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{{Short description|Canadian musician (born 1964)}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
{{BLP sources|date=March 2024}}
| Name = Ron Sexsmith
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
| Img = Ron Sexsmith Bochum 07-05.jpg
{{Use Canadian English|date=June 2011}}
| Img_capt = Ron Sexsmith live in Bochum – July 10, 2004
{{Infobox musical artist
| Img_size = <!-- Only for images narrower than 220 pixels -->
| Landscape = yes
| background = person
| name = Ron Sexsmith
| Background = solo_singer
| image = Ron Sexsmith at the Faraday Music Festival 2011.jpg
| Birth_name = Ronald Eldon Sexsmith
| alt = Ron Sexsmith wearing a striped shirt, playing an acoustic guitar and singing into a microphone onstage
| Alias =
| caption = Sexsmith in 2011
| Born = {{birth date and age|1964|1|8}}
| birth_name = Ronald Eldon Sexsmith
| Died =
| alias =
| Origin = [[St. Catharines, Ontario]], [[Canada]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1964|1|8}}
| Instrument = [[Singer|Vocals]], [[guitar]], [[piano]]
| Genre = [[Pop-folk]]
| birth_place = [[St. Catharines]], Canada
| genre = {{hlist|[[Pop music|Pop]]|[[folk music|folk]]}}
| Occupation = [[Singer-songwriter]]
| occupation = {{hlist|Musician|songwriter}}
| Years_active = 1978 (Age 14) – present
| instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar}}
| Label = [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]
| years_active = 1978–present
| Associated_acts = The Uncool<br />[[The Kelele Brothers]]
| label = [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]
| URL = [http://www.ronsexsmith.com RonSexsmith.com]
| website = {{URL|ronsexsmith.com}}
| Notable_instruments =
}}
}}


'''Ronald Eldon Sexsmith''' (born [[8 January]] [[1964]]) is a [[Canada|Canadian]] [[singer-songwriter]] from [[St. Catharines, Ontario]], currently based in [[Toronto]].<ref>[http://www.triste.co.uk/sexsmith.htm Ron Sexsmith interview - Triste Magazine<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Although he has been involved in making music since he was 14 years old when he started his own band, he did not release the first recordings of his own material until 1985. Some of the same artists that inspired Sexsmith — [[Paul McCartney]], [[Elvis Costello]], and [[John Hiatt]] — are now people whose praise he has won.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://music.yahoo.com/ar-263550-bio--Ron-Sexsmith| title= Ron Sexsmith Biography| work=Yahoo Music| accessdate=2008-05-22}}</ref>
'''Ronald Eldon Sexsmith''' (born January 8, 1964) is a Canadian singer-songwriter from [[St. Catharines]], Ontario.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web|author=Steven Wilcock |url=http://www.triste.co.uk/sexsmith.htm |title=Ron Sexsmith interview – Triste Magazine |publisher=Triste.co.uk |access-date=March 10, 2011}}</ref> He was the songwriter of the year at the 2005 [[Juno Award]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2005 {{!}} Songwriter of the Year (Sponsored by SiriusXM Canada) {{!}} Ron Sexsmith {{!}}|url=https://junoawards.ca/nomination/2005-songwriter-of-the-year-sponsored-by-siriusxm-canada-ron-sexsmith/|access-date=July 12, 2020|website=The JUNO Awards|language=en-US}}</ref> He began releasing recordings of his own material in 1985 at age 21, and has since recorded seventeen albums. He was the subject of a 2010 documentary called ''[[Love Shines (film)|Love Shines]]''.<ref name="montrealgazette1">{{cite web |last=Perusse |first=Bernard |url=https://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/Sexsmith+finds+redemption+Long+Player+Late+Bloomer/4361446/story.html?id=4361446 |title=Montreal Gazette |publisher=Montreal Gazette |date=March 2, 2011 |access-date=March 10, 2011 }}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>


==Life==
==Early life==
Sexsmith grew up in [[St. Catharines]] and started his own band when he was 14 years old.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ron-sexsmith-mn0000290816#:~:text=Catharines%2C%20Ontario%2C%20Canada%2C%20on,any%20cover%20that%20was%20requested.| title = Ron Sexsmith Biography| last = Ankeny| first = Jason | website = AllMusic.com | access-date = May 30, 2024}}</ref>
===Career===
Sexsmith was seventeen when he started playing at a bar, the Lion's Tavern, in his hometown. He would gain a reputation as "The One-Man Jukebox" for his aptitude for playing requests. However, four to five years of this led him to play original songs and more obscure music his audience did not favour.<ref>[http://www.triste.co.uk/sexsmith.htm Ron Sexsmith interview - Triste Magazine<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


