Tom Cochrane, OC (born May 14, 1953) Canadian
musician and humanitarian, best known for his hit songs
"Life Is a Highway", "Lunatic Fringe" and "I Wish You
Well". Cochrane fronted the Canadian rock band
Red Rider and has won seven
Juno Awards.
He is a member of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, an
Officer of the Order of Canada, has
an Honorary Doctorate from
Brandon
University
and is an Honorary
Colonel in the Canadian Air
Force. In September 2009, he was inducted onto the
Canadian Walk of
Fame
.
Biography
Early life
Cochrane
was born in Lynn
Lake
, Manitoba
, to Violet
and Tuck Cochrane, a bush pilot. The family relocated
to Acton
, Ontario
, when Tom
was four years old and later to Etobicoke
, Ontario. He
purchased his first guitar at age 11 by selling a toy train set.
Cochrane
attended Martingrove Collegiate
Institute
in the late 1960s. In the early 1970s, he
was performing in coffee houses across Canada.
He eventually made his
way to Los
Angeles
where he found a job writing theme music for the
movie My Pleasure Is My Business, the Xaviera Hollander story.
Unable to
find steady income from music, Cochrane returned to Toronto
, where he
drove a taxi cab and later took a job on a Caribbean cruise
liner.
Red Rider
After
meeting at the famous El
Mocambo
Tavern in Toronto, Cochrane joined the Canadian
Rock Band Red Rider in 1978 and served as
their lead singer and main songwriter for more than ten
years. Red Rider included
Ken
Greer,
Jeff Jones, Peter
Boynton and Rob Baker.
Bruce Allen
managed the band from their debut until 1985. Cochrane recorded six
studio albums with Red Rider plus a live album, a best of album and
a box set. By 1986, the band was billed as "Tom Cochrane & Red
Rider".
In 2002, Cochrane reunited with his former Red Rider bandmates
Greer and Jones and continues to perform with them today. A
complete listing of Red Rider's recordings is included below.
Solo career
Already a household name in Canada from his time with
Red Rider, Cochrane launched his solo career in
1991 with the release of the song "
Life is a Highway". The single became a
global success and was followed by the release of his
Mad Mad World album, which would reach
the six million mark in worldwide sales. The albums
Ragged Ass
Road,
Songs of a Circling Spirit,
X-Ray
Sierra and
No Stranger followed. Cochrane's massive
body of music and energetic live shows have established him as one
of Canada's most-treasured artists.
Today
An avid
golfer, pilot and hockey buff, Cochrane lives in Toronto and spends summers at his cottage/studio on the
shores of Georgian
Bay
in Northern Ontario
and winters part time at his home outside of Austin
, Texas
. Tom
and his wife Kathleene have two daughters, Cody and Evanne.
Cochrane continues to tour and perform in Canada where he remains
one of the country's most popular live acts.
Honours
Canadian Music Hall of Fame Induction: Cochrane
was inducted into the
Canadian Music Hall of Fame in
2003 for outstanding contribution to the greater recognition of
Canadian music. The ceremony took place April 5, 2003 at Casino du
Lac-Meamy in Gatineau, Quebec.
The following night, Cochrane was honoured
for his induction in a speech by Jeff
Healey at the Juno Awards at the
Corel Centre (now Scotiabank Place
in Ottawa). Cochrane closed the show by
performing a medley of his hits and was joined onstage by host
Shania Twain for the final song,
"
Life Is A Highway".
Order of Canada: In April
2008, Cochrane received the highest honour for a Canadian
Citizen when he was invested as an Officer of the
Order of Canada. Cochrane was
honoured for a lifetime of charity work, his contribution to the
arts and for being unabashedly Canadian.
Canada's Walk of Fame: In
September 2009, Cochrane was inducted onto Canada's
Walk of Fame
. The induction was highlighted by a 2-hour
nationally televised gala at Toronto's Four Season's Center for the
Performing Arts.
Anne Murray hosted the
event which also included the inductions of
Kim Cattrall,
Raymond
Burr,
Blue Rodeo,
Dsquared2,
Howie
Mandel,
Robert Munsch and
Chantal Petitclerc.
