Bruce Cockburn

Bruce Douglas Cockburn, OC ( ; born May 27, 1945) is a Canadian folk/rock guitarist and singer-songwriter. His 29th album was released in summer 2006, and he has written songs in styles ranging from folk to jazz-influenced rock to rock and roll.
==Biography==
Cockburn was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and spent some of his early years on a farm outside Pembroke, Ontario. He has stated in interviews that his first guitar was one he found in his grandmother's attic, which he then adorned with golden stars and used to play along to radio hits;Interview archived at http://canada.aol.com/webcentres/community/chats/archive.adp?guest=Bruce_Cockburn another source places this event as happening in 1959. Cockburn was a student (but did not study music) at Nepean High School, where his 1964 yearbook photo states his desire simply: "hopes to become a musician."Bruce Cockburn - Bio He then attended Berklee School of Music in Boston for three semesters in the mid-1960s: "I got a lot out of it, but it didn't feel right to continue there." In 1966 he was asked to join an Ottawa band called The Children, which lasted for about a year. In the spring of 1967, he joined the final lineup of The Esquires before moving to Toronto in the summer to form The Flying Circus with former Bobby Kris & The Imperials members Marty Fisher and Gordon MacBain and ex-Tripp member Neil Lillie. The group recorded some material in late 1967 (which remains unreleased) before changing its name to Olivus in the spring of 1968, by which point Lillie (who changed his name to Neil Merryweather) had been replaced by Dennis Pendrith from Livingstone's Journey. Olivus opened for The Jimi Hendrix Experience and Cream in April 1968. That summer Cockburn broke up Olivus, intending to go solo but ending up in the band 3's a Crowd. with David Wiffen, Colleen Peterson and Richard Patterson, who had played with him in The Children. Cockburn left this band in the spring of 1969 to pursue a solo career. 
He had made his first solo appearance at the Mariposa Folk Festival in 1967, and was the headliner when Neil Young cancelled in order to appear at Woodstock in 1969. In 1970 he released his first, self-titled, solo album. Cockburn's guitar work and songwriting skills won him an enthusiastic following. His early work featured rural and nautical imagery, Biblical metaphors, and the conviction that heaven is close despite hardship. Raised as an agnostic, early in his career he became a devout Christian."I was brought up as an agnostic... and when I first became a Christian in the Seventies I didn't really know what it was I'd adopted." Faith in Practice: Holding on to the Mystery of Love, by Bruce Cockburn as told to Cole Morton, Third Way, September 1994, page 15. Many of his albums from the 1970s refer to his Christian belief, which in turn informs the concerns for human rights and environmentalism expressed on his 1980s albums. His references to Christianity in his music include the Grail imagery of 20th-century Christian poet Charles Williams and the ideas of theologian Harvey Cox,Adria, Marco, "Making Contact with Bruce Cockburn", Music of Our Times: Eight Canadian Singer-Songwriters (Toronto: Lorimer, 1990), p. 97. but they are so subtle and musical that they do not exclude nonbelievers. 
While Cockburn had been popular in Canada for years, he did not make a splash in the United States until 1979, with the release of the album Dancing in the Dragon's Jaws. "Wondering Where the Lions Are", the first single from that album, reached #21 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US in June 1980, and earned Cockburn an appearance on NBC's hit TV show Saturday Night Live.
Cockburn was married from 1969 to 1980 to Kitty Cockburn, and has a daughter Jenny (born in July 1976) from that marriage. He wrote the song "Little Seahorse" in late 1975 about the time when his daughter was in utero. It appears on his album In the Falling Dark.