==Career==
He decided to start writing songs after the birth of his first child, Christopher,<ref name= metronews>{{cite web| url= http://www.psnw.com/~randyk/072695.htm | title=Metronews Music Reviews| work=Randy Krbechek| accessdate=2008-05-22}}</ref> in 1985. He moved to Toronto, formed a band called The Uncool, and released a cassette, ''Out of the Duff''. A year later, he released ''There’s a Way''.<ref>[http://wm10.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:3xfoxqwgldse~T00 allmusic ((( Ron Sexsmith > Overview )))<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.triste.co.uk/sexsmith.htm Ron Sexsmith interview - Triste Magazine<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Next came the birth of his second child, Evelyn, who was born in 1989.
Sexsmith was seventeen when he started playing at a bar, the Lion's Tavern, in his hometown. He gained a reputation as "The One-Man Jukebox" for his aptitude in playing requests. However, he gradually began to include original songs and more obscure music, which his audience did not favour.<ref name=autogenerated1 /> He decided to start writing songs after the birth of his first child<ref name=metronews>{{cite web | url= http://www.psnw.com/~randyk/072695.htm | title= Metronews Music Reviews | last= Randy Krbechek | access-date= May 22, 2008 | url-status= dead | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090104170642/http://www.psnw.com/~randyk/072695.htm | archive-date= January 4, 2009 | df= dmy-all }}</ref> in 1985. That same year, still living in St. Catharines, he collaborated on recording and releasing a cassette, ''Out of the Duff'', with a singer-songwriter friend named Claudio. Side one of the cassette contained five songs written and performed by Sexsmith; side two featured Claudio.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://swco-ir.tdl.org/server/enwiki/api/core/bitstreams/7c6666bc-7bdd-4f93-b052-2816f63a5f26/content| title = Ron Sexsmith – Bio| last = Wood| first = Arthur| date = 2008| website = Texas Tech University Southwest Collection / Special Collections Library| publisher = Kerrville Kronikles| access-date = }}</ref>


A year later, Sexsmith and his family moved to Toronto, living in an apartment in [[The Beaches, Toronto|the Beaches]] neighbourhood. Sexsmith recorded and released the full-length cassette ''There's a Way'', which was produced by [[Kurt Swinghammer]].<ref name=autogenerated2>[http://www.allmusic.com/artist/ron-sexsmith-mn0000290816/biography " Ron Sexsmith"]. Biography by Jason Ankeny</ref><ref name=autogenerated1 /> Meanwhile, he worked as a courier and befriended [[Bob Wiseman]], whom he met at an open stage. They became friends, and Wiseman agreed to produce and arrange Sexsmith's next release in between his tours with the band [[Blue Rodeo]]. Because of Wiseman's busy schedule, work on the album stretched out over several years.
Meanwhile, he worked as a courier, and released ''Grand Opera Lane'' in [[1991]]. On the strength of this album he earned a contract which led to his self-titled album in [[1995]]. The album received wider attention when it was praised by [[Elvis Costello]], who Sexsmith later opened for.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/ronsexsmith/articles/story/5927073/ron_sexsmiths_beautiful_view| title=Ron Sexsmith Interview| work= Rolling Stone| accessdate=2008-05-22}}</ref> Between [[1997]] and [[2001]], Sexsmith released three more albums before the acclaimed ''Cobblestone Runway'' in [[2002]].<ref>[http://wm10.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:3xfoxqwgldse~T00 allmusic ((( Ron Sexsmith > Overview )))<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ''Retriever'', a more pop-oriented album than those before, is dedicated to [[Elliott Smith]] and [[Johnny Cash]].<ref>[http://www.amazon.co.uk/Retriever-Ron-Sexsmith/dp/B0001XLVYA Amazon.co.uk: Retriever: Music: Ron Sexsmith<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> In 2004, he performed at the [[RuhrTriennale]] in the concert series [[Century of Song]] hosted by [[Grammy]]-Award-Winner [[Bill Frisell]].<ref>http://www.billfrisell.com/index-bio.htm</ref>


After the album ''Grand Opera Lane'' was rejected by several Canadian labels, the pair released it independently in 1991. ''Grand Opera Lane'' was credited to "Ron Sexsmith and the Uncool"; the backing band including Don Kerr and Steve Charles, and also featured Sarah McElcheran (horn arrangements) and Kim Ratcliffe on electric guitar. Attention garnered by the song "Speaking with the Angel", Sexsmith earned a contract that led to his self-titled album in 1995. The record was praised by [[Elvis Costello]], for whom Sexsmith later opened.<ref name=autogenerated3>{{cite web|title=Ron Sexsmith's Beautiful View |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/ronsexsmith/articles/story/5927073/ron_sexsmiths_beautiful_view |publisher=Rolling Stone |date=June 9, 1999 |access-date=April 6, 2011 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114123940/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/ronsexsmith/articles/story/5927073/ron_sexsmiths_beautiful_view |archive-date=November 14, 2007 }}</ref>
On [[May 1]], [[2001]], Sexsmith performed "Just My Heart Talkin'" on the [[BBC]]'s ''[[Later with Jools Holland]]'' musical showcase, alongside [[R.E.M.]], [[Orbital (band)|Orbital]], [[India.Arie]] and [[Clearlake (band)|Clearlake]]. Holland backed him on piano. It was his second appearance on the show.


