Bruce Douglas Cockburn ( ; born May 27, 1945) is a Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist. His song styles range from folk to

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

-influenced rock and his lyrics cover a broad range of topics including human rights, environmental issues, politics, and Christianity. Cockburn has written more than 350 songs on 34 albums over a career spanning 50 years, of which 22 have received a Canadian gold or platinum certification as of 2018, and he has sold over one million albums in Canada alone. In 2014, Cockburn released his memoirs, '' Rumours of Glory''. In 2016, his album ''Christmas'' was certified 6 times platinum in Canada for sales of over 600,000.

Early life and education

Cockburn was born in 1945 in

Ottawa Ottawa (, ; Canadian French: ) is the capital city of Canada. It is located at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River in the southern portion of the province of Ontario. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the c ...

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...

, and spent some time at his grandfather's farm outside of Chelsea, Quebec, but he grew up in Westboro, which was a suburb of Ottawa when he was a teenager. His father, Doug Cockburn, was a

radiologist Radiology ( ) is the medical discipline that uses medical imaging to diagnose diseases and guide their treatment, within the bodies of humans and other animals. It began with radiography (which is why its name has a root referring to radiati ...

, eventually becoming head of diagnostic x-ray at the Ottawa Civic Hospital. He has stated in interviews that his first guitar was one he found around 1959 in his grandmother's attic, which he adorned with golden stars and used to play along to radio hits. This was replaced when his parents bought him a

Kay The name Kay is found both as a surname (see Kay (surname)) and as a given name. In English-speaking countries, it is usually a feminine name, often a short form of Katherine or one of its variants; but it is also used as a first name in its own ...

archtop An archtop guitar is a hollow electric or semi-acoustic guitar with a full body and a distinctive arched top, whose sound is particularly popular with jazz, blues, and rockabilly players. Typically, an archtop guitar has: * Six strings * An ar ...

that had flat wound strings and a

DeArmond Rowe Industries was a manufacturer of guitar pickups and other music-related devices, as well as electrical components utilized in the aerospace industry into the 1980s. Owner Horace "Bud" Rowe established a working relationship with budding ele ...

pickup after his first guitar teacher, Hank Sims, declared it unplayable. Later he was taught piano and music theory by Peter Hall, the organist at Westboro United Church which Cockburn and his family attended. Cockburn had been listening to jazz and wanted to learn musical composition. Hall encouraged him and, along with his friend Bob Lamble, a lot of time was spent at Hall's house listening to and discussing jazz. Cockburn attended Nepean High School, where his 1964 yearbook photo states his desire "to become a musician". After graduating, he took a boat to Europe and busked in Paris. Cockburn attended Berklee School of Music in Boston, where his studies included jazz composition, for three semesters between 1964 and 1966. That year he dropped out and joined an Ottawa band called The Children, which lasted for about a year.

Career

Early career

In early 1967 he joined the final lineup of

the Esquires The Esquires were an American R&B group from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States, principally active from 1957 to 1976. History The group first formed in 1957 around the Moorer family: Gilbert (born Gilbert Moorer, Jr., August 20, 1941, Bir ...

. He moved to

Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the anch ...

that summer to form

The Flying Circus The Flying Circus were a short-lived Toronto-based group fronted by singer/songwriter, Bruce Cockburn. The band, which was active between late 1967 and early 1968, also featured Neil Merryweather and future Mapleoak members, Marty Fisher and G ...

with Marty Fisher and Gordon MacBain, former Bobby Kris & The Imperials members, and Neil Lillie, ex- Tripp member. The group recorded some material in late 1967 (which remains unreleased) before changing its name to Olivus in the spring of 1968, by which time Lillie (who changed his name to Neil Merryweather) had been replaced by Dennis Pendrith from Livingstone's Journey. Olivus opened for

The Jimi Hendrix Experience James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942September 18, 1970) was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. Although his mainstream career spanned only four years, he is widely regarded as one of the most ...

and

Cream Cream is a dairy product composed of the higher-fat layer skimmed from the top of milk before homogenization. In un-homogenized milk, the fat, which is less dense, eventually rises to the top. In the industrial production of cream, this process ...

in April 1968. That summer Cockburn broke up the band with the intention of going solo, but ended up in the band 3's a Crowd with David Wiffen,

Colleen Peterson Colleen Susan Peterson (November 14, 1950 – October 9, 1996) was a Canadian country and folk singer, who performed both as a solo artist and as a member of the band Quartette. Career Peterson began performing in coffeehouses in Ottawa in 196 ...

