Nova Scotia born, Calgary based country star George Canyon is a very inspirational man.
He has charted numerous hits including the most recent “I Got This,” earned his pilot’s licence and is the go to national anthem singer for Calgary Flames hockey games (when he’s not on tour and he does all this while living with Type 1 diabetes, for which he has become a prominent advocate.
He plays Average Joes, May 14 with Lethbridge singer/ songwriter Mark Maxwell.
“I actually just in Lethbridge. I flew in and landed at the airport and played a few songs and met some people,” said Canyon, doing press for the upcoming tour which, other than a hometown show in Calgary on May 13, begins in Lethbridge the next day and about his upcoming new album.
He just received a National Advocacy Leadership award for breaking down barriers in the aviation sector for people living with Type 1 Diabetes.
“You don’t have to let it control your life with insulin pumps and new technology,” Canyon said.
He has been busy working on his new record.
“These songs take me back. I grew up listening to a lot of different kinds of music, so the new music isn’t traditional country music, but the new songs take me back to my earlier works. There are true George Canyon songs” he said, adding he is mostly working in his own studio outside of Calgary.
“I recorded the last CD in four different studios. You can do a lot through e-mail,” he observed.
“There’s one called ‘Better Off In Love,’ that I think will be the next single. Though I don’t pick the singles. I have a great team behind me who do that. But it isn’t a ballad, it’s a great two-stepping song. Because i know my fan base loves to two step and dance and have fun,” he enthused.
He noted it was inspired by watching his two children grow up.
“Time moves fast. My song is now 18 and my daughter is in Grade 11 now,” he said.
“ By the Grace of God, they don’t have diabetes. The type I have isn’t hereditary,” he said, emphasizing how easy the disease is to control with new technology.
“I feel better than I ever have. I like to inspire children and show they don’t have to be controlled by it,” he said, adding he enjoys working with children.
The other project he has going on is a children’s album.
“I have a children’s album that is done but am trying to figure out the right time to release it. There’s a song on it called ‘the Fart song’ on it that is always really popular when I play it for children. I have a feeling that will be my legacy,” laughed Canyon, who has an extensive legacy of hits dating back to 1999 including “ Seven Spanish Angels,“ I Got This,“ Better Be Home Soon,” “Drinkin’ Thinkin’,“Saddle Up” “I’ll Never Do better than You and “Daughters of the Sun,” to name a few of his popular hits.
He said his show will include the hits and perhaps a few new ones.
“ I’ll also play some country classics by Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, because my fans love that music as do I,” he said.