Through the 1980s Cockburn's songwriting became first more urban, later more global, and then, ultimately and most famously, more politicized: he became heavily involved with progressive causes. His growing political concerns were first hinted at in three discs, Humans, Inner City Front and The Trouble with Normal. As far as casual radio listeners were concerned, however, these concerns only became evident in 1984, with Cockburn's second US radio hit, "If I Had a Rocket Launcher" (#88 US) from the Stealing Fire album. He had written the song a year earlier, after visiting Guatemalan refugee camps in Mexico that were attacked before and after his visit by Guatemalan military helicopters. His political activism continues to the present. Cockburn has travelled to many countries (such as Mozambique and Iraq), played countless benefits, and written many songs on a variety of political subjects ranging from the International Monetary Fund to land mines. His internationalist bent is reflected in the many world music influences (reggae, Latin, etc.) found in his music.
In 1991, Intrepid Records released Kick at the Darkness, a tribute album to Cockburn whose title comes from a phrase in his song "Lovers in a Dangerous Time". It features the Barenaked Ladies cover of that song, which became their first Top 40 hit and proved to be an important element in their early success. This lyric was also referenced by U2 in their song "God Part II" from their album Rattle and Hum.
In the early 1990s Cockburn teamed up with good friend T-Bone Burnett for two albums, Nothing but a Burning Light and Dart to the Heart. The latter included a song, "Closer to the Light", inspired by the death of songwriter Mark Heard, who was a close friend of Burnett as well. Cockburn frequently refers to Heard as his favorite songwriter and was one of many artists who paid tribute to Heard on an album and video titled Strong Hand of Love. On the album Cockburn performs the title song.
In 1998, he travelled with filmmaker Robert Lang to Mali, West Africa, where he jammed with Grammy Award-winning blues musician Ali Farka Toure and kora master Toumani Diabate. The one-month journey was documented in the award-winning one-hour film, River of Sand.It won the Regard Canadien award for best documentary at the Vues d'Afrique Film Festival in Montréal. It was also invited for competition at the International Festival of Environmental Films in Paris. See 
In 2002 Cockburn released his first official greatest hits collection, Anything Anytime Anywhere: Singles 1979-2002 (although his previously published material had been collected in several albums: Resume, Mummy Dust, and Waiting for a Miracle).
In January 2003 Cockburn finished recording his 27th album, You've Never Seen Everything, which features contributions from Emmylou Harris, Jackson Browne, Sam Phillips, Sarah Harmer, Hugh Marsh, Jonell Mosser, Larry Taylor and Steven Hodges. (Taylor and Hodges, formerly of Canned Heat which performed at Monterey and Woodstock back in the day, probably are best known for their work with Tom Waits). 
Cockburn performed a set at the Live 8 concert in Barrie, Ontario, on July 2, 2005. An instrumental compilation of both new and previously released material, titled Speechless, was released on October 24, 2005. His 22nd album, Life Short Call Now, was released on July 18, 2006.
Another humanitarian, Canadian Senator/retired General Roméo Dallaire, who is active in humanitarian fundraising and promoting awareness, was on stage at the University of Victoria with Bruce Cockburn. The October 4, 2008 concert was held to aid child soldiers (Victoria Times Colonist, April 17, 2008).
== Soundtracks ==
Cockburn wrote and performed the theme song for the children's television series Franklin. He composed and performed, with Hugh Marsh, the music for the National Film Board of Canada documentary feature Waterwalker (1984), directed by Bill Mason. He also composed two songs for the classic English Canadian film Goin' Down the Road (1970), directed by Donald Shebib.
In 2007, Cockburn's music was featured in the movie adaptation of Irvine Welsh's best-selling novel Ecstasy: Three Tales of Chemical Romance.
