Thomas William Cochrane ( ; born May 14, 1953) is a Canadian musician best known as the frontman for the rock band

Red Rider Red Rider, later known as Tom Cochrane & Red Rider, is a Canadian rock band popular in the 1980s. While they achieved significant success in Canada, the band never had a song in the top 40 in the United States, although " Lunatic Fringe" from t ...

and for his work as a solo singer-songwriter. Cochrane has won eight Juno Awards. He is a member of the

Canadian Music Hall of Fame The Canadian Music Hall of Fame was established in 1978 by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) to honour Canadian musicians for their lifetime achievements in music. The award presentation is held each year as part of the ...

, an officer 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 ...

, and has an

honorary doctorate 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 ...

from Brandon University. In September 2009, he was inducted onto the Canadian Walk of Fame.

Life and career

Red Rider

After meeting at the

El Mocambo The El Mocambo is a live music and entertainment venue in Toronto, Ontario. Located on Spadina Avenue, just south of College Street, the venue has played an important role in the development of popular music in Toronto since 1948. It is best kn ...

tavern in Toronto, Cochrane joined the Canadian rock band

in 1978 and served as their lead singer and main songwriter for more than ten years. Red Rider included

Ken Greer Kenneth William Greer (born 25 July 1954) is a Canadian guitarist and keyboardist. He is one of the founding members of the Canadian rock band Red Rider. Biography Greer is the youngest of seven children born into a musical family in Toronto, ...

, Jeff Jones, Peter Boynton and Rob Baker. Bruce Allen managed the band from their debut until 1985. Cochrane recorded six studio albums with Red Rider plus a live album, a best-of album, and a box set. By 1986, the band was billed as "Tom Cochrane & Red Rider". He would later refer to this period of his career as a stretch of "manageable success" before the release of ''

Mad Mad World ''Mad Mad World'' is the second studio album by Canadian rock singer Tom Cochrane, originally released in 1991 in Canada and in the United States on February 17, 1992. The first single from the album, " Life Is a Highway", became a hit in late ...

''. In 2002, Cochrane reunited with his former Red Rider bandmates Greer and Jones and continues to perform with them.

Solo career

Already a household name in Canada from his time with

, Cochrane launched his solo career in 1991 with the release of the song "

Life Is a Highway "Life Is a Highway" is a song by Canadian musician Tom Cochrane from his second studio album, ''Mad Mad World'' (1991). The song became a number-one hit in Canada in late 1991. "Life Is a Highway" also peaked at number six on the US ''Billboard'' ...

". The single became a global success and was followed by the release of his ''

'' album, which would reach the six million mark in worldwide sales. The albums ''Ragged Ass Road,'' ''Songs of a Circling Spirit,'' ''X-Ray Sierra'' and ''No Stranger'' followed.

Today

An avid golfer, pilot, and hockey buff, Cochrane lives in

Oakville, Ontario Oakville is a town in Halton Region, Ontario, Canada. It is located on Lake Ontario between Toronto and Hamilton. At its 2021 census population of 213,759, it is Ontario's largest town. Oakville is part of the Greater Toronto Area, one of the ...

, with his wife Kathleene. He spends summers at his cottage/studio on the shores of

Georgian Bay Georgian Bay (french: Baie Georgienne) is a large bay of Lake Huron, in the Laurentia bioregion. It is located entirely within the borders of Ontario, Canada. The main body of the bay lies east of the Bruce Peninsula and Manitoulin Island. To ...

Northern Ontario Northern Ontario is a primary geographic and quasi-administrative region of the Canadian province of Ontario, the other primary region being Southern Ontario. Most of the core geographic region is located on part of the Superior Geological Pro ...

and winters part-time at his home outside of

Austin, Texas Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas, as well as the seat and largest city of Travis County, with portions extending into Hays and Williamson counties. Incorporated on December 27, 1839, it is the 11th-most-populous city ...

. Cochrane and his wife have two daughters, Cody and Evanne. Cochrane continues to tour and perform in Canada. In 2006, the group

Rascal Flatts Rascal Flatts is an American country music band founded in 1999. The band members were Gary LeVox (lead vocals), Jay DeMarcus (bass guitar, background vocals), and Joe Don Rooney (lead guitar, background vocals). DeMarcus is LeVox's second cou ...

charted in the top 10 of the Hot 100 with a cover of "Life Is a Highway", which they recorded for the

Pixar Pixar Animation Studios (commonly known as Pixar () and stylized as P I X A R) is an American computer animation studio known for its critically and commercially successful computer animated feature films. It is based in Emeryville, Californ ...

film ''

Cars A car or automobile is a motor vehicle with wheels. Most definitions of ''cars'' say that they run primarily on roads, Car seat, seat one to eight people, have four wheels, and mainly transport private transport#Personal transport, people in ...

