Myles Goodwyn, the legendary Canadian musician and songwriter who rose to fame as lead singer of the band April Wine, has died at the age of 75.
His publicist Eric Alper said Goodwyn died Sunday in Halifax. The cause of his death is not known.
Mr. Goodwyn helped propel April Wine to international success and paved the way for other Canadian rock groups.
“April Wine was something of a pioneer because he broke through on American rock and roll radio a little before all the other groups,” he said in an interview.
“The fact that they were so successful and sold out shows in the United States and around the world showed that we could compete on our own level. »
April Wine has sold 10 million albums worldwide and was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2010. The group was added to Canada’s Walk of Fame this fall.
Goodwyn founded the group in 1969 in Halifax with his friend Jim Henman and his cousins, David and Ritchie Henman.
After moving to Montreal, April Wine recorded a string of hits in the 1970s and early 1980s, including You Could Have Been a Lady, You Won’t Dance With Me, Roller and Just Between You and Me.
Their 1975 album Stand Back was the first by a Canadian group to sell more than 100,000 copies. First Glance, released in 1978, was their first album certified gold outside of Canada, while The Nature of the Beast (1981) was certified platinum on both sides of the border.
Goodwyn later released several blues recordings, including Myles Goodwyn And Friends Of The Blues, which was shortlisted for a Juno Award, as well as an autobiography, Just Between You And Me: A Memoir.
Mr Alper, who represented him in recent years, described Mr Goodwyn as a “maverick” and a “breath of fresh air” who retained a keen interest in the music world.
Mr. Goodwyn had withdrawn from the group earlier this year due to health problems and because he no longer wanted to “live out of a suitcase”, but he continued to perform and work with other musicians .
“I’m so sad because his spirit and his drive to write the great rock and roll song, and the great blues song, was still in him and he loved collaborating with people to make that happen,” a- he declared.
The Minister of Canadian Heritage, Pascale St-Onge, wrote to X to express her sadness following Goodwyn’s death and to offer her condolences to his loved ones.
“Myles Goodwyn has fronted April Wine for over 50 years, bringing us hit Canadian rock music and touring tirelessly. Myles, thank you for the songs that we will continue to play around town. My thoughts are with his family and loved ones,” she wrote.
Canadian rocker Randy Bachman, founder of the Guess Who and Bachman Turner Overdrive, described Myles Goodwyn as a “great singer, songwriter, guitarist and creator.”
“His songs will live on forever,” Bachman said in an email. Many of his songs are some of my all-time favorites. »