, and Richard Patterson, who had been a co-member of The Children. Cockburn left 3's a Crowd in the spring of 1969 to pursue a solo career. Cockburn's first solo appearance was at the Mariposa Folk Festival in 1967, and in 1969 he was a headliner. In 1970 he released his self-titled, solo album. A single, "Going to the Country", appeared on the RPM Top 50 Canadian Chart. Cockburn's guitar work and songwriting won him an enthusiastic following. His early work featured rural and nautical imagery and Biblical metaphors. Raised as an

agnostic Agnosticism is the view or belief that the existence of God, of the divine or the supernatural is unknown or unknowable. (page 56 in 1967 edition) Another definition provided is the view that "human reason is incapable of providing sufficien ...

, early in his career he became a

Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι� ...

. Many of his albums from the 1970s refer to Christian themes, which in turn inform his concerns for

human rights Human rights are moral principles or normsJames Nickel, with assistance from Thomas Pogge, M.B.E. Smith, and Leif Wenar, 13 December 2013, Stanford Encyclopedia of PhilosophyHuman Rights Retrieved 14 August 2014 for certain standards of hu ...

and

environmentalism Environmentalism or environmental rights is a broad Philosophy of life, philosophy, ideology, and social movement regarding concerns for environmental protection and improvement of the health of the environment (biophysical), environment, par ...

. His references to Christianity include the Grail imagery of 20th-century Christian poet Charles Williams and the ideas of theologian Harvey Cox. In 1970 Cockburn became partners with Bernie Finkelstein in the music publishing firm Golden Mountain Music. He won the Juno, for Canadian Folksinger of the Year, three years in a row, 1971–73. He was nominated for Canadian Folksinger of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year at the 1974 Juno Awards. While Cockburn had been popular in Canada for years, he did not have a big impact in the United States until 1979, with the release of the album ''

Dancing in the Dragon's Jaws ''Dancing in the Dragon's Jaws'' is the ninth studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Bruce Cockburn. The album has eight songs written around the acoustic guitar and "particularly showcased Cockburn's sparkling guitar work". Up to that time Co ...

''. The album's first single, "

Wondering Where the Lions Are "Wondering Where the Lions Are" is a song written and performed by Bruce Cockburn. The track is from his 1979 album '' Dancing in the Dragon's Jaws''. Chart performance It was Cockburn's only Top 40 hit in the United States, peaking at No. 21 on ...

", reached No. 21 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in the US in June 1980, earning Cockburn an appearance on NBC's TV show ''

Saturday Night Live ''Saturday Night Live'' (often abbreviated to ''SNL'') is an American late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC and Peacock. Michaels currently serves ...

''. Cockburn's label, True North Records, also signed a distribution deal with Recordi Records in Italy.

1980s and 1990s

Through the 1980s Cockburn's songwriting became increasingly urban, global and political as he became more involved with progressive causes. His political concerns were first hinted at on the albums: ''Humans'', ''Inner City Front'' and ''The Trouble with Normal''. They became more evident in 1984, with his second US radio hit, "

If I Had a Rocket Launcher "If I Had a Rocket Launcher" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Bruce Cockburn, from his 1984 album '' Stealing Fire''. The song was inspired by Cockburn's visit, sponsored by Oxfam, to Guatemalan refugee camps in Mexico following the coun ...