[[File:Ron Sexsmith 10.jpg|thumb|Sexsmith in November 2010]]
In [[2005]], he released a collection of songs recorded with drummer [[Don Kerr]] during the production of ''Retriever'', called ''Destination Unknown''. Director Liz Marshall made a whimsical music video for the song "Listen", it was shot in and around Toronto's harbour with Sexsmith & Kerr paddling in a canoe and basking in the spring sunshine. The same year, he won a songwriter of the year [[Juno Award]] for "Whatever it Takes".<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/national/2005/04/03/Arts/junoearly050403.html CBC.ca Arts - Billy Talent, Avril, k-os win big at Junos<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


Between 1997 and 2001, Sexsmith released three more albums, and then ''[[Cobblestone Runway]]'' in 2002.<ref name=autogenerated2 /> ''[[Retriever (album)|Retriever]]'', his next album, is a more pop-oriented album and is dedicated to [[Elliott Smith]] and [[Johnny Cash]]. Sexsmith performed in the Toronto area in support of these albums.<ref>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000130095903/http://www.chartattack.com/road/reviews/1999/19991122-sexsmith.html | archive-date=January 30, 2000 | url=http://www.chartattack.com:80/road/reviews/1999/19991122-sexsmith.html | title=On the Road Again Live Reviews: Ron Sexsmith with Emm Gryner November 17, 1999 Trinity-St. Paul's Centre, Toronto, ON | work=Chart Attack | first=Chris | last=Burland | access-date=February 22, 2019 | url-status=usurped | df=dmy-all }}</ref>
The song "Gold In Them Hills" written by Sexsmith features vocals from [[Coldplay]]'s [[Chris Martin]]. In addition to Martin, Sexsmith has a number of famous admirers, including [[Elvis Costello]], [[Paul McCartney]], [[Steve Earle]], and [[Sheryl Crow]], many of whom have covered Sexsmith's songs.<ref>http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6787015</ref> His song "Secret Heart" has been covered by [[Rod Stewart]], [[Feist]], and [[Nick Lowe]].


On May 1, 2001, Sexsmith performed "Just My Heart Talkin{{'"}} on the [[BBC]]'s ''[[Later... with Jools Holland]]'' musical showcase, alongside [[R.E.M.]], [[Orbital (band)|Orbital]], [[India.Arie]], and [[Clearlake (band)|Clearlake]]. Holland backed him on piano. It was his second appearance on the show. He began to have some radio success, particularly on Canadian adult-oriented radio.{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}}
===Personal life===
Sexsmith has two children with his ex-wife Jocelyne<ref name= metronews>{{cite web| url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/08/17/1092508458967.html | title=A master of restraint| work=Fairfax Digital| accessdate=2008-05-22}}</ref>: a son, Christopher (born in 1985); and a daughter, Evelyn (born in 1989).<ref>[http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/ronsexsmith/articles/story/5927073/ron_sexsmiths_beautiful_view Ron Sexsmith's Beautiful View: Ron Sexsmith : Rolling Stone<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref name= metronews/>


In 2002, Sexsmith recorded a cover version of "This Is Where I Belong", the title track for a tribute album called ''This Is Where I Belong – The Songs of Ray Davies and the Kinks'', which included contributions from [[Damon Albarn]], [[Bebel Gilberto]], and [[Queens of the Stone Age]], among others. In 2006, he performed at the Halifax Pop Explosion.<ref>[http://exclaim.ca/music/article/halifax_pop_explosion-october_30_to_november_1_-_halifax "Halifax Pop Explosion October 30 to November 1 - Halifax, NS"]. ''Exclaim!'', January 1, 2006, by Matt Charlton, Susana Ferreira and Tara Thorne</ref> In 2004, he performed at the [[RuhrTriennale]] in the concert series ''Century of Song'' hosted by [[Bill Frisell]].
In 2001, his fifteen-year marriage ended.<ref>[http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/s/sexsmithron-cobblestone.shtml Ron Sexsmith: Cobblestone Runway - PopMatters Music Review<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


On June 16, 2011, Sexsmith and his band performed [[The Kinks]]' song "Misfits" with Ray Davies at the [[Meltdown (festival)|Meltdown Festival]] in London, England. The same year, he won a songwriter of the year [[Juno Award]] for "Whatever It Takes"<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/billy-talent-avril-k-os-win-big-at-junos-1.520390 | work=CBC News | title=Billy Talent, Avril, k-os win big at Junos | date=April 4, 2005}}</ref> and a Canadian Indy Award.<ref name="Inc.1998">{{cite magazine|first=Larry | last=LeBlanc | title=McLachlan at top of Juno nominations |magazine=Billboard | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GQ8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA14 | date=February 21, 1998 | publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |pages=14– | issn=0006-2510 | access-date=December 29, 2018}}</ref> The album ''[[Long Player Late Bloomer]]'' was shortlisted for the [[Polaris Music Prize]]. Sexsmith's 14th full-length album, ''[[Carousel One]]'', was released in March 2015.
His partner, Colleen Hixenbaugh, is also a musician. She is a member of [[By Divine Right]] and half of the duo Jack and Ginger.<ref>[http://www.soulshine.ca/features/featuresarticle.php?fid=220 Ron Sexsmith : Ron Sexsmith Talks on 'Time Being' and Songwriting : Soul Shine Magazine<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


In 2017, Sexsmith published his debut novel, ''Deer Life'', through [[Dundurn Press]]. It was well received and ''[[Publishers Weekly]]'' wrote that the "novel has much the same effect as his music, conveying uncertainty with fearlessness and heart."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-4597-3877-5|title=Deer Life: A Fairy Tale |date=October 2017 | publisher=Publishers Weekly |access-date=December 29, 2018}}</ref>
==Style==
His first five albums are generally melancholic [[pop-folk]] with elegant melodies, accentuated use of guitars and economic application of other instruments. On his sixth album, ''Cobblestone Runway'', producer [[Martin Terefe]] supplemented this style with, among other things, synthesizers, back-up singers, gospel choirs, and string sections.<ref>[http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/s/sexsmithron-cobblestone.shtml Ron Sexsmith: Cobblestone Runway - PopMatters Music Review<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ''Retriever'' is considered his most [[pop music|pop-influenced]] album.


