Canadian country star George Canyon feels his latest album Better Be Home Soon is his best work yet.
This is the second of his six albums that Canyon has co-produced with pop king Richard Marx, who also co-produced on 2008’s What I Do.
“We selected songs for this record that challenged me both vocally and in terms of content,” Canyon says.
“Richard really understood what I was going for in What I Do and the collaboration was so electrifying, I think we succeeded in capturing some of the energy of my live show for this album.”
Marx and Canyon co-penned several songs on the album and sang a duet co-written with country great Kenny Rogers.
“Richard Marx and Kenny Rogers wrote a song for me called When Love is All You’ve Got and it’s the first song that Richard and I have ever recorded as a duet and a big deal for me,” Canyon says.
“To record this song together for the album was the icing on the cake.”
The first single from Better Be Home Soon is the title track, an intensely intimate version of Crowded House’s 1988 hit which holds a special meaning for Canyon.
“I first sang Better Be Home Soon in high school. It’s always been a very special song for me as it was one of my late father’s favourite songs.”
Canyon smiles as he remembers, “What’s really funny though, is my father always thought I wrote it and I didn’t have the heart to tell him differently.”
Other tracks on the album successfully showcase Canyon’s impressive vocal range.
Surrender, penned by Marx, is a passionate and powerful song, and Real Thing, which is a stand out, sultry track that Marx and Canyon co-wrote with Gary Harrison about Marx’s take on Canyon’s lifestyle.
Sunshine is a feel-good song with an infectious hook and powerful driving tempo bristling with positive energy and the polished pop-styled Power of You and Me tells of the special bond of relationships.
Born and raised in Nova Scotia, Canyon got his first taste of international fame and music industry attention after competing in USA Network’s televised Nashville Star in 2004.
After nearly sweeping the contest, Canyon released his debut album on Universal South — One Good Friend.
Canyon has sold more than 250,000 CDs, has won numerous awards including two Junos and multiple East Coast Music Awards, Canadian Country Music Awards and SOCAN Awards.
Also an actor, he has appeared on the hit show Trailer Park Boys and CBC’s Heartland.
He was bestowed with the privilege of being made an honorary colonel for the Royal Canadian Air Force, but if you ask Canyon what his biggest achievement has been he’ll respond without hesitation that it has been his work with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes himself at age 14, he has spent a great deal of time giving acoustic performances and inspirational talks to children with Type 1 diabetes and their families.
“If I can change a life or two and inspire a youngster to live a better life, that’s the kind of imprint I want to leave,” says Canyon,
A portion of the CD sales of Better Be Home Soon will be donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Canyon will be performing at the Gibraltar Room at 8 p.m. this Saturday, Oct. 22.
Tickets are available at Margetts Meats and Willie’s Western Wear.