" (No. 88 in the US) from the '' Stealing Fire'' album. He had written the song a year earlier, after visiting Guatemalan refugee camps in Mexico that were attacked by Guatemalan military helicopters. His political activism continues to the present. His internationalist bent is reflected in the many world music influences in his music, including

reggae Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, " Do the Reggay" was the first popular song to use ...

and

Latin music Latin music ( Portuguese and es, música latina) is a term used by the music industry as a catch-all category for various styles of music from Ibero-America (including Spain and Portugal) and the Latino United States inspired by Latin Amer ...

. In 1991 Intrepid Records released ''

Kick at the Darkness ''Kick at the Darkness'' is a tribute album to Canadian singer-songwriter Bruce Cockburn, released in 1991. The title comes from a line in the song "Lovers in a Dangerous Time": "gotta kick at the darkness 'til it bleeds daylight". The album wa ...

'', a tribute album to Cockburn whose title comes from a phrase in his song "

Lovers in a Dangerous Time "Lovers in a Dangerous Time" is a song by Bruce Cockburn, originally released on his 1984 album '' Stealing Fire''. The song was a top 40 hit for Cockburn, peaking at No. 25 on the Canadian charts the week of August 18, 1984. Background Accordi ...

". It features the

Barenaked Ladies Barenaked Ladies is a Canadian rock band formed in 1988 in Scarborough, Ontario. The band developed a following in Canada, with their self-titled 1991 cassette becoming the first independent release to be certified gold in Canada. They reached ...

' cover of that song, which became their first Top 40 hit and an element in their early success. This lyric was also referenced by U2 in their song "

God Part II "God Part II" is a song by rock band U2, and the 14th track from their 1988 album ''Rattle and Hum''. Content It was written as an answer song to John Lennon's "God", having the same kind of lyrical structure. It also contains an attack on Amer ...

" from their album ''

Rattle and Hum ''Rattle and Hum'' is a hybrid live/studio album by Irish rock band U2, and a companion rockumentary film directed by Phil Joanou. The album was produced by Jimmy Iovine and was released on 10 October 1988, while the film was distributed by ...

''. Also in 1991, three of Cockburn's songs were listed in a Toronto Star survey among Toronto's top songs of all time. In the early 1990s, Cockburn teamed with

T Bone Burnett Joseph Henry "T Bone" Burnett III (born January 14, 1948) is an American record producer, guitarist and songwriter. He rose to fame as a guitarist in Bob Dylan's band during the 1970s. He has received multiple Grammy awards for his work in fil ...

for two albums, ''Nothing but a Burning Light'' and '' Dart to the Heart''. The latter included a song, "Closer to the Light", inspired by the death of songwriter Mark Heard, a close friend of Cockburn and Burnett. Cockburn frequently refers to Heard as his favourite songwriter and he was one of many artists who paid tribute to Heard on an album and video titled '' Strong Hand of Love''. Bruce Cockburn at Markham Jazz Festival 2014

Bruce Cockburn at Markham Jazz Festival 2014

2000s

In 2001 Cockburn performed as part of the Music Without Borders concert, a benefit for the United Nations Donor Alert Appeal, which raised funds for refugees from Afghanistan, at the

Air Canada Centre Scotiabank Arena (French: ''Aréna Scotiabank)'', formerly known as Air Canada Centre (ACC), is a multi-purposed arena located on Bay Street in the South Core district of Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is the home of the Toronto Ra ...

in Toronto. In January 2003 Cockburn finished recording his 21st album, ''You've Never Seen Everything'', which features contributions from

Emmylou Harris Emmylou Harris (born April 2, 1947) is an American singer, songwriter and musician. She has released dozens of albums and singles over the course of her career and has won 14 Grammys, the Polar Music Prize, and numerous other honors, includin ...

Jackson Browne Clyde Jackson Browne (born October 9, 1948) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and political activist who has sold over 18 million albums in the United States. Emerging as a precocious teenage songwriter in mid-1960s Los Angeles, he h ...

, Sam Phillips,

Sarah Harmer Sarah Harmer (born November 12, 1970) is a Canadian singer, songwriter and environmental activist. Early life Born and raised in Burlington, Ontario, Harmer gained her first exposure to the musician's lifestyle as a teenager, when her older sist ...