In February 2024, Sexsmith staged a retrospective concert at Toronto's [[Massey Hall]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Ron Sexsmith Returns to Toronto's Massey Hall for Career-Spanning Retrospective |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/ron_sexsmith_returns_to_torontos_massey_hall_for_career-spanning_retrospective |website=exclaim.ca |date=October 1, 2023 |access-date=March 2, 2024}}</ref>
He has said, "...my main objective is to try and stay out of the way of the song. I want to write songs that are good whether I'm singing them or not."<ref>[http://www.soulshine.ca/features/featuresarticle.php?fid=220 Ron Sexsmith : Ron Sexsmith Talks on 'Time Being' and Songwriting : Soul Shine Magazine<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


===Collaborations and covers===
==Philosophy==
Sexsmith has collaborated with many artists. In 2002, he sang a duet with [[Coldplay]]'s [[Chris Martin]] in the song "Gold in Them Hills", which appeared as a bonus track on the album ''Cobblestone Runway''. Sexsmith sang on "An Elephant Insect", which appears on the 2003 [[Shonen Knife]] album ''[[Heavy Songs]]''. In 2005, he released a collection of songs recorded with drummer [[Don Kerr]] during the production of ''Retriever'', called ''[[Destination Unknown (Ron Sexsmith album)|Destination Unknown]]''. Also in 2005, Sexsmith sang on the track "Song No. 6" by Norwegian singer-songwriter [[Ane Brun]], which appeared on her album ''[[A Temporary Dive]]'' and again on her ''[[Duets (Ane Brun album)|Duets]]'' album later the same year. In 2006, he performed a duet of "So Long Marianne" with [[Leonard Cohen]] in [[Yorkville, Toronto]]. In 2014, he wrote and sang a duet together with Dutch singer-songwriter [[Marike Jager]], the song "Don't you", featured on her album ''The Silent Song''.
===Life===
In a June 8th, 1999 interview, Rolling Stone contributor Kyle Bloom asked Sexsmith for the meaning of life. Sexsmith responded with the following:
{{cquote|The meaning of life is to experience and not to abstain. Religions have kind of messed everyone up because they operate on the business of fear. If you don't do this, you don't get in. We were given this thing called free will. The meaning is free will and what you choose to [do] with it.<ref>[http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/ronsexsmith/articles/story/5927073/ron_sexsmiths_beautiful_view Ron Sexsmith's Beautiful View: Ron Sexsmith : Rolling Stone<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
}}


Sexsmith's songs have been performed and recorded by a number of well-known musicians, including Elvis Costello, [[Feist (singer)|Feist]], [[Rod Stewart]], and [[Emmylou Harris]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6787015 |title=Ron Sexsmith in Concert : NPR Music |publisher=Npr.org |date=January 12, 2007 |access-date=March 10, 2011}}</ref> His song "Secret Heart" has been covered by [[Rod Stewart]], [[Feist (singer)|Feist]], and [[Nick Lowe]]. Sexsmith co-wrote "Brandy Alexander" with Feist—versions appear on Sexsmith's ''[[Exit Strategy of the Soul]]'' and on Feist's album ''[[The Reminder]]''. A version of Sexsmith's "Whatever It Takes" appeared on [[Michael Bublé]]'s 2009 album ''[[Crazy Love (Michael Bublé album)|Crazy Love]]''.{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}}
===Success===

In a July 1999 interview, a ''Triste Magazine'' contributor said the following: "Every record seems to get great reviews, but then your sales don't ever really match." Sexsmith responded, {{cquote|It does get frustrating. Every record you make you think there's another chance to bat and you're always striking out. So it is frustrating. I don't want to be like Nick Drake and Tim Hardin. They never really had much success in their [lives]. ... All my heroes had big hits and success. I see progress in the way it's building, but it's not in the way the general public can detect. ... It's out of my hands. I'm a 35-year-old guy from Canada and I don't write groove oriented-music. So, I can't expect too much.<ref>[http://www.triste.co.uk/sexsmith.htm Ron Sexsmith interview - Triste Magazine<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>}}
In 2004, fellow Canadian singer-songwriter [[k.d. lang]] covered Sexsmith's song "Fallen" on her album ''[[Hymns of the 49th Parallel]]''.

In 2010, Sexsmith appeared on "Liberace", a track off the album ''[[Vaudeville (album)|Vaudeville]]'' by Canadian rapper [[D-Sisive]]. In 2012 his song "Gold in them Hills" was included on [[Katie Melua]]'s album [[Secret Symphony]], and "Right About Now" was covered by [[Mari Wilson]] on the album "Cover Stories".

