The Higgins
Encyclopedia
The Higgins are a multi-award-winning Canadian
country music
group from Delta, British Columbia
. The Higgins comprise three siblings: John (born June 4, 1982), Eileen (born July 17, 1986), and Kathleen Higgins (born November 11, 1988). They have charted a total of three singles on the Canadian Country Music charts, two of which were Top 15. Videos for "Flower Child", "Real Thing", and "Second Hand Car" all went to #3 on CMT's Chevy Cross Canada Countdown. The Higgins are songwriters as well as musicians, having written or co-written nine tracks on their national debut album Real Thing
. The Higgins were nominated for CCMA
Group of the Year in 2008 and 2009, and have won six BCCMA
awards including Album of the Year
and Group of the Year (2008).
The group is best known for its vocal harmonies, and character onstage. The Higgins combine their country roots, pop influences and a Celtic
family background into "their unique musical sound", and have been featured on TV shows and radio across Canada.
, as 3 of the 7 siblings in their Irish-Hungarian family.
They began singing as young children, performing in local musicals and school choirs. They developed as musicians, matured as individuals, and committed to perfecting their music. The band's earliest incarnation included younger brother James, on the Drums, and their sister Mary on Vocals and Mandolin. Mary left the group in 2005, in order to pursue other interests.
, Fleetwood Mac
, the Dixie Chicks
, The Corrs
, James Taylor
, Celtic, deep South traditional forms of folk
, blues and country. They write, arrange and accompany themselves on a variety of both modern and traditional songs.
user for almost a year. Formerly a basketball hopeful, the 16-year old had to find something else to do. A friend lent him a battered, acoustic, steel-string guitar
while he was in his wheelchair, and he and his sisters taught each other to play. After John’s recovery, the group worked hard on developing their distinctive sound, and discovered they had a creative skill for songwriting.
John later became a spokesperson for WorkSafeBC, an organization dedicated to workplace safety. The Higgins performed at the WorkSafeBC 50th Anniversary, in June 2008.
, was released in June 2008, two-thirds of The Higgins had weddings. John was married in April, his new wife travelling with the group, working behind the scenes. Eileen followed suit and married in May 2008, though her new husband generally stays home while The Higgins go on tour.
In December 2008, Eileen announced on The Higgins' Myspace blog, that she and her husband Blake are expecting the birth of their first child in late February 2009. On March 1, 2009 Eileen gave birth to a girl, Lauren Marie (6 lbs 6oz).
's Walk of Stars, in Merritt, British Columbia
, Canada. Each year the town features a giant festival of the country music industry's top performers. Past performers include Reba McEntire
and Carrie Underwood
.
In November 2006, The Higgins were invited to represent Canada
at the Guangdong International Tourism & Cultural Festival
in China
. For a week, they performed in places such as the 60,000 seat capacity Tian-He Stadium, and the Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall
, in Guangzhou, China
.
They also performed at the British Columbia Country Music Association
Awards, after they were nominated
for Country Group/Duo of the Year 2006.
's
, this time in 3 categories : Entertainer of The Year, Group/Duo of The Year, and the Gaylord Wood Memorial Award for traditional country performers.
In September 2008, The Higgins presented at the 2008 Canadian Country Music Association Awards Show. Eileen Higgins took home a CCMA All-Star Band Award (Special Instrument Category – Mandolin), from the event. The Higgins were also nominated as CCMA Band/Duo of The Year, which later went to the songwriters of their hit single "Real Thing" : Deric Ruttan
, Chris Thorsteinson and Dave Wasyliw (both of Country Group Doc Walker
).
In October 2008, The Higgins won 6 BCCMA Awards
: Album of the Year (Real Thing), Group of the Year, Single of the Year (Flower Child), SOCAN Song of the Year (Flower Child), Video of the Year (Stephano Barberis for Flower Child), and Roots/Canadiana Group of the Year.
2008 also brought The Higgins as nominations for a CRMA , and an Indie Award.
) Awards: Group/Duo of the Year, Roots Artist of the Year, and Eileen, for Special Instrument (Mandolin).
Their album "Real Thing" was also nominated for a 2009 Western Canadian Music Award, (Country Album of the Year).
Walk of Stars Gala, in June 2007, aired on
CMT. This was their third year in a row they've performed at the ceremonies.
