" Russell is an American singer-songwriter. Although most strongly identified with the Texas Country music tradition, his music also incorporates elements of folk, Tex-Mex, and the cowboy music of the American West. Many of his songs have been recorded by other artists, including...
, she was an editor of the 1995 anthology And Then I Wrote: The Songwriter Speaks(ISBN 9781551520230).
Awards and recognition
Sylvia Tyson was made a member of the Order of CanadaOrder of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
in 1994.
She was nominated seven times for a Juno Award
Juno 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...
, the first being in 1987 as Country Female Vocalist of the Year. But despite these nominations, she has not yet won a Juno award.
The Canadian Music Hall of Fame
Canadian Music Hall of Fame
The Canadian Music Hall of Fame honors Canadian musicians for their lifetime achievements in music. The ceremony is held each year as part of the Juno Award ceremonies. Members of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame represent many of the world's great talents...
inducted Ian & Sylvia as a duo in 1992. In 2003, Sylvia Tyson herself was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame
Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame
The Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, located in Merritt, British Columbia, was established in 1984 to honour Canadian country music artists, builders or broadcasters, living or deceased...
.
Albums
| Year | Album | CAN | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Woman's World | 54 | Capitol |
| 1976 | Cool Wind from the North | — | |
| 1978 | Satin on Stone | — | Salt |
| 1979 | Sugar for Sugar, Salt for Salt | — | |
| 1986 | The Big Spotlight | — | Stony Plain |
| 1989 | You Were on My Mind | — | |
| 1992 | Gypsy Cadillac | — | Silver City |
| 2000 | River Road and Other Stories | — | Salt/Outside |
| 2001 | The Very Best of Sylvia Tyson | — | Varèse Sarabande |
| 2011 | Joyners Dream: The Kingsfold Suite | — | Outside Music |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN Country | CAN AC | |||
| 1972 | "Give It to the World" | — | 44 | single only |
| 1975 | "Sleep on My Shoulder" | 35 | 24 | Woman's World |
| 1976 | "Good Old Song" | 42 | — | Cool Wind from the North |
| 1979 | "Love Is a Fire" | 32 | — | Satin on Stone |
| 1980 | "Same Old Thing" | — | 36 | Sugar for Sugar, Salt for Salt |
| 1985 | "Up in Smoke" | 50 | — | single only |
| 1986 | "Denim Blue Eyes" | 15 | — | The Big Spotlight |
| 1987 | "Too Short a Ride" | 20 | — | |
| 1989 | "You Were on My Mind You Were on My Mind "You Were On My Mind" is a song written by Sylvia Tyson in 1964. It was originally performed by her and Ian Tyson as the duo Ian & Sylvia and they recorded it for their 1964 album, Northern Journey. It was published in sheet form by M... " |
35 | — | You Were on My Mind |
| 1990 | "Slow Moving Heart" | 43 | — | |
| "Rhythm of the Road" | 42 | — | ||
| "Thrown to the Wolves" (with Tom Russell Tom Russell Thomas George "Tom" Russell is an American singer-songwriter. Although most strongly identified with the Texas Country music tradition, his music also incorporates elements of folk, Tex-Mex, and the cowboy music of the American West. Many of his songs have been recorded by other artists, including... ) |
43 | — | ||
| 1992 | "I Walk These Rails" | 18 | — | Gypsy Cadillac |
| 1993 | "The Sound of One Heart Breaking" | 52 | — |