In 2012, Sexsmith appeared on ''Lowe Country: The Songs of Nick Lowe'', a [[Nick Lowe]] tribute album, where he covered Lowe's 1994 song "Where's My Everything?"<ref>{{cite web|title=Lowe Country: The Songs of Nick Lowe|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/lowe-country-the-songs-of-nick-lowe-mw0002396985|website=AllMusic|access-date=December 24, 2017}}</ref>

Sexsmith sang the lead vocals on a song from [[Ryan Granville-Martin]]'s 2013 album, ''[[Mouthparts and Wings (album)|Mouthparts and Wings]]'', which features a different vocalist on each song.<ref>{{cite web|last=Doole |first=Kerry |url=http://exclaim.ca/Reviews/PopAndRock/ryan_granville-martin-mouthparts_wings |title=Ryan Granville-Martin – Mouthparts and Wings • Pop & Rock Reviews • |publisher=Exclaim.ca |date=September 5, 2013 |access-date=April 23, 2014}}</ref>

Sexsmith was featured on vocals on the [[Mel Parsons]] song "Don't Wait" from her 2015 album [[Drylands (album)|Drylands]].<ref>{{Citation|last=Mel Parsons Music|title=Mel Parsons {{!}} 'Don't Wait' feat. Ron Sexsmith|date=October 25, 2016|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-_YFM1G7IU|access-date=May 14, 2019}}</ref>

===Writing===
Sexsmith published a book on September 16, 2017, called ''Deer Life''. It has been described as a "grown up fairy tale" by Sexsmith himself. It is the artist's first effort as an author.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=GkpmDQAAQBAJ Deer Life]</ref>

==Personal life==
Sexsmith has two children with his former common-law partner.<ref name= metronews2>{{cite news| url= http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/08/17/1092508458967.html |title=A master of restraint |work= Sydney Morning Herald| access-date= May 22, 2008 | date=August 18, 2004}}</ref> Their fifteen-year relationship ended in 2001.<ref name=autogenerated4>{{cite web|url=http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/s/sexsmithron-cobblestone.shtml |title=Ron Sexsmith: Cobblestone Runway – PopMatters Music Review |publisher=Popmatters.com |access-date=March 10, 2011}}</ref>

Sexsmith's wife, Colleen Hixenbaugh, is also a musician. She is a former member of [[By Divine Right]], half of the duo Jack and Ginger,<ref name=autogenerated5>{{cite web |url=http://www.soulshine.ca/features/featuresarticle.php?fid=220 |title=Ron Sexsmith: Ron Sexsmith Talks on 'Time Being' and Songwriting: Soul Shine Magazine |publisher=Soulshine.ca |date=July 27, 2006 |access-date=March 10, 2011 |archive-date=January 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110104184711/http://www.soulshine.ca/features/featuresarticle.php?fid=220 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the duo Colleen and Paul, with Paul Linklater.


==Discography==
==Discography==
===Albums===
===Albums===
* 1985: ''Out of the Duff'' (Self-released cassette; split album, with side 2 by artist "Claudio")
* ''[[Grand Opera Lane]]'' (independent, 1991, produced by [[Bob Wiseman]], with The Uncool)
* ''[[Ron Sexsmith (album)|Ron Sexsmith]]'' (self-titled, Interscope/Warner, 1995, produced by Mitchell Froom)
* 1986: ''There's a Way'' (Self-released cassette, produced by [[Kurt Swinghammer]])
* 1991: ''Grand Opera Lane'' (Linus Entertainment; produced by [[Bob Wiseman]]; with the Uncool)
* ''[[Other Songs (album)|Other Songs]]'' (Interscope/Warner, 1997)
* ''[[Whereabouts]]'' (Interscope/Warner, 1999)
* 1995: ''[[Ron Sexsmith (album)|Ron Sexsmith]]'' (Interscope/Warner; produced by [[Mitchell Froom]] & [[Daniel Lanois]])
* ''[[Blue Boy (album)|Blue Boy]]'' (2001, produced by [[Steve Earle]])
* 1997: ''[[Other Songs (album)|Other Songs]]'' (Interscope/Warner; produced by [[Tchad Blake]] & [[Mitchell Froom]])
* ''[[Cobblestone Runway]]'' (2002, produced by [[Martin Terefe]])
* 1999: ''[[Whereabouts]]'' (Interscope/Warner; produced by Tchad Blake & Mitchell Froom))
* 2001: ''[[Blue Boy (album)|Blue Boy]]'' (Cooking Vinyl; produced by [[Steve Earle]] and [[Raymond Louis Kennedy|Ray Kennedy]])
* ''[[Rarities (Ron Sexsmith album)|Rarities]]'' (2003)
* 2002: ''[[Cobblestone Runway]]'' (Nettwerk; produced by [[Martin Terefe]])
* ''[[Retriever (album)|Retriever]]'' (2004, Warner)
* ''[[Destination Unknown (Ron Sexsmith album)|Destination Unknown]]'' (2005, V2, with [[Don Kerr]], released as Sexsmith & Kerr)
* 2003: ''[[Rarities (Ron Sexsmith album)|Rarities]]'' (Linus Entertainment)
* ''[[Time Being]]'' (2006, Warner)
* 2004: ''[[Retriever (album)|Retriever]]'' (Warner; produced by Martin Terefe)
* 2005: ''[[Destination Unknown (Ron Sexsmith album)|Destination Unknown]]'' (V2, with [[Don Kerr]], released as Sexsmith & Kerr)
* ''[[Exit Strategy of the Soul]]'' (2008, Yep Roc)
* 2006: ''[[Time Being (Ron Sexsmith album)|Time Being]]'' (Warner; produced by Mitchell Froom)
* 2008: ''[[Exit Strategy of the Soul]]'' (Yep Roc; produced by Martin Terefe)
* 2011: ''[[Long Player Late Bloomer]]'' (Thirty Tigers/Cooking Vinyl; produced by [[Bob Rock]])
* 2013: ''[[Forever Endeavour]]'' (Cooking Vinyl; produced by Mitchell Froom)
* 2015: ''[[Carousel One]]'' (Compass Records; produced by Jim Scott)<ref>Feature and interview with Ron Sexmith. ''Metro Morning'', CBC Radio One, also ''Our Toronto'', CBC television, broadcast April 6, 2015.</ref>
* 2017: ''The Last Rider'' (Compass Records; produced by Don Kerr & Sexsmith)
* 2020: ''Hermitage'' (Cooking Vinyl; produced by Don Kerr)
* 2023: ''The Vivian Line'' (Cooking Vinyl; produced by Brad Jones)