Honorary Colonel: In November 2007, Cochrane was
formally invested as an Honorary Colonel (HCol) by the
Canadian Air Force's 409 "Nighthawks"
Tactical Fighter Squadron. As part of his investiture weekend,
Cochrane experienced his second flight in a CF-18.
Honorary Doctorate: In May
2005, Cochrane received an Honorary Doctorate from Brandon
University in Brandon
, Manitoba. In addition, musician
James Ehnes, journalist Henry Champ and actress
Shirley Douglas received Honorary
Doctorates from the University at the Spring Convocation held May
28, 2005.
Canadian Music Industry Humanitarian Award: In
March 2005, Cochrane received the
Humanitarian Award at the Canadian Music
Industry Association's (CMIA) gala dinner in Toronto during the
annual
Canadian Music Week
Festival.
Charity
Cochrane has been a longtime supporter of
World Vision and has traveled to Africa several
times. He has also served as the Honorary Chairman of the SuperWalk
for
Parkinsons and has been a proud
supporter of
WSPA,
War Child,
Amnesty International, and the
Make Poverty History
campaign.
Canada For Asia: On January 13, 2005, Cochrane and
his wife, Kathleene spearheaded a benefit concert in support of
tsunami relief in Asia. 150 Canadian stars
appeared including
Anne Murray,
Bryan Adams,
Blue
Rodeo,
The Tragically Hip,
Oscar Peterson,
Celine Dion,
Rush and
Barenaked Ladies. The concert,
which was produced and televised by
CBC TV,
raised over $4 million in pledges.
Live 8 Concert: On July 2,
2005, Cochrane kicked off the Canadian edition of the Live 8 benefit concerts in Barrie
, Ontario performing
his hits "Life Is A Highway" and "No Regrets". The Live 8
concerts took place in the
G8 states and in
South Africa to pressure world leaders
to drop the debt of the world's poorest nations, increase and
improve aid, and negotiate fair trade rules in the interest of the
poorest countries.
Discography
Albums
Hang On To Your Resistance-Cochrane (studio
album): Tom Cochrane's debut album
Hang on to Your Resistance
was released in 1974 on Daffodil Records in Canada. The album was
released using only his last name, Cochrane. Capital Records
reissued the album in 1987. Cochrane produced the album which
featured the singles "You're Driving Me Crazy" and "Charlie Was A
Dancer".
Don't Fight It-Red Rider (studio album): The first
studio album Cochrane recorded as a member of
Red Rider was titled
Don't Fight It. The album was released
by Capital Records in 1979 and included the band's debut hit "White
Hot", written about poet
Arthur
Rimbaud and his travels through
Africa.
The album also included the single "Don't Fight It" and the fan
favorite "Avenue A". "Don't Fight It" sold more than 100,000 copies
in Canada and earned Cochrane and Red Rider their first Gold album
certification award and was later certified Platinum. The album was
produced by Michael James Jackson, who would later produce the rock
band
Kiss.
As Far As Siam-Red Rider (studio album):
Red Rider's second album
As Far as Siam was released in June 1981
and included "Lunatic Fringe". The song was inspired by a book
about
humanitarian Raoul Wallenberg and is about the rise of
anti-Semitism in the 1970s. Lunatic
Fringe became Cochrane's biggest hit with Red Rider and remains in
heavy rotation on Classic Rock radio stations throughout the U.S.
and Canada. The song was featured in the movie
Vision Quest and in the TV shows
Miami Vice and
Bounty
Hunter. "As Far As Siam" also included the single "What Have
You Got To Do (To Get Off Tonight)". The album would achieve
Platinum sales certification for selling more than 100,000 copies
in Canada. It was recorded at
Sunset
Sound studios in Los Angeles and was produced by Richard Landis
& Michael James Jackson.