== Covers and tributes ==
As a result of his highly successful solo career, Cockburn has had his songs covered by artists as diverse as Barenaked Ladies ("Lovers in a Dangerous Time"), Judy Collins ("Pacing The Cage"), Jimmy Buffett ("Pacing the Cage", "Anything Anytime Anywhere", "All the Ways I Want You", "Wondering Where the Lions Are" -- in the movie Hoot), Michael Hedges ("Wondering Where the Lions Are"), Lori Cullen ("Fall"), Anne Murray ("One Day I Walk", "Musical Friends"), Dianne Heatherington and Ani DiFranco ("Mama Just Wants to Barrelhouse All Night Long"), Dan Fogelberg ("Lovers in a Dangerous Time"), Donavon Frankenreiter ("Wondering Where the Lions Are"), Tom Rush ("One Day I Walk'), George Hamilton IV ("Together Alone"), the Jerry Garcia Band ("Waiting for a Miracle"), and k.d. lang ("One Day I Walk"). In addition, fellow Canadian singer songwriter Steve Bell recorded an entire album of Bruce Cockburn songs titled My Dinner With Bruce, and jazz guitarist Michael Occhipinti released an album containing jazz arrangements of Cockburn's songs.Creation Dream by Michael Occhipinti. Cockburn plays on the track "Pacing the Cage" .
==Awards and honours==
Cockburn was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 1982 and was promoted to Officer in 2002.
On March 5, 2001, during the 30th Annual Juno Awards ceremony, Cockburn was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. The Cockburn tribute during the awards telecast from Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario, included taped testimonials from U2's Bono, Jackson Browne, Cowboy Junkies' Margo Timmins, and Midnight Oil's Peter Garrett. The Barenaked Ladies performed their version of Cockburn's "Lovers in a Dangerous Time". Best Female Artist nominees Jann Arden and Terri Clark performed "Wondering Where the Lions Are", and Sarah Harmer performed "Waiting for a Miracle". 
The Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) honoured Cockburn by inducting him into the Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony was held on October 22, 2002, in Vancouver as part of the Gold Ribbon Awards Gala at the organization's 76th annual convention. 
On November 27, 2002, the CBC's Life and Times series aired a special feature on Cockburn titled The Life and Times of Bruce Cockburn produced by Robert Lang of Kensington Communications in Toronto.
The cover artwork for his 1999 album Breakfast in New Orleans, Dinner in Timbuktu, which is dominated by bold text in the Helvetica font, was included in the exhibition "50 Years of Helvetica" which ran from April 2007 to March 2008 at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
In May, 2007 he received two honorary doctorates, the fourth and fifth of his career. In early May he received an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Queens University in Kingston, Ontario,Media and later in the month he received an Honorary Doctor of Letters at the convocation of Memorial University of Newfoundland for his lifelong contributions to Canadian music, culture and social activism. Cockburn previously received honorary doctorates from York University in Toronto, Berklee College of Music, and St. Thomas University in New Brunswick.Marketing & Communications | index
=="Humans"==
The discussion group "Humans" is one of the oldest e-mail lists devoted to a specific artist.Humans originated in 1990, and was hosted on various private servers until moving to yahoo groups 2001. The liner notes for Cockburn's album The Charity of Night mentions the group.From the liner notes:"Thanks to the following for support, inspiration, lighting-a-fire-under-the-ass, and other gifts, intentional or not: Sue, Michael O'Connor, Rex Fyles, Sandra Wood and Chude Mondlane, The Maputo Police Department for leaving the various body parts attached, Deminers everywhere, Ani for reminding me what energy is for, John and Matt for the biochemistry, the Humans, Susan Gitlin-Emmer ("Lady of the Northern Light"), the Book of Psalms, Kel and Jon for the introduction to Cormac McCarthy, C. Woodman for her wisdom, the folks at City Stages, God for always keeping the ladder in place." 
== Equipment ==
Cockburn has played guitars manufactured by a number of companies and luthiers over the years. Many early photos show him playing guitars made by the Canadian instrument maker Larrivée. His request for an acoustic with greater access to higher frets led directly to Jean Larrivée's "C" series of guitars. These innovative acoustics incorporated a cutaway, a previously rare feature on flattop acoustics. As a result, Cockburn's input was essential to Larrivée's rise as an innovative, high-quality acoustic company. 
