Jim Cuddy

Blessed with a road-worn voice, Jim Cuddy has a knack for penning poignant country tunes that made him one of Canada’s premier roots musicians. Born James Gordon Cuddy in 1955 in Toronto, Cuddy teamed up with his eventual songwriting partner Greg Keelor in high school, and the two of them started the power-pop group The Hi-Fis before shifting to country rock as Blue Rodeo. After years of critical and commercial success, Cuddy released his first solo record, 1998’s All In Time, building on his familiar Americana with touches of alt-rock on songs like the rollicking title track. On 2006’s The Light That Guides You Home, he heads back to the country well for the duet “Married Again” (featuring Kathleen Edwards) and ballads like “Pull Me Through.” In 2011, he opted for a smoother, adult contemporary sound on Skyscraper Soul, and on 2018’s Constellation, he explores heavy topics like the loss of a close friend. On Countrywide Soul (2019), recorded in his barn loft with longtime collaborators, Cuddy reworks his own songs and covers alongside new compositions, with palpable warmth resonating through tracks like “Back Here Again.”