===Other contributions===
* 1995: ''[[For the Love of Harry: Everybody Sings Nilsson]]'' – "Good Ol' Desk"
* 1999: ''Bleecker Street: Greenwich Village in the 60's'' – "Reason to Believe"
* 2002: ''This Is Where I Belong – The Songs of Ray Davies & The Kinks'' – "This Is Where I Belong"
* 2002: ''WYEP Live and Direct: Volume 4 – On Air Performances'' – "Just My Heart Talking"
* 2002: ''[[Maybe This Christmas]]'' – "Maybe This Christmas"
* 2003: ''[[Beautiful: A Tribute to Gordon Lightfoot]]'' – "Drifters"
* 2004: ''Beautiful Dreamer – The Songs of Stephen Foster'' – "Comrades Fill No Glass for Me"
* 2006: ''Our Power'' – "Love Henry" (with [[Don Kerr]])
* 2008: ''[[Northern Songs: Canada's Best and Brightest]]'' – "All in Good Time"
* 2008: ''Redeye 2008 Holiday Sampler'' – "Something to Hold on to (At Christmas)"
* 2009: ''[[Crayon Angel: A Tribute to the Music of Judee Sill]]'' – "Crayon Angel"
* 2009: ''[[Crazy Love (Michael Buble album)|Crazy Love]]'' – "Whatever It Takes" (with [[Michael Buble]])
* 2011: ''Harrison Covered: MOJO presents an Exclusive Tribute to George'' – "Give Me Love" (15-song CD given away free with ''MOJO'' magazine November 2011 issue)
* 2011: ''This One's for Him: A Tribute to Guy Clark'' – "Broken Hearted People"
* 2012: ''Textuality OST'' – "Since I Don't Have You"
* 2012: ''Lowe Country: The Songs of Nick Lowe'' – "Where's My Everything"


===The Kelele Brothers===
===The Kelele Brothers===
Line 77: Line 115:


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{commons|Ron Sexsmith}}
{{commons|Ron Sexsmith}}
* [http://www.ronsexsmith.com Ron Sexsmith] official website
* {{Official website|ronsexsmith.com}}
* {{IMDb name|1032628}}
* [http://www.cbc.ca/thehour/video.php?id=1421 Ron Sexsmith interview] on [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC's]] ''[[The Hour]]''

{{Ron Sexsmith}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Sexsmith, Ron}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sexsmith, Ron}}
[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:1964 births]]
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[[Category:Canadian pop singers]]
[[Category:Canadian folk-pop singers]]
[[Category:Canadian male singers]]
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[[Category:Canadian folk singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:Best Original Song Genie and Canadian Screen Award winners]]
[[Category:Canadians of Scottish descent]]
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[[Category:Juno Award for Adult Alternative Album of the Year winners]]
[[Category:Ontario musicians]]
[[Category:Musicians from St. Catharines]]
[[Category:Ontario writers]]
[[Category:Juno Award for Songwriter of the Year winners]]
[[Category:Music from the Niagara Region]]
[[Category:Juno Award for Roots & Traditional Album of the Year – Solo winners]]
[[Category:People from St. Catharines]]
[[Category:20th-century Canadian songwriters]]
[[Category:People from Toronto]]
[[Category:21st-century Canadian songwriters]]
[[Category:Genie Award winners for Best Achievement in Music - Original Song]]

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Latest revision as of 20:20, 31 October 2024

Ron Sexsmith
Ron Sexsmith wearing a striped shirt, playing an acoustic guitar and singing into a microphone onstage
Sexsmith in 2011
Background information
Birth nameRonald Eldon Sexsmith
Born (1964-01-08) January 8, 1964 (age 60)
St. Catharines, Canada
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active1978–present
LabelsWarner Bros.
Websiteronsexsmith.com

Ronald Eldon Sexsmith (born January 8, 1964) is a Canadian singer-songwriter from St. Catharines, Ontario.[1] He was the songwriter of the year at the 2005 Juno Awards.[2] He began releasing recordings of his own material in 1985 at age 21, and has since recorded seventeen albums. He was the subject of a 2010 documentary called Love Shines.[3]

Early life

[edit]

Sexsmith grew up in St. Catharines and started his own band when he was 14 years old.[4]

Career

[edit]

Sexsmith was seventeen when he started playing at a bar, the Lion's Tavern, in his hometown. He gained a reputation as "The One-Man Jukebox" for his aptitude in playing requests. However, he gradually began to include original songs and more obscure music, which his audience did not favour.[1] He decided to start writing songs after the birth of his first child[5] in 1985. That same year, still living in St. Catharines, he collaborated on recording and releasing a cassette, Out of the Duff, with a singer-songwriter friend named Claudio. Side one of the cassette contained five songs written and performed by Sexsmith; side two featured Claudio.[6]

A year later, Sexsmith and his family moved to Toronto, living in an apartment in the Beaches neighbourhood. Sexsmith recorded and released the full-length cassette There's a Way, which was produced by Kurt Swinghammer.[7][1] Meanwhile, he worked as a courier and befriended Bob Wiseman, whom he met at an open stage. They became friends, and Wiseman agreed to produce and arrange Sexsmith's next release in between his tours with the band Blue Rodeo. Because of Wiseman's busy schedule, work on the album stretched out over several years.