In recent years, Cockburn has been performing on guitars custom made by Linda Manzer, a Canadian luthier and one of Jean Larrivée's greatest protégés. Cockburn also plays a Resolectric guitar model from the National Guitar Company, and a steel-bodied Dobro resonator guitar.
==Discography==
===Studio albums===
* Bruce Cockburn – 1970
* High Winds, White Sky * – 1971
* Sunwheel Dance * – 1971
* Night Vision – 1973
* Salt, Sun and Time – 1974
* Joy Will Find a Way – 1975
* In the Falling Dark * – 1976
* Further Adventures Of * – 1978
* Dancing in the Dragon's Jaws * – 1979
* Humans * – 1980
* Inner City Front * – 1981
* The Trouble with Normal * – 1983
* Stealing Fire * – 1984
* World of Wonders – 1986
* Big Circumstance – 1988
* Nothing but a Burning Light – 1991
* Christmas – 1993
* Dart to the Heart – 1994
* The Charity of Night – 1997
* Breakfast in New Orleans, Dinner in Timbuktu – 1999
* You've Never Seen Everything – 2003
* Life Short Call Now – 2006
* = Reissued with additional tracks 2002-2003
===Live albums===
* Circles in the Stream +– 1977
* Bruce Cockburn Live * – 1990
* You Pay Your Money and You Take Your Chance – 1997
* Bruce Cockburn - Live on World Cafe - 2002 (Bonus disc from Borders Books and Music)
* Slice O Life - Solo Live – 2009
+ = Reissued by Rounder Records, but no additional tracks
* = Reissued with additional tracks 2002-2003
===Compilations===
* Resume * - 1981 (US only)
* Mummy Dust * – 1981 (Canada only)
* Rumours of Glory * - 1985 (Germany only)
* Waiting for a Miracle: Singles 1970-1987 * – 1987 (Canadian version is 2 discs, American version is 1)
* If a Tree Falls * - 1990 (Australia only)
* Anything Anytime Anywhere: Singles 1979-2002 * – 2002
* Speechless * – 2005 (all instrumental album)
* = These releases compile previously released material, but also include one or more newly recorded tracks
===Other releases===
* "Strong Hand of Love", a track on the Mark Heard tribute albums Strong Hand of Love (1994) and Orphans of God (1996)
* "Lord of the Starfields" (with Rob Wasserman), "Lovers in a Dangerous Time" (with Rob Wasserman), and "Cry of a Tiny Babe" (with Lou Reed, Rosanne Cash, and Rob Wasserman), all on The Best of the Columbia Records Radio Hour, Volume 1 (1995)
* "Last Night of the World" on the WXPN compilation album, Live at the World Café - Volume 9 (1999)
==Chart singles==
Year	Title 	Chart positions 	Chart positions	Chart positions	Chart positions	Album
Year	Title 	Canada<BR> RPM 100	Canada A/C 	US Hot 100 	US ModernRock 	Album
1970	"Going to the Country" 	- 	4 [1] 	- 	- 	Bruce Cockburn
1970	"Musical Friends" 	- 	26 	- 	- 	Bruce Cockburn
1971	"One Day I Walk" 	64 	- 	- 	- 	High Winds, White Sky
1972	"It's Going Down Slow" 	- 	12 	- 	- 	Sunwheel Dance
1972	"Up on the Hillside" 	- 	21 	- 	- 	Sunwheel Dance
1979	"Wondering Where the Lions Are" 	39 	7 	21 	- 	Dancing in the Dragon's Jaws
1980	"Tokyo" 	44 	36 	- 	- 	Humans
1981	"Rumours of Glory" 	- 	36 	104 	- 	Humans
1981	"Fascist Architecture (I'm Okay)" 	- 	1 [2] 	- 	- 	Humans
1981	"Coldest Night of the Year" 	42 	- 	- 	- 	Mummy Dust
1982	"You Pay Your Money and You Take Your Chance"	- 	21 	- 	- 	Inner City Front
1984	"Lovers in a Dangerous Time" 	24 	8 	- 	- 	Stealing Fire
1984	"Making Contact" 	80 	- 	- 	- 	Stealing Fire
1984	"If I Had a Rocket Launcher" 	49 	- 	88 	- 	Stealing Fire
