Few would sail their musical ships and make their mark to the degree that Liona Boyd has.
The 64-years-young classical guitarist, composer and now-vocalist was named ‘First Lady of the Guitar’ in 1975, a namesake that led to her service as an unofficial Canadian ambassador for more than four decades.
Following decades of filling some of the world’s largest amphitheatres and coliseums, Boyd will be performing for two local crowds: at Legacy Guitar and Coffee House March 13 and at the Bragg Creek Community Centre March 16.
The Legacy show was sold out in minutes.
There are still tickets available to the Bragg Creek show. Tickets are $35 and are available at ticketweb.ca or at 1-888-222-6608.
Boyd, accompanied by Michael Savona (guitar, vocals), will be touting her latest, anthemic release The Return…to Canada with Love (2013).
“I’ve been going gangbusters since moving back to Toronto,” admitted the balladeer. “It just started as a patriotic song I wanted to write about Canada…one song led to another…I wrote all the songs, every melody, every lyric.”
The 15-track album is as Canadian as it gets and includes guest appearances by Serena Ryder, Jann Arden, Randy Bachman, Chris Hadfield, Michel Berube, Robert Pilon, Divine Brown, Dan Hill, John McDermott, Daniel Lavoie, Richard Margison, Mark Masri, Michael Savona and even the CBC’s Ron Maclean.
Song themes include the Arctic, First Nations communities, lakes and cottages; there’s even a duet with Olivia Newton-John, “Canadian Summer Dreams”.
The signature track, “Canada My Canada”, includes several of the above mentioned voices, as well as members of the 1972 Team Canada Olympic gold medalists in hockey, the Etobicoke School of the Arts choir and three instrumentalists from the Canadian Music Competition.
Boyd, who was born in London, England and moved to Canada with her parents by age eight, said she hopes the song will be learned by schoolchildren across the nation.
“I think in many ways this is my best album yet — it’s different than my classical albums,” said Boyd, whose album releases and contributions and many and varied. “I still have a lot to give to Canada.”
The songstress said her only regret is not moving back from Santa Monica, Calif. one year sooner, due to her late father’s failing health. Boyd returned to Toronto (but continues to winter in Palm Beach, Fla.) in 2011.
In a time when female guitarists were sparse, and those of the classical persuasion even more so, Boyd hit the scene running and developed a reputation as a formidable talent, complemented by her striking ‘blonde bombshell’ looks.
“I was a bit of a pioneer…I did some crazy things,” said the songstress, reflecting on tidbits of her storied career, including being photographed on a white horse while draping her bare leg across the animal’s back, her eight-year romantic relationship with the late prime minister Pierre Trudeau and leading the life of a Beverly Hills socialite.
She has performed for the British Royal Family and presidents; for a lengthy list of humanitarian and charitable causes; and even performed privately for a sequestered jury for the O.J. Simpson jury (as per request of Judge Lance Ito).
Her tour and recording accolades include the likes of Gordon Lightfoot, Tracy Chapman, Chet Atkins, Eric Clapton, David Gilmour, Roger Whittaker, Yo Yo Ma and Georges Zamfir, among many others.
Five Junos; five honourary doctorates; The Order of Canada; The Order of Ontario; The Diamond Jubilee Medal; appearances on shows such as The Tonight Show and The Today Show; praise from Guitar Player Magazine; a best-selling autobiography, In My Own Key…My Life in Love and Music.
It’s a long list, rounded out by 22 recordings, several of which have reached Gold and Platinum status.
Her newest adventure includes singing.
Light and airy, Boyd’s vocals only reached the ears of her audience in 2009.
“I was removed from a choir at age eight. I had a total complex every since then…I just kind of fell into it.”
Boyd said while she’s “no Celine Dion”, she loves adding vocals to the mix, which aids her passion for songwriting.
“I’m very blessed. It’s my passion. I love writing songs…the words are very important.”
Following her marriage to John B. Simon from 1992-2004, Boyd has remained single but looks forward to meeting someone who will accept her and her guitar.
“Someone has to love the music and realize the guitar is my gift to the world and it would be sad to take that away from me.”
As she continues to add to music history, Boyd said her bucket list of musicians to work with include Jim Cuddy (Blue Rodeo frontman).
Boyd said she is thrilled to be performing in Cochrane, adding that she has been fond of the foothills ever since a family trip at age 16, which included a “summer romance in Water Valley”.
Learn more about Liona Boyd and her latest album at lionaboyd.com or follow her on Twitter @lionaboyd.