Neruda-Red Rider (studio album):
Red Rider's critically acclaimed third album
Neruda was released in 1983
and included the singles "Human Race", "Power" and "Crack In The
Sky" plus the song "Napoleon Sheds His Skin". The opening songs
from "Neruda", the instrumental track "Light In The Tunnel" and
"Power", have been used to open Cochrane's concerts on several
tours. "Neruda" became Cochrane's 3rd straight Platinum album in
Canada with Red Rider selling more than 100,000 copies. The album
was recorded at Metalworks Studios in Toronto with
David Tickle producing 8 of the album's 10
songs.
Breaking Curfew-Red Rider (studio album):
Red Rider's fourth studio album
Breaking Curfew
was released in 1984 and included the hit song "Young Thing, Wild
Dreams (Rock Me)". The title track "Breaking Curfew" was also
released as a single. "Breaking Curfew" became the fourth straight
Gold album for Cochrane with Red Rider. The album was produced by
Cochrane and
David Tickle at Metalworks
studios in Toronto and Startling Studios in England.
Tom Cochrane & Red Rider-Tom Cochrane & Red
Rider (studio album): This self-titled 1986 album was
Cochrane's fifth studio album with
Red
Rider and the first using his name as part of the band's name.
The
Tom Cochrane &
Red Rider album achieved Platinum sales status in Canada
for sales of more than 100,000 copies. It included the hit singles
"Boy Inside The Man", The Untouchable One", "Ocean Blues" and "One
More Time". The album earned Cochrane two
Juno Awards for Composer of the Year and Group of
the Year.
The album was produced by Cochrane and
Patrick Moran at Rockfield Studios in Wales
and
Cedartree Studios in Kitchener
.
Over 60 Minutes with Red Rider (best of album):
Released in 1987, this 17-song compilation album was Cochrane's
first "best of" package featuring music from the first five
Red Rider albums.
Over 60 Minutes with Red
Rider achieved a Platinum sales award for sales of over
100,000 copies in Canada.
Victory Day-Tom Cochrane & Red Rider (studio
album): Released in 1988,
Victory Day was Cochrane's
sixth and final studio album with
Red
Rider. The album included three major hits: "Big League" (#4
RPM Canadian Charts), "Good Times" (#2 RPM Canadian Charts) and the
title track "Victory Day". Cochrane wrote the hit song "Big League"
about a young hockey player who was killed in a car accident.
The album
was produced by Don Gehman in Woodland
Hills
, Burbank
, Vancouver
, Toronto and Hollywood, Los Angeles,
California
. Victory Day sold more than 200,000
copies in Canada and became Cochrane's first Double Platinum album
with Red Rider. The album garnered Cochrane and Red Rider 3
Juno Award nominations.
The Symphony Sessions-Tom Cochrane
& Red Rider (live album): Recorded live in concert
with the Edmonton Symphony
Orchestra on March 17-18, 1989 in Edmonton
, Alberta
. The
Symphony Sessions featured many of Cochrane's hits with
Red Rider plus a performance of
Leonard Cohen's "
Bird on the Wire". The concert featured a
56-piece orchestra, including six players who had performed with
Procol Harum at the band's legendary
1971 performance with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. This would
be Cochrane's last album with Red Rider before starting a solo
career. The album achieved Platinum sales status in Canada, selling
more than 100,000 copies.
Mad Mad World-Tom Cochrane (solo album): Tom
Cochrane's first solo album
Mad Mad
World was released 1991. The first single from the album,
"
Life Is a Highway", became a
global smash in late 1991 and hit #1 in Canada. The album earned
Cochrane four
Juno Awards including Album
of the Year, Song of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year and
Songwriter of the Year. In addition, Cochrane won two
SOCAN awards and an
ASCAP award.
Mad Mad World achieved a Diamond sales award in Canada for
selling more than 1 million copies in Cochrane's native country.
The album also included the hits "No Regrets" (#3 RPM Canadian
Charts), "Sinking Like A Sunset" (#2 RPM Canadian Charts), "Washed
Away" (#7 RPM Canadian Charts), "Bigger Man" and the title track
"Mad Mad World".
The album was produced by Joe Hardy and was
recorded in Memphis
and at three different Ontario studios: Metalworks
in Mississauga
, Hungry Hollow Studio in Georgetown
and at Tom's cabin in Oakville
.