In 2006, the group made a music video (of their song "Hey Jamie"), for the CBC Television
show "Make Some Noise". Other media appearances for 2006 included, CBC
, Global TV, CityTV
, CMT
, CFJC-TV7
In February 2008, The Higgins released their first music video for "Flower Child", directed by award winning director Stephano Barberis to CMT Canada. It peaked at #3 on the network's Chevy Cross Canada Countdown in June 2008. Their videos for "Real Thing" (in 2008), and "Second Hand Car"(in 2009) were also directed by Barberis, and both reached #3 on the countdown.
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...
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...
group from Delta, British Columbia
Delta, British Columbia
Delta is a district municipality in British Columbia, and forms part of Metro Vancouver. Located south of Richmond, it is bordered by the Fraser River to the north, the United States to the south and the city of Surrey to the east...
. The Higgins comprise three siblings: John (born June 4, 1982), Eileen (born July 17, 1986), and Kathleen Higgins (born November 11, 1988). They have charted a total of three singles on the Canadian Country Music charts, two of which were Top 15. Videos for "Flower Child", "Real Thing", and "Second Hand Car" all went to #3 on CMT's Chevy Cross Canada Countdown. The Higgins are songwriters as well as musicians, having written or co-written nine tracks on their national debut album Real Thing
Real Thing (The Higgins album)
Real Thing is the debut studio album by Canadian country music group The Higgins. It was released on June 24, 2008 by Open Road. The first single, "Flower Child," was released in April 2008 and peaked in the top 20 on the Canadian Country Singles chart...
. The Higgins were nominated for 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...
Group of the Year in 2008 and 2009, and have won six BCCMA
British Columbia Country Music Association
The British Columbia Country Music Association is a Canadian artist organization designed "to promote, foster and encourage the development, public appreciation of, and interest in, the British Columbia Country Music Community - provincially, nationally and internationally."One of BCCMA's most...
awards including Album of the Year
and Group of the Year (2008).
The group is best known for its vocal harmonies, and character onstage. The Higgins combine their country roots, pop influences and a Celtic
Celtic music
Celtic music is a term utilised by artists, record companies, music stores and music magazines to describe a broad grouping of musical genres that evolved out of the folk musical traditions of the Celtic people of Western Europe...
family background into "their unique musical sound", and have been featured on TV shows and radio across Canada.
Members
- John Higgins – Vocals, AcousticAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
& Electric GuitarsElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker... - Eileen Higgins – Vocals, MandolinMandolinA mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
, Tin whistleTin whistleThe tin whistle, also called the penny whistle, English Flageolet, Scottish penny whistle, Tin Flageolet, Irish whistle and Clarke London Flageolet is a simple six-holed woodwind instrument. It is an end blown fipple flute, putting it in the same category as the recorder, American Indian flute, and... - Kathleen Higgins – Vocals, Acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
History
The Higgins grew up in Delta, British ColumbiaDelta, British Columbia
Delta is a district municipality in British Columbia, and forms part of Metro Vancouver. Located south of Richmond, it is bordered by the Fraser River to the north, the United States to the south and the city of Surrey to the east...
, as 3 of the 7 siblings in their Irish-Hungarian family.
They began singing as young children, performing in local musicals and school choirs. They developed as musicians, matured as individuals, and committed to perfecting their music. The band's earliest incarnation included younger brother James, on the Drums, and their sister Mary on Vocals and Mandolin. Mary left the group in 2005, in order to pursue other interests.
Musical Influences
The Higgins musical influences come from Emmylou HarrisEmmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris is an American singer-songwriter and musician. In addition to her work as a solo artist and bandleader, both as an interpreter of other composers' works and as a singer-songwriter, she is a sought-after backing vocalist and duet partner, working with numerous other artists including...
, Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac are a British–American rock band formed in 1967 in London.The only original member present in the band is its eponymous drummer, Mick Fleetwood...
, the Dixie Chicks
Dixie Chicks
The Dixie Chicks are an American country band which has also successfully crossed over into other genres. The band is composed of founding members Martie Erwin Maguire and Emily Erwin Robison, and lead singer Natalie Maines...
, The Corrs
The Corrs
The Corrs are an Irish band which combine pop rock with traditional Celtic folk music. The brother and sisters are from Dundalk, Ireland. The group consists of the Corr siblings: Andrea ; Sharon ; Caroline ; and Jim .The Corrs came to international prominence with their performance at the...
, James Taylor
James Taylor
James Vernon Taylor is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A five-time Grammy Award winner, Taylor was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000....
, Celtic, deep South traditional forms of 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....
, blues and country. They write, arrange and accompany themselves on a variety of both modern and traditional songs.
