Myles Goodwyn
{{Short description|Canadian rock musician (1948–2023)}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=August 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{This article is about|the Canadian musician|his self-titled album|Myles Goodwyn (album){{!}}Myles Goodwyn (album)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| image = Myles Goodwyn Fergus 2008.jpg
| name = Myles Goodwyn
| caption = Goodwyn in 2008
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1948|06|23}}
| birth_place = Woodstock, New Brunswick, Canada
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2023|12|03|1948|06|23}}
| death_place = Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| genre = {{flatlist|
}}
| occupations = {{flatlist|
- Musician
- songwriter
- record producer
}}
| instruments = {{flatlist|
- Vocals
- guitar
- keyboards
}}
| years_active = 1969–2023
| past_member_of = April Wine
| website = {{URL|aprilwine.ca}}
}}
Myles Francis Goodwyn (June 23, 1948 – December 3, 2023) was a Canadian musician. He was the lead vocalist, guitarist, and principal songwriter of the rock band April Wine. He released 16 studio albums with April Wine, and four albums as a solo artist. Goodwyn led the group from its inception and garage band roots to its multiplatinum sales peak. He received the National Achievement Award at the 2002 SOCAN Awards, an ECMA Lifetime Achievement Award, and was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. He was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame and the Canadian Music Hall of Fame as a member of April Wine.
Early life
Goodwyn was born on June 23, 1948, in Woodstock, New Brunswick.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/myles-goodwyn-mn0000620366|title=Myles Goodwyn Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More|website=AllMusic|date=2023|access-date=December 7, 2023}}{{cite web|url=http://www.aprilwine.ca/myles.html|title=Myles Goodwyn|date=2003|access-date=December 7, 2023|website=April Wine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081223150108/http://www.aprilwine.ca/myles.html|archive-date=December 23, 2008|url-status=dead}} He grew up in Waverley, Nova Scotia, and recalled hitchhiking to church on Sundays.{{cite news|last=Woodbury|first=Richard|date=December 3, 2023|title=Myles Goodwyn, former April Wine singer, dead at 75|work=CBC News|location=Halifax, Nova Scotia|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/myles-goodwyn-dead-at-75-1.7047852|access-date=December 5, 2023}}
Career
Goodwyn helped form April Wine in 1969, with David Henman (guitar), Ritchie Henman (drums), and Jim Henman (bass). He led the group from its inception and garage band roots to its multiplatinum sales peak.{{cite news |last=Scrivener |first=Leslie |date=March 14, 2009 |title=Music – April Wine gets its respect |work=TheStar.com |location=Toronto |url=https://www.thestar.com/Entertainment/Music/article/602323 |access-date=March 23, 2009 |archive-date=March 17, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090317085558/http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/article/602323 |url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Elliott|first=Ian|date=March 17, 2009|title=Snub hits sour note|newspaper=The Kingston Whig-Standard|location=Kingston, Ontario|url=http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1481091|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120525025314/http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1481091|archive-date=May 25, 2012|access-date=December 7, 2023}} Following the band's peak and commercial success during the 1970s and early 1980s, Goodwyn also pursued a solo career.
In 2002, Goodwyn won the National Achievement Award at the annual SOCAN Awards held in Toronto.{{cite web |url=https://www.socan.ca/about/awards/2002-socan-awards |title=2002 SOCAN Awards |website=SOCAN |access-date=September 25, 2016 |archive-date=September 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916165844/https://www.socan.ca/about/awards/2002-socan-awards |url-status=live}} In January 2003, he received an ECMA Lifetime Achievement Award for his impact on the music industry of Atlantic Canada.{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/great-big-sea-take-five-awards-1.398668|title=CBCnews – Great Big Sea take five (ECMA) awards|access-date=October 27, 2008|publisher=CBC.ca|date=February 17, 2003|archive-date=December 8, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208143818/http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2003/02/16/awards030216.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/east-coast-music-awards-emc|title=East Coast Music Awards|publisher=The Canadian Encyclopedia|access-date=August 18, 2019|archive-date=July 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729160209/https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/east-coast-music-awards-emc|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cbmusic.com/queries/news.php?_function=article&news_id=713|title=CB Music News – Myles Goodwyn to receive ECMA Lifetime Achievement Award|access-date=October 27, 2008|publisher=CBMusic.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201123114/http://www.cbmusic.com/queries/news.php?_function=article&news_id=713|archive-date=December 1, 2008}}
In March 2008, Goodwyn stated in an interview that he had been in the studio recording his second album Myles Goodwyn & Friends of the Blues. It was to be an all-blues album featuring guest performers such as Amos Garrett, David Wilcox, Frank Marino, Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne and Rick Derringer.{{cite web|last=Cat|first=Ross|url=http://www.bestofwny.com/nightlife/rosscat/march2008.html|title=Rock Rapport|website=Best of Western New York|date=2008|access-date=December 6, 2023|archive-date=May 22, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120522175220/http://www.bestofwny.com/nightlife/rosscat/march2008.html|url-status=live}} Goodwyn stated that the record was an opportunity to rediscover a passion for blues music, and that he was inspired by the music of Taj Mahal.{{cite news|url=http://thescope.ca/?p=952|title=10 questions for the lead singer of April Wine|work=The Scope|location=St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador|date=March 1, 2007|access-date=December 6, 2023|archive-date=October 17, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017170805/http://thescope.ca/?p=952|url-status=live}}