Ashes to Diamonds-Tom Cochrane (box set): Released
in 1993, this 3-disc box set includes rare songs, live
performances, acoustic versions and all of Cochrane's biggest hits
with
Red Rider and from his solo career.
This box set is no longer available for sale and is considered a
collector's piece for music fans.
Ragged Ass Road-Tom
Cochrane (solo album): Released in October 1995,
Ragged Ass Road was named
for a road in Yellowknife
, Northwest Territories
and included "I Wish You Well", which became the
first Canadian song to debut at #1 on the RPM Canadian Singles
Charts. In addition, the album included 3 other Top 20 hits
in Canada: "Wildest Dreams" (#5 RPM Canadian Charts), "Dreamer's
Dream" (#4 RPM Canadian Charts) and "Crawl" (#11 RPM Canadian
Charts).
Ragged Ass Road earned Cochrane two Juno
nominations and achieved Platinum sales status in Canada for sales
of more than 100,000 copies. The album was produced by Cochrane and
John Webster at Metalworks Studios and Ragged Ass Road
Studios.
Songs of a Circling Spirit-Tom Cochrane (acoustic
solo album): Released in 1997,
Songs of a Circling Spirit
was a live CD and multi-media package featuring acoustic versions
of Cochrane's most-treasured songs and the hit single "Good Man
Feeling Bad". The album was recorded during Cochrane's "Ragged Ass
Road" tour.
X-Ray Sierra-Tom Cochrane (solo studio album):
Released in February 1999,
X-Ray
Sierra was a critically-acclaimed solo album by Cochrane
that featured the hits "I Wonder", "Willie Dixon Said", "Heartbreak
Girl" and "Stonecutters Arms". Cochrane received a Best Male
Vocalist Juno nomination for
X-Ray Sierra. The album was
recorded at Metalworks Studios in Toronto and Hipposonic Studios in
Vancouver and was produced by Cochrane and John Webster.
Trapeze-Tom Cochrane & Red Rider (greatest
hits): Released by Capital Records in 2002, this 2-disc set
included all of Cochrane biggest hits with Red Rider and from his
solo career. Two new songs were included in the set: "Pictures from
the Edge" and "Just Like Ali", which Cochrane dedicated to his late
father and
Muhammad Ali.
No Stranger-Tom Cochrane (solo studio album):
Cochrane's first album for
Universal Music Canada was released
in October 2006.
No Stranger
included the hits "Didn't Mean", "The Party's Not Over", "Northern
Star", "Out of My Head" and a version of
Norman Greenbaum's "
Spirit in the Sky". Former Red Rider
bandmates
Ken Greer and
Jeff Jones performed on the album
which was recorded at
Metalworks
Studios and Cochrane's own Layastone Studio in Northern
Ontario. Cochrane produced and mixed No Stranger at Layastone.
No Stranger received a
Juno
Award nomination for Canadian Adult Alternative Album of the
Year.