After the album Grand Opera Lane was rejected by several Canadian labels, the pair released it independently in 1991. Grand Opera Lane was credited to "Ron Sexsmith and the Uncool"; the backing band including Don Kerr and Steve Charles, and also featured Sarah McElcheran (horn arrangements) and Kim Ratcliffe on electric guitar. Attention garnered by the song "Speaking with the Angel", Sexsmith earned a contract that led to his self-titled album in 1995. The record was praised by Elvis Costello, for whom Sexsmith later opened.[8]

Sexsmith in November 2010

Between 1997 and 2001, Sexsmith released three more albums, and then Cobblestone Runway in 2002.[7] Retriever, his next album, is a more pop-oriented album and is dedicated to Elliott Smith and Johnny Cash. Sexsmith performed in the Toronto area in support of these albums.[9]

On May 1, 2001, Sexsmith performed "Just My Heart Talkin'" on the BBC's Later... with Jools Holland musical showcase, alongside R.E.M., Orbital, India.Arie, and Clearlake. Holland backed him on piano. It was his second appearance on the show. He began to have some radio success, particularly on Canadian adult-oriented radio.[citation needed]

In 2002, Sexsmith recorded a cover version of "This Is Where I Belong", the title track for a tribute album called This Is Where I Belong – The Songs of Ray Davies and the Kinks, which included contributions from Damon Albarn, Bebel Gilberto, and Queens of the Stone Age, among others. In 2006, he performed at the Halifax Pop Explosion.[10] In 2004, he performed at the RuhrTriennale in the concert series Century of Song hosted by Bill Frisell.

On June 16, 2011, Sexsmith and his band performed The Kinks' song "Misfits" with Ray Davies at the Meltdown Festival in London, England. The same year, he won a songwriter of the year Juno Award for "Whatever It Takes"[11] and a Canadian Indy Award.[12] The album Long Player Late Bloomer was shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize. Sexsmith's 14th full-length album, Carousel One, was released in March 2015.

In 2017, Sexsmith published his debut novel, Deer Life, through Dundurn Press. It was well received and Publishers Weekly wrote that the "novel has much the same effect as his music, conveying uncertainty with fearlessness and heart."[13]

In February 2024, Sexsmith staged a retrospective concert at Toronto's Massey Hall.[14]

Collaborations and covers

[edit]

Sexsmith has collaborated with many artists. In 2002, he sang a duet with Coldplay's Chris Martin in the song "Gold in Them Hills", which appeared as a bonus track on the album Cobblestone Runway. Sexsmith sang on "An Elephant Insect", which appears on the 2003 Shonen Knife album Heavy Songs. In 2005, he released a collection of songs recorded with drummer Don Kerr during the production of Retriever, called Destination Unknown. Also in 2005, Sexsmith sang on the track "Song No. 6" by Norwegian singer-songwriter Ane Brun, which appeared on her album A Temporary Dive and again on her Duets album later the same year. In 2006, he performed a duet of "So Long Marianne" with Leonard Cohen in Yorkville, Toronto. In 2014, he wrote and sang a duet together with Dutch singer-songwriter Marike Jager, the song "Don't you", featured on her album The Silent Song.

Sexsmith's songs have been performed and recorded by a number of well-known musicians, including Elvis Costello, Feist, Rod Stewart, and Emmylou Harris[15] His song "Secret Heart" has been covered by Rod Stewart, Feist, and Nick Lowe. Sexsmith co-wrote "Brandy Alexander" with Feist—versions appear on Sexsmith's Exit Strategy of the Soul and on Feist's album The Reminder. A version of Sexsmith's "Whatever It Takes" appeared on Michael Bublé's 2009 album Crazy Love.[citation needed]

In 2004, fellow Canadian singer-songwriter k.d. lang covered Sexsmith's song "Fallen" on her album Hymns of the 49th Parallel.

In 2010, Sexsmith appeared on "Liberace", a track off the album Vaudeville by Canadian rapper D-Sisive. In 2012 his song "Gold in them Hills" was included on Katie Melua's album Secret Symphony, and "Right About Now" was covered by Mari Wilson on the album "Cover Stories".

In 2012, Sexsmith appeared on Lowe Country: The Songs of Nick Lowe, a Nick Lowe tribute album, where he covered Lowe's 1994 song "Where's My Everything?"[16]

Sexsmith sang the lead vocals on a song from Ryan Granville-Martin's 2013 album, Mouthparts and Wings, which features a different vocalist on each song.[17]

Sexsmith was featured on vocals on the Mel Parsons song "Don't Wait" from her 2015 album Drylands.[18]

Writing

[edit]

Sexsmith published a book on September 16, 2017, called Deer Life. It has been described as a "grown up fairy tale" by Sexsmith himself. It is the artist's first effort as an author.[19]

Personal life

[edit]

Sexsmith has two children with his former common-law partner.[20] Their fifteen-year relationship ended in 2001.[21]

Sexsmith's wife, Colleen Hixenbaugh, is also a musician. She is a former member of By Divine Right, half of the duo Jack and Ginger,[22] and the duo Colleen and Paul, with Paul Linklater.