Hugh Marsh Hugh Marsh (born June 5, 1955) is a violinist from Toronto, known for his electric violin sound. Marsh was nominated for a 2007 Juno Award in the best contemporary jazz album category. Early days Marsh was born in Montreal, Quebec and brought ...

, Jonell Mosser, Larry Taylor and Steven Hodges. Some of Cockburn's previously published material had been collected in several albums: ''Resume'', ''Mummy Dust'', and ''Waiting for a Miracle''. His first

greatest hits A greatest hits album or best-of album is a type of compilation album that collects popular and commercially successful songs by a particular artist or band. While greatest hits albums are typically supported by the artist, they can also be crea ...

collection was ''Anything Anytime Anywhere: Singles 1979–2002'', released in 2002. Cockburn performed a set at the

Live 8 Live 8 was a string of benefit concerts that took place on 2 July 2005, in the G8 states and in South Africa. They were timed to precede the G8 conference and summit held at the Gleneagles Hotel in Auchterarder, Scotland, from 6–8 July 200 ...

concert in

Barrie, Ontario Barrie is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada, about north of Toronto. The city is within Simcoe County and located along the shores of Kempenfelt Bay, the western arm of Lake Simcoe. Although physically in Simcoe County, Barrie is politically ...

, on July 2, 2005. ''Speechless'', an instrumental compilation of new and previously released material, was released on October 24, 2005. His 22nd album, ''Life Short Call Now'', was released on July 18, 2006. Canadian senator and retired general

Roméo Dallaire Roméo Antonius Dallaire (born June 25, 1946) is a Canadian humanitarian, author, retired senator and Canadian Forces lieutenant-general. Dallaire served as force commander of UNAMIR, the ill-fated United Nations peacekeeping force for Rwanda ...

, who is active in humanitarian fundraising and promoting awareness, appeared on stage at the

University of Victoria The University of Victoria (UVic or Victoria) is a public research university located in the municipalities of Oak Bay and Saanich, British Columbia, Canada. The university traces its roots to Victoria College, the first post-secondary insti ...

with Cockburn. The October 4, 2008, concert was held to aid the plight of child soldiers. In 2009 Cockburn travelled to Afghanistan to visit his brother, Medical Officer Capt. John Cockburn, and to play a concert for Canadian troops. He performed his 1984 song "If I Had a Rocket Launcher" and was temporarily awarded an actual

rocket launcher A rocket launcher is a weapon that launches an unguided, rocket-propelled projectile. History The earliest rocket launchers documented in imperial China consisted of arrows modified by the attachment of a rocket motor to the shaft a few ...

by the military. Cockburn has stated that, while unsure of the original

Invasion of Afghanistan In late 2001, the United States and its close allies invaded Afghanistan and toppled the Taliban government. The invasion's aims were to dismantle al-Qaeda, which had executed the September 11 attacks, and to deny it a safe base of operation ...

, he supported Canada's role there. Cockburn released the studio album '' Small Source of Comfort'' in 2011. In 2018, Cockburn's album ''Bone on Bone'', was named Contemporary Roots Album of the Year at the Juno Awards.

Activism

Cockburn's songwriting is often political, expressing concern for the environment and the welfare of indigenous peoples. '' Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians'' writes, "Cockburn always risked an outspoken stand in his work, taking on issues and morality to the detriment of his popular appeal. No artist since

Phil Ochs Philip David Ochs (; December 19, 1940 – April 9, 1976) was an American songwriter and protest singer (or, as he preferred, a topical singer). Ochs was known for his sharp wit, sardonic humor, political activism, often alliterative lyrics, and ...

has taken such strong political stands." He has worked with relief agency

Oxfam Oxfam is a British-founded confederation of 21 independent charitable organizations focusing on the alleviation of global poverty, founded in 1942 and led by Oxfam International. History Founded at 17 Broad Street, Oxford, as the Oxford Co ...