Singles
| Release date |
Title |
Chart peak |
Album |
Canada
RPM 100 |
US
Hot 100 |
US
Main-
stream
Rock
|
| 1973 |
"You're Driving Me Crazy (Faith Healers)" |
71 |
— |
— |
Hang on
to Your Resistance-Cochrane |
| 1974 |
"Charlie Was a Dancer" |
— |
— |
— |
| 1980 |
"White Hot" |
20 |
48 |
— |
Don't Fight
It-Red Rider |
| "Don't Fight It" |
75 |
103 |
— |
| 1981 |
"What Have You Got To Do" |
42 |
— |
— |
As Far as
Siam-Red Rider |
| "Lunatic Fringe" |
— |
— |
11 |
| 1983 |
"Human Race" |
29 |
— |
11 |
Neruda-Red
Rider |
| "Power (Strength In Numbers)" |
— |
— |
13 |
| "Crack the Sky (Breakaway)" |
— |
— |
39 |
| 1984 |
"Young Thing, Wild Dreams (Rock Me)" |
44 |
71 |
13 |
Breaking Curfew-Red
Rider |
| "Breaking Curfew" |
93 |
— |
— |
| 1986 |
"Boy Inside The Man" |
25 |
— |
17 |
Tom
Cochrane & Red Rider-Tom Cochrane & Red Rider |
| "The Untouchable One" |
70 |
— |
48 |
| 1987 |
"One More Time (Some Old Habits)" |
85 |
— |
— |
| "Ocean Blues (Emotion Blue)" |
88 |
— |
— |
| 1988 |
"Big League" |
4 |
— |
9 |
Victory
Day-Tom Cochrane & Red Rider |
| 1989 |
"Good Times" |
2 |
— |
— |
| "Victory Day" |
32 |
— |
— |
| "Different Drummer" |
67 |
— |
— |
| "White Hot" (Live) |
50 |
— |
— |
The Symphony
Sessions-Tom Cochrane & Red Rider |
| 1991 |
"Life Is A Highway" |
1 |
6 |
6 |
Mad Mad World-Tom
Cochrane |
| "No Regrets" |
3 |
— |
7 |
| 1992 |
"Sinking Like a Sunset" |
2 |
— |
— |
| "Mad Mad World" |
25 |
— |
— |
| "Washed Away" |
7 |
— |
88 |
| "Bigger Man" |
45 |
— |
— |
| 1995 |
"I Wish You Well" |
1 |
101 |
— |
Ragged Ass
Road |
| "Wildest Dreams" |
5 |
— |
— |
| 1996 |
"Dreamer's Dream" |
4 |
— |
— |
| "Crawl" |
11 |
— |
— |
| 1997 |
"Lunatic Fringe" |
70 |
— |
— |
Songs of
a Circling Spirit |
| "Good Man Feeling Bad" |
46 |
— |
— |
| 1999 |
"I Wonder" |
86 |
— |
— |
X-Ray
Sierra |
| "Willie Dixon Said" |
30 |
— |
— |
| "Stonecutter's Arms" |
— |
— |
— |
| "Heartbreak Girl" |
— |
— |
— |
| 2002 |
"Just Like Ali" |
— |
— |
— |
Trapeze (with Red Rider) |
| "Pictures From The Edge" |
— |
— |
— |
| 2005 |
"Christmas All The Time" |
— |
— |
— |
Christmas Single |
| 2006 |
"Didn't Mean" |
— |
— |
— |
No
Stranger |
| "The Party's Not Over" |
— |
— |
— |
| 2007 |
"Out Of My Head" |
— |
— |
— |
| "Northern Star" |
— |
— |
— |
| "—" denotes a single that
didn't chart |
|
Albums:
Awards
Juno Awards:
- 2003 - Canadian Music Hall of Fame Inductee
- 1992 - Songwriter of the Year
- 1992 - Male Vocalist of the Year
- 1992 - Single of the Year ("Life Is A Highway")
- 1992 - Album of the Year (Mad Mad World)
- 1987 - Composer of the Year
- 1987 - Group of the Year (Tom Cochrane & Red Rider)
Juno Award Nominations:
- 2008 - Adult Alternative Album of the Year (No
Stranger)
- 2000 - Best Male Artist
- 1996 - Male Vocalist of the Year
- 1996 - Album of the Year (Ragged Ass Road)
- 1993 - Songwriter of the Year
- 1993 - Best Selling Album [Foreign or Domestic] (Mad Mad
World)
- 1993 - Canadian Entertainer of the Year
- 1992 - Producer of the Year ("All the King's Men")
- 1990 - Group of the Year (Tom Cochrane & Red Rider)
- 1990 - Album of the Year (Tom Cochrane & Red Rider -
Victory Day)
- 1990 - Canadian Entertainer of the Year (Tom Cochrane & Red
Rider)
- 1989 - Group of the Year (Tom Cochrane & Red Rider)
- 1989 - Canadian Entertainer of the Year (Tom Cochrane & Red
Rider)
- 1987 - Composer of the Year
- 1987 - Canadian Entertainer of the Year (Tom Cochrane & Red
Rider)
Grammy Nominations
- 1993 - Life Is A Highway (Best Rock Vocal performance)
ASCAP Awards
- 1993 - Pop Music Award (Life Is A Highway)
- 2007 - Most Airplay Award (Life Is A Highway)
SOCAN Awards
- 2008 - Country Award (Life Is A Highway - Raskal Flatts
version)
- 2003 - National Achievement Award
- 2003 - Classic Award ("Life Is A Highway")
- 1997 - Pop Music Award ("Dreamer's Dream" and "Wildest
Dreams")
- 1996 - Pop Music Award ("I Wish You Well")
- 1993 - Pop Music Award ("No Regrets")
- 1992 - Pop Music Award ("Life Is A Highway")
Television and Movies
Additional Career Highlights
- In 1985, Cochrane participating in the recording of the
Northern Lights song "Tears Are Not Enough" with proceeds to
Ethiopian famine relief.