1986	"People See Through You" 	37 	4 	- 	- 	World of Wonders
1986	"Peggy's Kitchen Wall" 	88 	- 	- 	- 	World of Wonders
1986	"See How I Miss You" 	81 	- 	- 	- 	World of Wonders
1987	"Waiting for a Miracle" 	50 	12 	- 	- 	Waiting for a Miracle
1989	"If a Tree Falls" 	8 	- 	- 	20 	Big Circumstance
1989	"Don't Feel Your Touch" 	43 	- 	- 	- 	Big Circumstance
1989	"Shipwrecked at the Stable Door" 	92 	22 	- 	- 	Big Circumstance
1991	"A Dream Like Mine" 	16 	5 	- 	22 	Nothing But A Burning Light
1992	"Great Big Love" 	27 	12 	- 	- 	Nothing But A Burning Light
1992	"Mighty Trucks of Midnight" 	67 	12 	- 	- 	Nothing But A Burning Light
1992	"Somebody Touched Me" 	49 	8 	- 	- 	Nothing But A Burning Light
1994	"Listen For The Laugh" 	18 	9 	- 	- 	Dart To The Heart
1994	"Scanning These Crowds" 	42 	21 	- 	- 	Dart To The Heart
1995	"Someone I Used To Love" 	- 	36 	- 	- 	Dart To The Heart
1997	"Night Train" 	25 	10 	- 	- 	The Charity of Night
1999	"Last Night of the World" 	- 	28 	- 	- 	Breakfast in New Orleans, Dinner in Timbuktu
;Notes
*1 ^ "Going To The Country" peaked at #4 on the RPM Adult Contemporary (A/C) chart in November, 1970. However, at the time, and for the Adult Contemporary chart only, RPM only charted A/C songs that qualified as Canadian Content. This policy was changed midway through the song's chart run, and all A/C records regardless of national origin were eligible for the chart. Under these new criteria, "Going to the Country" peaked at #11 in December, 1970. 
*2 ^ The song "Fascist Architecture" was released to radio under the title "I'm Okay". It peaked at #1 on the RPM Adult Contemporary (A/C) chart in March, 1981. However, at the time, and for the Adult Contemporary chart only, RPM once again only charted A/C songs that qualified as Canadian Content. This short-lived policy was again abandoned later in 1981.
==Notes and References==
==External links==
*Bruce Cockburn - a view from the Woodpile (photos of Bruce at work)
*Official Site
*True North (Cockburn's label / manager) page
*Gavin's Woodpile- The Bruce Cockburn Newsletter
*The Cockburn Project, documenting the work of Cockburn
*Humans, an e-mail discussion group about Cockburn's music
*Bruce Cockburn Radio Interview with Chris Comer & Rob Ervin, June 24, 2003
==Song collections and biographies==
* All the Diamonds A collection of early music by Bruce Cockburn. Ottawa Folklore Centre Ottawa, Ontario, Canada 
* Rumours of Glory The second volume of Bruce Cockburn songs. Ottawa Folklore Centre, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
===Related video===
*Video interview on CBC News: The Hour from November 24, 2005. (Discusses his view of the world, with personal stories drawn from his own experiences traveling overseas.)
*Ernest Brown: Pioneer Photographer with original soundtrack by Bruce Cockburn.
Category:1945 births
Category:Living people
Category:Canadian folk guitarists
Category:Canadian folk singers
Category:Canadian male singers
Category:Canadian singer-songwriters
Category:Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductees
Category:Officers of the Order of Canada
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Category:Fellows of the Royal Conservatory of Music
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Category:Juno Award winners
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