, travelling to Central America in 1983, and with the International Campaign to Ban Landmines. The song "Mines of Mozambique" (''The Charity of Night'') reflects his observations of that country during a visit in 1995. Cockburn is affiliated with the Unitarian Service Committee of Canada, twice visiting Nepal with the charity, in 1987 and 2007. Songs on these themes include "

" (''Stealing Fire''), an angry response to the plight of refugees in Central America; "Stolen Land" (''Waiting for a Miracle''), about the land claims of British Columbia's

Haida people Haida (, hai, X̱aayda, , , ) are an indigenous group who have traditionally occupied , an archipelago just off the coast of British Columbia, Canada, for at least 12,500 years. The Haida are known for their craftsmanship, trading skills, and ...

; and "If a Tree Falls" (''Big Circumstance'')—one of Cockburn's best-known songs—decrying the deforestation of the Amazon.

Documentaries and soundtracks

Cockburn wrote and performed the theme song for the children's television series '' Franklin''. He composed and performed, with

, the music for the

National Film Board of Canada The National Film Board of Canada (NFB; french: Office national du film du Canada (ONF)) is Canada's public film and digital media producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary fi ...

documentary feature ''

Waterwalker ''Waterwalker'' is a 1984 documentary film by Bill Mason, a Canadian outdoorsman, painter, rapist, canoeist and environmentalist, who made many films on the art of canoeing and on the appreciation of nature. Released theatrically in Canada in 198 ...

'' (1984), directed by Bill Mason. He also composed two songs for the classic English-Canadian film ''

Goin' Down the Road ''Goin' Down the Road'' is a 1970 Canadian film directed by Donald Shebib, co-written by William Fruet and Donald Shebib. It tells the story of two young men who decide to leave the Maritimes, where jobs and fulfilling lives are hard to find, for ...

'' (1970), directed by

Donald Shebib Donald Everett "Don" Shebib (born 27 January 1938) is a Canadian film director. Shebib is a central figure in the development of English Canadian cinema who made several short documentaries for the National Film Board of Canada and CBC Televisi ...

. In 1998 Cockburn travelled with filmmaker Robert Lang to

Mali Mali (; ), officially the Republic of Mali,, , ff, 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞥆𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 𞤃𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭, Renndaandi Maali, italics=no, ar, جمهورية مالي, Jumhūriyyāt Mālī is a landlocked country in West Africa. Ma ...

West Africa West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of Africa. The United Nations defines Western Africa as the 16 countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali ...

, where he jammed with

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pr ...

-winning blues musician

Ali Farka Toure ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib ( ar, عَلِيّ بْن أَبِي طَالِب; 600 – 661 CE) was the last of four Rightly Guided Caliphs to rule Islam (r. 656 – 661) immediately after the death of Muhammad, and he was the first Shia Imam. ...

and kora master Toumani Diabate. The month-long journey was documented in the film ''River of Sand'', which won the ''Regard Canadien'' award for best documentary at the Vues d'Afrique Film Festival in

Montreal Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous city in the Canadian province of Quebec. Founded in 1642 as '' Ville-Marie'', or "City of Mary", it is named after Mount Royal, the triple- ...

. It was also invited for competition at the International Festival of Environmental Films in Paris. In 2007 Cockburn's music was featured in the

movie adaptation A film adaptation is the transfer of a work or story, in whole or in part, to a feature film. Although often considered a type of derivative work, film adaptation has been conceptualized recently by academic scholars such as Robert Stam as a dial ...

Irvine Welsh Irvine Welsh (born 27 September 1958) is a Scottish novelist, playwright and short story writer. His 1993 novel '' Trainspotting'' was made into a film of the same name. He has also written plays and screenplays, and directed several short fil ...

's best-selling novel '' Ecstasy: Three Tales of Chemical Romance''. A documentary film, ''Bruce Cockburn Pacing the Cage'', was released in 2013 on television and a brief theatrical showing; directed by Joel Goldberg, gave a rare look into Cockburn's music, life and politics. In 2018, Cockburn contributed the song "3 Al Purdys" to the compilation album ''

The Al Purdy Songbook ''Al Purdy Was Here'' is a Canadian documentary film, released in 2015.Barenaked Ladies Barenaked Ladies is a Canadian rock band formed in 1988 in Scarborough, Ontario. The band developed a following in Canada, with their self-titled 1991 cassette becoming the first independent release to be certified gold in Canada. They reached ...

