George Canyon

  • Nova Scotia, Canada
    hometown
  • Country
    genre
  • 1996
    started
  • Bio
    full story
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About George Canyon


Canadian country singer George Canyon was born Fred Lays Jr. on August 22, 1970. He grew up in Fox Brook, Pictou County, Nova Scotia. His first guitar was a gift from his mother and father, who made the instrument for him when he was four years old. Before he reached his teens, Canyon was a proficient guitarist and giving instruction to others. Like fellow Canadian singers Gil Grand and Paul Brandt, Canyon studied pre-med before he was drawn to a career in country music. He even spent time as a hospital orderly, among his other odd jobs, but a foray into musical theater at school led to a change of plans.

During his years at Nova Scotia's St. Francis Xavier University in the early '90s, the singer/songwriter was auditioning for a production when members of a local rock group heard him singing. The band, Branded, decided they'd found the country-sounding vocalist they had been looking for and invited him on tour. The music bug bit Canyon hard, and for several years he never looked back. Canyon performed in the Calgary region of Alberta, where he met the woman who would become his wife. When they wed in 1994, he stepped away from his musical aspirations and returned with her to Nova Scotia. But the pull of music was strong, and after several months he made the decision to embark on a solo career. Canyon and his wife, Jennifer, packed up once again to head back to Alberta.

A burgeoning friendship with singer Big Al Downing resulted in Canyon recording a demo album, Ironwolf, self-released in 1996. Downing set up a recording session in Nashville, as well as arranging to get the younger singer/songwriter's music in front of former RCA executive Freddie May. The demo didn't catch May's attention, but the executive gave Canyon a chance to show him something else. On a 12-string guitar, Canyon played some of his other compositions, including "The Shaft," a song he penned about his family's experiences in Nova Scotia's coal mines. The tune prompted May to arrange for a new recording session in Nashville. The result was Canyon's eponymous debut album, George Canyon, in 1999. "Enough Said," a single from the debut, was co-written by Dana Oglesby, the songwriter behind "Check Yes or No," which was a hit for country star George Strait. Julian Austin, another Canadian singer/songwriter, helped Canyon out by appearing in the music video for the single. Other country artists appeared, too, traveling north for the video shoot. The video found a spot in the Top 20 aired by Country Music Television. Another single from the debut, "Her Everything," was also well received.

Several albums followed, including One Good Friend (2004), Home for Christmas (2005), Somebody Wrote Love (2006), Classics (2007), What I Do (2008), and Better Be Home Soon (2011), all on Universal Canada, and several of them sold well enough to be certified gold. Since starting his solo career, he has represented the Canadian Juvenile Diabetes Foundation as a spokesperson. Canyon himself suffers from the disorder, having been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 14. ~ Linda Seida & Steve Leggett, Rovi

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Music

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  • Surrender
    george-canyon
    Video
    Surrender
  • Ring Of Fire
    george-canyon
    Video
    Ring Of Fire
  • My Name
    george-canyon
    Video
    My Name
  • I'll Never Do Better Than You
    george-canyon
    Video
    I'll Never Do Better Than You
  • 6488873
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    • One Good Friend
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/9/8/8/4/0/111404889.mp3
    • I Believe In Angels
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/9/1/4/1/1/324211419.mp3
    • Unfinished
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/9/1/4/4/0/111404419.mp3
    • Who Would You Be
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/6/8/4/0/6/257060486.mp3
    • Hell Or High Water
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/5/7/7/9/3/111239775.mp3
    • Workin' On Ten
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/4/4/5/5/0/111305544.mp3

Photos

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  • George Canyon of Canada appears at the Stage in Nashville on June 8, 2009.
    George Canyon
    George Canyon of Canada appears at the Stage in Nashville on June 8, 2009.
    Bev Moser
  • George Canyon of Canada performs at the Stage in Nashville on June 8, 2009.
    George Canyon
    George Canyon of Canada performs at the Stage in Nashville on June 8, 2009.
    Bev Moser
  • George Canyon of Canada at the Stage in Nashville on June 8, 2009
    George Canyon
    George Canyon of Canada at the Stage in Nashville on June 8, 2009
    Bev Moser
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    Kristin Barlowe
  • George Canyon
    George Canyon
    George Canyon
    Kristin Barlowe

Discography

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  • Better Be Home Soon (2011)
    George Canyon
    Better Be Home Soon (2011)
    Universal Music
  • What I Do (2008)
    George Canyon
    What I Do (2008)
    Universal Distribution
  • Classics (2007)
    George Canyon
    Classics (2007)
  • Somebody Wrote Love (2006)
    George Canyon
    Somebody Wrote Love (2006)
    Reiny Dawg
  • Home for Christmas (2005)
    George Canyon
    Home for Christmas (2005)
    Universal South Records
  • One Good Friend (2004)
    George Canyon
    One Good Friend (2004)
    Universal South Records
  • George Canyon (1999)
    George Canyon
    George Canyon (1999)
    Shoreline
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