Blue Rodeo

Lore & Background

Blue Rodeo was formed in the summer of 1984 when Jim Cuddy, Greg Keelor, and Bob Wiseman decided to start a band upon returning to Toronto from New York City. The name 'Blue Rodeo' had already been chosen when they recruited drummer Cleave Anderson and bassist Bazil Donovan. Their first show together was on February 8, 1985, at The Rivoli in Toronto. The band's debut album, Outskirts, was released in March 1987 and achieved moderate success until the single 'Try' became a major hit in October 1987, reaching number one on the RPM Country Tracks chart and number six on the RPM Top Singles chart. The album eventually reached 4× Platinum status in sales.

Over their career, Blue Rodeo released 16 full-length studio albums, four live recordings, one greatest hits album, and two video/DVDs. By 1999, the band had sold more than two million albums in Canada. In 2013, former keyboard player James Gray died of a heart attack at age 52. That same year, guitarist Colin Cripps joined as a full member due to Greg Keelor's hearing issues preventing him from playing electric guitar live. In September 2015, the band released the protest song 'Stealin All My Dreams,' which criticized the government under Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Blue Rodeo has received numerous honors, including a star on Canada's Walk of Fame in 2009, induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2012, and a Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement in 2014. In 2022, the City of Toronto named a street Blue Rodeo Drive after the band. In 2024, Cuddy and Keelor were inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the documentary film Blue Rodeo: Lost Together won the Audience Award at the Whistler Film Festival.

Reader's Guide

Blue Rodeo's significance lies in their enduring popularity and influence within Canadian music, spanning nearly four decades. They have sold in excess of four million records and won twelve Juno Awards and seven SOCAN awards. Their music has been featured in films and television shows, including the 1990 film Postcards from the Edge, where the entire band backed Meryl Streep. The band's annual summer concert at Budweiser Stage became a tradition, only interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Their 40th anniversary tour in 2025-2026 covered 22 cities across eight Canadian provinces. Blue Rodeo is also a member of the charity Artists Against Racism. Their legacy is cemented by their induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame alongside icons like Rush, Leonard Cohen, and Neil Young, and their recognition as one of Canada's premier musical groups.

Did You Know?

• Blue Rodeo's first show was on February 8, 1985, at The Rivoli in Toronto.
• The band's song 'After the Rain' was the most-performed song in Canada in 1992.
• Former keyboard player James Gray died of a heart attack on August 5, 2013, at age 52.
• The City of Toronto named a street Blue Rodeo Drive after the band in 2022.