("Lovers in a Dangerous Time") * Steve Bell (''My Dinner with Bruce'', an album of Cockburn songs) *

Jimmy Buffett James William Buffett (born December 25, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, and businessman. He is best known for his music, which often portrays an "island escapism" lifestyle. Together with his Coral Reefer Band, Buffe ...

("Pacing the Cage", "Anything Anytime Anywhere", "All the Ways I Want You", "Life Short Call Now", "Wondering Where the Lions Are" (in the movie ''

Hoot Hoot may refer to: Publications * ''Hoot'' (novel), a young adult novel by Carl Hiaasen * ''Hoot'', a 1996 children's novel by Jane Hissey * ''Hoot'' (comics), a British magazine published from 1985 to 1986 * ''The Brandeis Hoot'', a student ne ...

'') *

Judy Collins Judith Marjorie Collins (born May 1, 1939) is an American singer-songwriter and musician with a career spanning seven decades. An Academy Award-nominated documentary director and a Grammy Award-winning recording artist, she is known for her ec ...

("Pacing the Cage") * Lori Cullen ("Fall") * Dan Fogelberg ("Lovers in a Dangerous Time") * Frazey Ford ("Lovers in a Dangerous Time") * Donavon Frankenreiter ("Wondering Where the Lions Are") * George Hamilton IV ("Together Alone") * The

Jerry Garcia Band The Jerry Garcia Band was a San Francisco Bay Area rock band led by Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead. Garcia founded the band in 1975; it remained the most important of his various side projects until his death in 1995. The band regularly tour ...

("Waiting for a Miracle") *

Dianne Heatherington Dianne Mae Heatherington (May 14, 1948 – October 22, 1996) was a Canadian singer of several genres, particularly rock, whose musical career spanned nearly two decades. In the latter part of her career, she became a successful businessperson in ...

and

Ani DiFranco Angela Maria "Ani" DiFranco (; born September 23, 1970) is an American-Canadian singer-songwriter. She has released more than 20 albums. DiFranco's music has been classified as folk rock and alternative rock, although it has additional influe ...

and Mary Coughlan ("Mama Just Wants to Barrelhouse All Night Long") * Michael Hedges ("Wondering Where the Lions Are") * k.d. lang ("One Day I Walk") *

Anne Murray Morna Anne Murray (born June 20, 1945) is a retired Canadian singer. Her albums, consisting primarily of pop, country, and adult contemporary music, have sold over 55 million copies worldwide during her over 40-year career. Murray was the fir ...

("One Day I Walk", "Musical Friends") * Holly Near ("To Raise the Morning Star") *

Michael Occhipinti Michael Occhipinti is a Canadian jazz guitarist and composer. A founding member of the Neufeld-Occhipinti Jazz Orchestra, he is most noted as a three-time Juno Award nominee for Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year, receiving nominations at the Ju ...

and Edward Weir (''Creation Dream'', an album containing jazz arrangements of Cockburn's songs) * The Rankin Family ("One Day I Walk") * Tom Rush ("One Day I Walk') * Vigilantes of Love ("Wondering Where the Lions Are") *

Hawksley Workman Hawksley Workman (Born Ryan Corrigan, March 4, 1975) is a Canadian rock singer-songwriter who has garnered critical acclaim for his blend of cabaret pop and glam rock. Workman has released eleven full-length albums throughout his career. A mul ...

("The Coldest Night of the Year", "Silver Wheels")

Awards and honours

1980–2010

Cockburn was made a Member of the

Order of Canada The Order of Canada (french: Ordre du Canada; abbreviated as OC) is a Canadian state order and the second-highest honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit. To coincide with the cen ...

in 1982 and was promoted to Officer in 2002. In 1998, he received the Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement, Canada's highest honour in the performing arts. He has received thirteen

Juno Awards The Juno Awards, more popularly known as the JUNOS, are awards presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music. New members of the Canadian Music Hall of ...