''. Although the song was not originally released to country radio, several country stations began playing the song, causing it to chart within the top 20 of Hot Country Songs. Chris Ledoux also had a country hit with "Life Is A Highway". In October, 2016, Cochrane celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of his ''

'' album with an announcement of the release of a special edition of the album, featuring a demo recording of "Love is a Highway", the working title of "Life is a Highway", as well as a second disc featuring a live performance from a 1992 Chicago stop on the tour supporting the album. In 2017, he toured with Meghan Patrick and Nice Horse, and released a coffee table book about the album. The Manitoba provincial government recently named a section of a highway near his hometown of Lynn Lake after the hit "Life Is a Highway". A stretch of Highway 391 is being renamed Tom Cochrane's Life is a Highway. This is part of a series of Honours for the musician's influence on Canadian music.

Honours

Canadian Music Hall of Fame induction: Cochrane was inducted into the

in 2003 for outstanding contribution to the greater recognition of Canadian music. The ceremony took place April 5, 2003, at Casino du Lac-Leamy in Gatineau, Quebec. The following night, Cochrane was honoured for his induction in a speech by

Jeff Healey Norman Jeffrey Healey (March 25, 1966 – March 2, 2008) was a Canadian blues, rock and jazz singer, guitarist, and songwriter who attained popularity in the 1980s and 1990s. He reached No. 5 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart with " A ...

at the

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 ...

at the Corel Centre (now Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa). Cochrane closed the show by performing a medley of his hits and was joined onstage by host

Shania Twain Eilleen Regina "Shania" Twain ( , ; née Edwards; born August 28, 1965) is a Canadian singer and songwriter. She has sold over 100 million records, making her the best-selling female artist in country music history and one of the best-s ...

for the final song, "

". Order of Canada: In April 2008, Cochrane received one of the highest honours for a Canadian citizen when he was invested as an officer of the

(the level companion of the Order of Canada is the highest honour, and several people originally invested as officers have been promoted to companions for continued contributions to charity and the arts, among other fields). Cochrane was honoured for a lifetime of charity work, his contribution to the arts and for being unabashedly Canadian. Canada's Walk of Fame: In September 2009, Cochrane was inducted onto

Canada's Walk of Fame Canada's Walk of Fame (french: link=no, Allée des célébrités canadiennes) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is a walk of fame that acknowledges the achievements and accomplishments of Canadians who have excelled in their respective fields. It is a ...

. The induction was highlighted by a two-hour nationally televised gala at Toronto's Four Season's Center for the Performing Arts.

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 ...

hosted the event which also included the inductions of

Kim Cattrall Kim Victoria Cattrall (; born 21 August 1956) is a British-Canadian actress. She is known for her role as Samantha Jones on HBO's ''Sex and the City'' (1998–2004), for which she received five Emmy Award nominations and four Golden Globe Awa ...

Raymond Burr Raymond William Stacy Burr (May 21, 1917September 12, 1993) was a Canadian actor known for his lengthy Hollywood film career and his title roles in television dramas ''Perry Mason'' and '' Ironside''. Burr's early acting career included roles ...

, Blue Rodeo, Dsquared2, Howie Mandel,

Robert Munsch Robert Norman Munsch (born June 11, 1945) is an American-Canadian children's author. Personal life and career Robert Munsch was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on June 11, 1945. He grew up in a family of 9 children. He graduated from Fordha ...

and

Chantal Petitclerc Chantal Petitclerc (born December 15, 1969) is a Canadian wheelchair racer and a Senator from Quebec. Early life At the age of 13, Petitclerc lost the use of both legs in an accident when at a friend's farm, a heavy barn door fell on her, fra ...

. Honorary colonel: In November 2007, Cochrane was formally invested as an honorary colonel (HCol) by the

Royal Canadian Air Force The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; french: Aviation royale canadienne, ARC) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environm ...

's 409 "Nighthawks" Tactical Fighter Squadron. As part of his investiture weekend, Cochrane experienced his second flight in a CF-18. Honorary doctorate: In May 2005, Cochrane received an honorary doctorate from Brandon University in

Brandon Brandon may refer to: Names and people *Brandon (given name), a male given name *Brandon (surname), a surname with several different origins Places Australia *Brandon, a farm and 19th century homestead in Seaham, New South Wales *Brandon, Q ...

