Nova Scotia born, High River based multiple Juno award winning Canadian country icon George Canyon has “ got this.”
He has a beautiful family, 11 CDs to his credit including his latest “ I Got This,” and is the Calgary Flames official national anthem singer. He has also got two Lethbridge shows coming up, Feb. 22 and 23 at Average Joes in support of the new CD.
He also has computer problems.
“ I had computer problems, so I’m running late. I’m supposed to be at rehearsal now, so the boys will have to start with out me,” Canyon rumbled from his Southern Alberta home.
He chose songs which resonated with him, and while most of them have a nostalgic tone, that wasn’t deliberate.
“ I have a 17 year old son and a 16 year old daughter. That got me wondering where did it all go,” Canyon observed, adding he took his time to do the new record right.
“We haven’t done a record of original material since 2011, so we took two years to really do it right. All and all it’s been a lot of fun getting it all ready. It’s been a blast,“ Canyon enthused.
One of the songs that spoke to him immediately was ‘Sesame Street,”
“ As soon as that song was pitched to me I almost rolled out of my chair laughing. It was so fun y and so trueBecause I remember living all of that. I remember watching Sesame Street when I was 10 years old on an old TV,” Canyon said, noting he has written with “Sesame Street ” songwriters Matt Jenkins and Shane McAnally.
“I think new record will come out later in 2017,” he said adding often he’ll do an album based around a basic theme, but he didn't think about that or the number of slow songs on the CD.
“I didn’t really think about speed. It took a while to pick the right songs,” he said.
He is excited to share the new songs on the current 30 day tour.
“ We’re doing some theatre shows and clubs. We’re all over. So we’re pretty excited about that,” he said.
He noted other than the title track and first single, the songs will be new to audiences.
“People might have heard ‘Footprints,’ he said , adding it is one of three songs he wrote on the album in addition to ‘Remember Me’ and ‘ Lifetime.”
“ And Wranglers is the sponsor for this tour. I’ve been wearing Wranglers for a long time, so I’m excited they are sponsoring the tour,” he said.
When he isn’t on the road, Canyon is the official national anthem singer of the Calgary Flames.
“ I love hockey. I play three times a week is south Calgary,” he said.
“ It’s really fun to be able to start the games and energize everyone by singing the anthem,” he enthused.
“Of course, when I’m on tour I make other arrangements to sing the anthem,” he said.
George Canyon plays Average Joes Feb. 22 and 23 at 8 p.m. each night. Tickets cost $40 in advance, $50 on the day of the show.