Overcoming Adversity
In 1998, John broke his back in a workplace accident, when a forklift crushed him in a bottle-recycling plant. It made him a wheelchairWheelchair
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing...
user for almost a year. Formerly a basketball hopeful, the 16-year old had to find something else to do. A friend lent him a battered, acoustic, steel-string guitar
Steel-string acoustic guitar
A steel-string acoustic guitar is a modern form of guitar descended from the classical guitar, but strung with steel strings for a brighter, louder sound...
while he was in his wheelchair, and he and his sisters taught each other to play. After John’s recovery, the group worked hard on developing their distinctive sound, and discovered they had a creative skill for songwriting.
John later became a spokesperson for WorkSafeBC, an organization dedicated to workplace safety. The Higgins performed at the WorkSafeBC 50th Anniversary, in June 2008.
Personal life
Just before their Canadian debut album, Real ThingReal Thing (The Higgins album)
Real Thing is the debut studio album by Canadian country music group The Higgins. It was released on June 24, 2008 by Open Road. The first single, "Flower Child," was released in April 2008 and peaked in the top 20 on the Canadian Country Singles chart...
, was released in June 2008, two-thirds of The Higgins had weddings. John was married in April, his new wife travelling with the group, working behind the scenes. Eileen followed suit and married in May 2008, though her new husband generally stays home while The Higgins go on tour.
In December 2008, Eileen announced on The Higgins' Myspace blog, that she and her husband Blake are expecting the birth of their first child in late February 2009. On March 1, 2009 Eileen gave birth to a girl, Lauren Marie (6 lbs 6oz).
2006
In September 2006, they were honored with their own star on the Merritt Mountain Music FestivalMerritt, British Columbia
Merritt is a city in the Nicola Valley of the south-central Interior of British Columbia, Canada. Situated at the confluence of the Nicola and Coldwater rivers, it is the first major community encountered after travelling along Phase One of the Coquihalla Highway and acts as the gateway to all...
's Walk of Stars, in Merritt, British Columbia
Merritt, British Columbia
Merritt is a city in the Nicola Valley of the south-central Interior of British Columbia, Canada. Situated at the confluence of the Nicola and Coldwater rivers, it is the first major community encountered after travelling along Phase One of the Coquihalla Highway and acts as the gateway to all...
, Canada. Each year the town features a giant festival of the country music industry's top performers. Past performers include Reba McEntire
Reba McEntire
Reba Nell McEntire is an American country music artist and actress. She began her career in the music industry as a high school student singing in the Kiowa High School band , on local radio shows with her siblings, and at rodeos. As a solo act, she was invited to perform at a rodeo in Oklahoma...
and Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood
Carrie Marie Underwood is an American country singer-songwriter and actress who rose to fame as the winner of the fourth season of American Idol, in 2005...
.
In November 2006, The Higgins were invited to represent 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...
at the Guangdong International Tourism & Cultural Festival
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. For a week, they performed in places such as the 60,000 seat capacity Tian-He Stadium, and the Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall
Sun Yat-sen
Sun Yat-sen was a Chinese doctor, revolutionary and political leader. As the foremost pioneer of Nationalist China, Sun is frequently referred to as the "Father of the Nation" , a view agreed upon by both the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China...
, in Guangzhou, China
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
.
They also performed at the British Columbia Country Music Association
British Columbia Country Music Association
The British Columbia Country Music Association is a Canadian artist organization designed "to promote, foster and encourage the development, public appreciation of, and interest in, the British Columbia Country Music Community - provincially, nationally and internationally."One of BCCMA's most...
Awards, after they were nominated
for Country Group/Duo of the Year 2006.
2007
In 2007, The Higgins were nominated again with the BCCMABritish Columbia Country Music Association
The British Columbia Country Music Association is a Canadian artist organization designed "to promote, foster and encourage the development, public appreciation of, and interest in, the British Columbia Country Music Community - provincially, nationally and internationally."One of BCCMA's most...
's
, this time in 3 categories : Entertainer of The Year, Group/Duo of The Year, and the Gaylord Wood Memorial Award for traditional country performers.
2008
The Higgins "Flower Child" video was nominated in April 2008, for a LEO Award in the "Best Best Music Video" Category.In September 2008, The Higgins presented at the 2008 Canadian Country Music Association Awards Show. Eileen Higgins took home a CCMA All-Star Band Award (Special Instrument Category – Mandolin), from the event. The Higgins were also nominated as CCMA Band/Duo of The Year, which later went to the songwriters of their hit single "Real Thing" : Deric Ruttan
Deric Ruttan
Deric J. Ruttan is a Canadian country music artist from Bracebridge, Ontario. Signed to Lyric Street Records in 2003, he made his chart debut on the U.S. and Canadian country music charts that year with the release of his single "When You Come Around"...