, Manitoba. In addition, musician

James Ehnes James Ehnes, (born January 27, 1976) is a Canadian concert violinist and violist. Life and career Ehnes was born in Brandon, Manitoba, the son of Alan Ehnes, long time trumpet professor at Brandon University (Canada), and Barbara Withey Ehnes, fo ...

, journalist Henry Champ and actress

Shirley Douglas Shirley Jean Douglas (April 2, 1934 – April 5, 2020) was a Canadian actress and activist. Her acting career combined with her family name made her recognizable in Canadian film, television and national politics. Early life Douglas was born A ...

received honorary doctorates from the university at the spring convocation held May 28, 2005. Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame Cochrane was inducted on May 9, 2014, Gil Moore formerly of the band Triumph made the presentation. Canadian Music Industry Humanitarian Award: In March 2005, Cochrane received the Humanitarian Award at the Canadian Music Industry Association's (CMIA) gala dinner in Toronto during the annual

Canadian Music Week Canadian Music Week (or CMW) is an industry conference and music festival held over ten days in Toronto and Ontario, Canada. History Canadian Music Week began in 1981 and has grown to become one of Canada's largest and most influential media a ...

Festival. Allan Waters Humanitarian Award: In April 2013, Cochrane received the award at the 2013 Juno Awards gala dinner. Henry H. Knowles Humanitarian Award: In May 2014, Cochrane received this award from OPSEU. Order of Manitoba: In July 2015 Cochrane received the Order Of Manitoba. On October 31, 2016, the provincial legislature of Manitoba announced a 322-kilometre section of PR 391, Manitoba's premium highway, connecting Lynn Lake and Thompson would be renamed Tom Cochrane's Life Is A Highway.

Discography

Albums

Solo

* 1974: '' Hang On to Your Resistance'' * 1975: ''My Pleasure Is My Business'' (soundtrack) * 1991: ''

'' * 1995: '' Ragged Ass Road'' * 1999: '' Xray Sierra'' * 2006: '' No Stranger'' * 2015: '' Take It Home'' * 2016: ''Mad Mad World (Deluxe Edition with live disc)''

Compilation albums (solo)

* 1997: '' Songs of a Circling Spirit''

With Red Rider

* 1979: '' Don't Fight It'' * 1981: ''

As Far as Siam ''As Far as Siam'' is the second studio album by the Canadian rock band Red Rider. The majority of the album was recorded at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles and produced by Richard Landis; two tracks were produced in Toronto by Michael James Jackson ...

'' * 1983: '' Neruda'' * 1984: ''

Breaking Curfew ''Breaking Curfew'' is the fourth studio album by the Canadian rock band Red Rider, released in 1984 (see 1984 in music). The album was recorded and mixed at ''Metalworks Studios'' and ''E.S.P. Studio'' in Toronto, Ontario and ''Startling Studi ...

'' * 1986: '' Tom Cochrane and Red Rider'' (as Tom Cochrane & Red Rider) * 1988: ''

Victory Day Victory Day is a commonly used name for public holidays in various countries, where it commemorates a nation's triumph over a hostile force in a war or the liberation of a country from hostile occupation. In many cases, multiple countries may ob ...

'' (as Tom Cochrane & Red Rider) * 1989: '' The Symphony Sessions'' (as Tom Cochrane & Red Rider)

Compilation albums (with Red Rider)

* 1987: '' Over 60 Minutes with Red Rider'' * 1993: ''Ashes to Diamonds'' (3-CD boxed set) * 2002: ''Anthology 1980–1987'' * 2002: ''Trapeze: The Collection''

Singles

Solo

With Red Rider

Awards

References

External links

*
The Official Music website

The Tom Cochrane website
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Cochrane, Tom 1953 births 20th-century Canadian male singers Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductees Canadian rock singers Canadian male singer-songwriters Juno Award for Single of the Year winners Living people Members of the Order of Manitoba Musicians from Manitoba Musicians from Toronto Officers of the Order of Canada People from Etobicoke People from Oakville, Ontario Red Rider members Writers from Toronto Juno Award for Album of the Year winners Juno Award for Songwriter of the Year winners Juno Award for Artist of the Year winners 21st-century Canadian male singers

Life and career

Red Rider

Solo career

Today

Honours

Discography

Albums

Solo

Compilation albums (solo)

With Red Rider

Compilation albums (with Red Rider)

Singles

Solo

With Red Rider

Awards

See also

References

External links