In 2010, Goodwyn and April were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.{{Cite news|date=December 29, 2022|last=Friend|first=David|agency=The Canadian Press|title=Myles Goodwyn to retire from touring with April Wine but continue working with band |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/2022/12/29/myles-goodwyn-to-retire-from-touring-with-april-wine-but-continue-working-with-band.html |work=Toronto Star|location=Toronto, Ontario|language=en|access-date=December 6, 2023|archive-date=January 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126202127/https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/2022/12/29/myles-goodwyn-to-retire-from-touring-with-april-wine-but-continue-working-with-band.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=April Wine Founder And Singer Myles Goodwyn Announces Retirement From Touring|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/april-wine-founder-and-singer-myles-goodwyn-announces-retirement-from-touring|date=December 29, 2022|website=Blabbermouth.net|access-date=December 6, 2023|language=en|archive-date=January 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126202130/https://blabbermouth.net/news/april-wine-founder-and-singer-myles-goodwyn-announces-retirement-from-touring|url-status=live}} In 2016, his autobiography, Just Between You and Me, was released. In 2018, his second book was published–"Elvis And Tiger". His second album Myles Goodwyn and Friends of the Blues was released in 2018, and earned an ECMA award for "Blues Recording of the Year" in 2019. He subsequently released Myles Goodwyn and Friends Of The Blues 2 in 2019, which also earned the same ECMA award for "Blues Recording of the Year" in 2020. In 2022, Goodwyn received the Singapore International Festival of Arts award for his song "For Ukraine", judged in the "best social impact music/art" category.
On December 20, 2022, Goodwyn retired from touring with April Wine due to his diabetes and poor health. As of 2022, Goodwyn was the only original member of April Wine to be active with the band. He continued to write material for the band, and gave his final live performance with April Wine on March 2, 2023, in Truro, Nova Scotia.
Goodwyn was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2023, and April Wine was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame in 2023. During his career, April Wine sold more than 10 million albums, and were nominated 11 times for Juno Awards. Goodwyn felt that his induction into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame was his greatest achievement.
Personal life and health issues
Goodwyn was raised in Nova Scotia, then lived in Quebec for decades. Later in life, he lived in the Halifax area. He was married to a Jewish wife, and their son also had diabetes. Aside from music, Goodwyn enjoyed golf.
He had abused alcohol for many years, finally having it catch up to him when he collapsed and nearly died from internal bleeding in 2008. After months of rehab, he committed to publishing his Memoir titled "Just Between You And Me" telling the story of his life and his career. In 2014 he decided to take a step back from April Wine, the band started playing fewer shows as Myles searched for a replacement for himself in the group citing health reasons and no longer wanting to be on the road. In 2022 Goodwyn announced that he would be retiring due to health concerns in March 2023, having found what he viewed as a suitable replacement for himself within the group and no longer wanting to travel frequently. He continued to perform as an acoustic solo artist for the remainder of 2023. He died at age 75 on December 3, 2023, in Halifax. No cause of death was officially announced.
Discography
= with April Wine =
{{For|a more comprehensive detailed list|April Wine discography}}
== Studio albums ==
- April Wine (1971)
- On Record (1972)
- Electric Jewels (1973)
- Stand Back (1975)
- The Whole World's Goin' Crazy (1976)
- Forever for Now (1977)
- First Glance (1978)
- Harder ... Faster (1979)
- The Nature of the Beast (1981)
- Power Play (1982)
- Animal Grace (1984)
- Walking Through Fire (1985)
- Attitude (1993)
- Frigate (1994)
- Back to the Mansion (2001)
- Roughly Speaking (2006)
= Solo =
- Myles Goodwyn (1988)
- Myles Goodwyn and Friends of the Blues (2018)
- Myles Goodwyn and Friends of the Blues 2 (2019)
- Myles Goodwyn Long Pants (2022)
= Singles =
- "Do You Know What I Mean" (with Lee Aaron) (1988) [#47 CAN]{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.8595.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Singles - July 23, 1988}}
- "My Girl" (1988) [#41 CAN]{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.8683.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Singles - October 15, 1988}}
- "Are You Still Loving Me" (1988) [#88 CAN]
Production credits
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.aprilwine.ca/ April Wine's official website]
- {{discogs artist|Myles Goodwyn}}
- {{imdb name|11737785}}
{{April Wine}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Goodwyn, Myles}}
Category:20th-century Canadian singer-songwriters
Category:21st-century Canadian singer-songwriters
Category:Canadian male guitarists
Category:Canadian male singers
Category:Canadian male singer-songwriters
Category:Canadian record producers
Category:Canadian rock guitarists
Category:Canadian rock keyboardists
Category:Canadian rock singers