Discography

[edit]

Albums

[edit]

Other contributions

[edit]
  • 1995: For the Love of Harry: Everybody Sings Nilsson – "Good Ol' Desk"
  • 1999: Bleecker Street: Greenwich Village in the 60's – "Reason to Believe"
  • 2002: This Is Where I Belong – The Songs of Ray Davies & The Kinks – "This Is Where I Belong"
  • 2002: WYEP Live and Direct: Volume 4 – On Air Performances – "Just My Heart Talking"
  • 2002: Maybe This Christmas – "Maybe This Christmas"
  • 2003: Beautiful: A Tribute to Gordon Lightfoot – "Drifters"
  • 2004: Beautiful Dreamer – The Songs of Stephen Foster – "Comrades Fill No Glass for Me"
  • 2006: Our Power – "Love Henry" (with Don Kerr)
  • 2008: Northern Songs: Canada's Best and Brightest – "All in Good Time"
  • 2008: Redeye 2008 Holiday Sampler – "Something to Hold on to (At Christmas)"
  • 2009: Crayon Angel: A Tribute to the Music of Judee Sill – "Crayon Angel"
  • 2009: Crazy Love – "Whatever It Takes" (with Michael Buble)
  • 2011: Harrison Covered: MOJO presents an Exclusive Tribute to George – "Give Me Love" (15-song CD given away free with MOJO magazine November 2011 issue)
  • 2011: This One's for Him: A Tribute to Guy Clark – "Broken Hearted People"
  • 2012: Textuality OST – "Since I Don't Have You"
  • 2012: Lowe Country: The Songs of Nick Lowe – "Where's My Everything"

The Kelele Brothers

[edit]
  • Escape from Bover County (Gas Station Recordings)
  • Has-Beens & Wives (Gas Station Recordings)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Steven Wilcock. "Ron Sexsmith interview – Triste Magazine". Triste.co.uk. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
  2. ^ "2005 | Songwriter of the Year (Sponsored by SiriusXM Canada) | Ron Sexsmith |". The JUNO Awards. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
  3. ^ Perusse, Bernard (March 2, 2011). "Montreal Gazette". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved March 10, 2011.[permanent dead link‍]
  4. ^ Ankeny, Jason. "Ron Sexsmith Biography". AllMusic.com. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  5. ^ Randy Krbechek. "Metronews Music Reviews". Archived from the original on 4 January 2009. Retrieved 22 May 2008.
  6. ^ Wood, Arthur (2008). "Ron Sexsmith – Bio". Texas Tech University Southwest Collection / Special Collections Library. Kerrville Kronikles.
  7. ^ a b " Ron Sexsmith". Biography by Jason Ankeny
  8. ^ "Ron Sexsmith's Beautiful View". Rolling Stone. June 9, 1999. Archived from the original on November 14, 2007. Retrieved April 6, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  9. ^ Burland, Chris. "On the Road Again Live Reviews: Ron Sexsmith with Emm Gryner November 17, 1999 Trinity-St. Paul's Centre, Toronto, ON". Chart Attack. Archived from the original on 30 January 2000. Retrieved 22 February 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  10. ^ "Halifax Pop Explosion October 30 to November 1 - Halifax, NS". Exclaim!, January 1, 2006, by Matt Charlton, Susana Ferreira and Tara Thorne
  11. ^ "Billy Talent, Avril, k-os win big at Junos". CBC News. April 4, 2005.
  12. ^ LeBlanc, Larry (February 21, 1998). "McLachlan at top of Juno nominations". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 14–. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  13. ^ "Deer Life: A Fairy Tale". Publishers Weekly. October 2017. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  14. ^ "Ron Sexsmith Returns to Toronto's Massey Hall for Career-Spanning Retrospective". exclaim.ca. October 1, 2023. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  15. ^ "Ron Sexsmith in Concert : NPR Music". Npr.org. January 12, 2007. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
  16. ^ "Lowe Country: The Songs of Nick Lowe". AllMusic. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
  17. ^ Doole, Kerry (September 5, 2013). "Ryan Granville-Martin – Mouthparts and Wings • Pop & Rock Reviews •". Exclaim.ca. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  18. ^ Mel Parsons Music (October 25, 2016), Mel Parsons | 'Don't Wait' feat. Ron Sexsmith, retrieved May 14, 2019
  19. ^ Deer Life
  20. ^ "A master of restraint". Sydney Morning Herald. August 18, 2004. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
  21. ^ "Ron Sexsmith: Cobblestone Runway – PopMatters Music Review". Popmatters.com. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
  22. ^ "Ron Sexsmith: Ron Sexsmith Talks on 'Time Being' and Songwriting: Soul Shine Magazine". Soulshine.ca. July 27, 2006. Archived from the original on January 4, 2011. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
  23. ^ Feature and interview with Ron Sexmith. Metro Morning, CBC Radio One, also Our Toronto, CBC television, broadcast April 6, 2015.
[edit]
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