, and in 2001, during the 30th Annual Juno Awards ceremony, Cockburn was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. The Cockburn tribute during the awards included taped testimonials from U2's

Bono Paul David Hewson (born 10 May 1960), known by his stage name Bono (), is an Irish singer-songwriter, activist, and philanthropist. He is the lead vocalist and primary lyricist of the rock band U2. Born and raised in Dublin, he attended ...

Cowboy Junkies Cowboy Junkies are an alternative country and folk rock band formed in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1985 by Alan Anton (bassist), Michael Timmins (songwriter, guitarist), Peter Timmins (drummer) and Margo Timmins (vocalist). The three Timminses ...

Margo Timmins Margo Timmins (born January 27, 1961) is the lead vocalist of Canadian alternative country and folk rock band Cowboy Junkies. She is the sister of Michael Timmins, the band's lead guitarist, and Peter Timmins, the band's drummer. Her ethereal vo ...

, and

Midnight Oil Midnight Oil (known informally as "The Oils") are an Australian rock band composed of Peter Garrett (vocals, harmonica), Rob Hirst (drums), Jim Moginie (guitar, keyboard) and Martin Rotsey (guitar). The group was formed in Sydney in 1972 ...

's Peter Garrett. That year he was presented with a SOCAN Folk/Roots award. The Canadian Association of Broadcasters inducted Cockburn into the

Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame The Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame, started in 1982, recognizes Canadians in broadcasting or entertainment related industries who have "achieved outstanding success in helping raise industry standards from a material or humanitarian standpoint." T ...

on October 22, 2002, in

Vancouver Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the city, up from 631,486 in 2016. ...

. On November 27, 2002, the CBC's '' Life and Times'' series aired a special feature on Cockburn titled ''The Life and Times of Bruce Cockburn''. In 2007 Cockburn received three

honorary doctorates An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all of the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases ''honoris causa'' ("for the sake of the honour") or '' ad hon ...

, the fourth, fifth and sixth of his career. In early May he received an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Queen's University in

Kingston, Ontario Kingston is a city in Ontario, Canada. It is located on the north-eastern end of Lake Ontario, at the beginning of the St. Lawrence River and at the mouth of the Cataraqui River (south end of the Rideau Canal). The city is midway between Tor ...

, and later in the month he received an Honorary Doctor of Letters at the convocation of

Memorial University of Newfoundland Memorial University of Newfoundland, also known as Memorial University or MUN (), is a public university in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, based in St. John's, with satellite campuses in Corner Brook, elsewhere in Newfoundland and ...

for his lifelong contributions to Canadian music, culture and social activism. He was then awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the

in Victoria, British Columbia. Cockburn previously received honorary doctorates from

York University York University (french: Université York), also known as YorkU or simply YU, is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's fourth-largest university, and it has approximately 55,700 students, 7,000 faculty and sta ...

in Toronto,

Berklee College of Music Berklee College of Music is a private music college in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known for the study of jazz and modern American music, it also offers college-level cours ...

, and St. Thomas University in

New Brunswick New Brunswick (french: Nouveau-Brunswick, , locally ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. It is the only province with both English and ...

. He received an Honorary Doctorate awarded by

McMaster University McMaster University (McMaster or Mac) is a public research university in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main McMaster campus is on of land near the residential neighbourhoods of Ainslie Wood and Westdale, adjacent to the Royal Botanical Ga ...

in 2009. In June, 2014, Cockburn received an honourary Doctorate of Letters from Laurentian University in Sudbury, and Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa, from Carleton University, in Ottawa.

2010s

Cockburn received

Earth Day Earth Day is an annual event on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First held on April 22, 1970, it now includes a wide range of events coordinated globally by EarthDay.org (formerly Earth Day Network) including 1 b ...