- In 1987, Cochrane produced the Grapes of Wrath's second album
"Treehouse". It became their breakthrough album and included the
hit song "Peace of Mind".
- In the fall of 1989 Tom made his first of many trips to Africa
with the faith based NGO organization World
Vision
- In the 90's, Cochrane performed at the Kumbaya Festivals in Toronto. The annual
concerts were AIDS/HIV fundraisers organized by singer/songwriter
Molly Johnson.
- On September 4, 1995, Cochrane's "I Wish You Well" became the
first Canadian song to debut at #1 on the RPM Canadian Pop
Charts.
- In
June 1999, Cochrane was involved in a light plane crash in Montreal
, after his plane's engine stalled just after
take-off. No one was injured.
- In November 2002, Cochrane performed his song "Just Like Ali"
before the legendary Muhammad Ali
during a halftime event at a Toronto Argonauts CFL game at Skydome in
Toronto.
- In 2005, Cochrane released the Holiday song "Christmas All The
Time".
- On January 13, 2005, Cochrane and his wife Kathleene
spearheaded the "Canada For Asia" benefit concert in support of
tsunami relief in Asia. The concert, which was produced and
televised by CBC TV, raised over $4 million in pledges.
- On
July 2, 2005, Cochrane kicked off the Canadian edition of the
Live 8 benefit concerts in Barrie, Ontario, performing
his hits "Life Is A Highway" and "No Regrets". The Live 8
concerts took place in the G8 states and in
South Africa to pressure world leaders
to drop the debt of the world's poorest nations, increase and
improve aid, and negotiate fair trade rules in the interest of the
poorest countries.
- "Life Is A Highway" was also performed on "America's Got Talent" by Jason
Pritchett in the Semi-Final round in July 2007.
- In 2007, Score Golf Magazine ranked Cochrane as Canada's #1
celebrity musician golfer. His close friends Gil Moore of Triumph
and Alex Lifeson of Rush were ranked #2 and #4 respectively.
- In February 2008, Cochrane and John
Mellencamp toured Canada together performing at major arenas as
part of a 12-date double-bill.
- At the 2008 Juno Awards, Cochrane inducted Triumph into the
Canadian Music Hall of Fame. Cochrane's longtime friend Gil Moore
is a member of the recently reunited Canadian rock band.
- In 2008 & 2009, Cochrane performed free concerts at the
Glen Abbey Golf Club in Toronto during the RBC Canadian Open PGA Tournament.
- In 2008, Cochrane recorded "Old Man" for the Neil Young tribute album "Borrowed Tunes
II".
- In October 2008, Cochrane performed his song "Big League" at
the Vancouver Canucks home opener
in honour of Luc Bourdon, a promising
young defenseman killed in a motorcycle accident in June 2008.
- In 2008 & 2009, Cochrane qualified for and participated in
the Canadian Senior Men's Golf Championship, the Ontario Senior
Men's Golf Championship and the Ontario Men's Mid-Amateur
Championship.
- In
September 2009, Cochrane was inducted onto Canada's
Walk of Fame and received a star on the sidewalk in Toronto's
theatre district.
See also
References
External links
in Atlanta when The Toronto Blue Jays beat The Atlanta Braves 5-4 on their way to winning
their first World Series.
as the key
musical guest for a CBC special called, Rick Mercer's Christmas in
Kabul.
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