, Chris Thorsteinson and Dave Wasyliw (both of Country Group Doc Walker
Doc Walker
Doc Walker is a country music group from Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, Canada. They have won Canadian Country Music Awards and had radio hits with the songs "I Am Ready" and "The Show is Free" from the 2003 album Everyone Aboard. In 2001 they released the album Curve...
).
In October 2008, The Higgins won 6 BCCMA Awards
British Columbia Country Music Association
The British Columbia Country Music Association is a Canadian artist organization designed "to promote, foster and encourage the development, public appreciation of, and interest in, the British Columbia Country Music Community - provincially, nationally and internationally."One of BCCMA's most...
: Album of the Year (Real Thing), Group of the Year, Single of the Year (Flower Child), SOCAN Song of the Year (Flower Child), Video of the Year (Stephano Barberis for Flower Child), and Roots/Canadiana Group of the Year.
2008 also brought The Higgins as nominations for a CRMA , and an Indie Award.
2009
In July 2009, The Higgins were nominated for 3 Canadian Country Music Associations (CCMACanadian 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...
) Awards: Group/Duo of the Year, Roots Artist of the Year, and Eileen, for Special Instrument (Mandolin).
Their album "Real Thing" was also nominated for a 2009 Western Canadian Music Award, (Country Album of the Year).
Media
The Higgins performed at the 4th Annual MerrittMerritt, British Columbia
Merritt is a city in the Nicola Valley of the south-central Interior of British Columbia, Canada. Situated at the confluence of the Nicola and Coldwater rivers, it is the first major community encountered after travelling along Phase One of the Coquihalla Highway and acts as the gateway to all...
Walk of Stars Gala, in June 2007, aired on
CMT. This was their third year in a row they've performed at the ceremonies.
In 2006, the group made a music video (of their song "Hey Jamie"), for the CBC Television
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
show "Make Some Noise". Other media appearances for 2006 included, CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
, Global TV, CityTV
Citytv
Citytv is a Canadian English language television system owned and operated by Rogers Communications under its Rogers Broadcasting Ltd. division...
, CMT
CMT
- Medicine :* California mastitis test* Certified Massage Therapist* Cervical motion tenderness, a sign of pelvic inflammatory disease* Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease* Chemically modified tetracyclines* Circus Movement Tachycardia...
, CFJC-TV7
In February 2008, The Higgins released their first music video for "Flower Child", directed by award winning director Stephano Barberis to CMT Canada. It peaked at #3 on the network's Chevy Cross Canada Countdown in June 2008. Their videos for "Real Thing" (in 2008), and "Second Hand Car"(in 2009) were also directed by Barberis, and both reached #3 on the countdown.
Albums
| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 2003 | Coming Home for Christmas
|
| 2004 | Wild Minds
|
| 2007 | The Higgins
|
| 2008 | Real Thing Real Thing (The Higgins album) Real Thing is the debut studio album by Canadian country music group The Higgins. It was released on June 24, 2008 by Open Road. The first single, "Flower Child," was released in April 2008 and peaked in the top 20 on the Canadian Country Singles chart... Open Road Recordings Open Road Recordings, a division of Maple Core Ltd., is a Canadian country music record label established by Ron Kitchener in 2003 and distributed through Universal Music Canada.-Open Road artists:* Ridley Bent* Dean Brody* Doc Walker* Emerson Drive... |
| 2010 | Dreamers Like Us Dreamers Like Us Dreamers Like Us is a studio album by Canadian country music group The Higgins. It was released on June 8, 2010 by Open Road Recordings. The first single was "Free Like Love."-Track listing:#"Dreamers Like Us" – 3:19... Open Road Recordings Open Road Recordings, a division of Maple Core Ltd., is a Canadian country music record label established by Ron Kitchener in 2003 and distributed through Universal Music Canada.-Open Road artists:* Ridley Bent* Dean Brody* Doc Walker* Emerson Drive... |
Singles
| Year | Single | 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... |
|||
| 2008 | "Flower Child" | — | Real Thing |
| "Real Thing" | 99 | ||
| 2009 | "Second Hand Car" | — | |
| 2010 | "Free Like Love" | — | Dreamers Like Us |
| "Dreamers Like Us" | — | ||
| "Burn You Back" | — |
Official Websites
Interviews and Other Articles
- The Peak - Nov 14, 2005
- BC Country Music Association
- The Province - July 31, 2008
- The South Delta Leader - Aug 1, 2008
- The North Shore News - July 25, 2008