Canada's Outstanding Commitment to the Environment Award in 2010, and the

Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (french: Médaille du jubilé de diamant de la reine Elizabeth II) or The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal created in 2012 to mark the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's ...

in 2012. On November 19, 2012, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award of the

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, at the 2012 SOCAN Awards in Toronto. On February 15, 2017, he received the People's Voice Award in Kansas City from

Folk Alliance International Folk Alliance International (previously the ''North American Folk Music and Dance Alliance'') is a non-profit organization that produces an annual conference that is the world's largest gathering of the folk music industry and community. Founded ...

. On September 23, 2017, Cockburn was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame at a ceremony held at

Massey Hall Massey Hall is a performing arts theatre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Opened in 1894, it is known for its outstanding acoustics and was the long-time hall of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. An intimate theatre, it was originally designed to sea ...

in Toronto.

Personal life

Cockburn was married from 1969 to 1980 to Kitty Macaulay and has a daughter Jenny, born in 1975, from that marriage. While on vacation in Sweden with Kitty he experienced a personal crisis, arising from conflict in their marriage. He prayed and asked Jesus for help. In that moment he felt Jesus in the room, just as he had at their wedding. He became a follower of Christ on that day. Cockburn married his longtime girlfriend M. J. Hannett in 2011, shortly after the birth of his second daughter, Iona. As of 2014, Cockburn and his family reside in the

San Francisco San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17t ...

area, where Cockburn wrote his memoirs.

Discography

* '' Bruce Cockburn'' (1970) * '' High Winds, White Sky'' (1971) * '' Sunwheel Dance'' (1972) * ''

Night Vision Night vision is the ability to see in low-light conditions, either naturally with scotopic vision or through a night-vision device. Night vision requires both sufficient spectral range and sufficient intensity range. Humans have poor night v ...

'' (1973) * ''

Salt, Sun and Time ''Salt, Sun and Time'' is the fifth full-length album by Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist Bruce Cockburn; released in late 1974 on True North Records. The album was recorded in Toronto, Ontario at Thunder Sound studio between May and Aug ...

'' (1974) * '' Joy Will Find a Way'' (1975) * '' In the Falling Dark'' (1976) * ''Circles in the Stream'' (1977) * '' Further Adventures Of'' (1978) * ''

'' (1979) * ''

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'' (1980) * '' Inner City Front'' (1981) * '' The Trouble with Normal'' (1983) * '' Stealing Fire'' (1984) * '' World of Wonders'' (1986) * '' Big Circumstance'' (1988) * '' Nothing but a Burning Light'' (1991) * ''

Christmas Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. A feast central to the Christian liturgical year ...

'' (1993) * '' Dart to the Heart'' (1994) * ''The Charity of Night'' (1997) * ''Breakfast in New Orleans, Dinner in Timbuktu'' (1999) * ''

You've Never Seen Everything ''You've Never Seen Everything'' is the 21st studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Bruce Cockburn, released on July 10, 2003. Special guests on the album include Hugh Marsh, Jackson Browne, Emmylou Harris, Sarah Harmer, and Sam Phillips. R ...

'' (2003) * ''Speechless'' (2005) * '' Life Short Call Now'' (2006) * '' Small Source of Comfort'' (2011) * ''Bone on Bone'' (2017) * ''Crowing Ignites'' (2019)

Notes

References

* *

External links

* * * *
True North (Cockburn's label / manager) page

The Cockburn Project, documenting the work of Cockburn
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cockburn, Bruce 1945 births Living people Berklee College of Music alumni Canadian Protestants Canadian folk guitarists Canadian Folk Music Award winners Canadian folk rock musicians Canadian folk singer-songwriters Canadian male guitarists Canadian male singer-songwriters Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductees Bruce Converts to Protestantism from atheism or agnosticism Fellows of the Royal Conservatory of Music Governor General's Performing Arts Award winners Juno Award for Artist of the Year winners Juno Award for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year winners Juno Award for Roots & Traditional Album of the Year – Solo winners Musicians from Ottawa Officers of the Order of Canada True North Records artists