{{Short description|Canadian singer}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = | image = Peter Foldy on RealTVfilms.jpg | caption = Foldy in 2009 | birth_name = Peter Foldy | birth_date = | birth_place = Budapest, Hungary | origin = | instrument = | genre = | occupation = {{flatlist|*Singer-songwriter *screenwriter *film producer *film director}} | years_active = 1973–present | label = Kanata (1973–75)<br>Capitol-EMI (1975–77)<br>Free Flight Records (1977–81)<br>Pacemaker (2003–present) | associated_acts = | website = }}
'''Peter Foldy''' is a Hungarian-born recording artist, film producer, director and screenwriter. He has been nominated for two Juno Awards and has had multiple top-ten hits across Canada and the U.S., most notably with his first song "Bondi Junction" which reached number one on the Canadian charts. He has written and directed numerous feature films working with actors such as Paul Rudd, Eugene Levy and Academy Award winner, Louise Fletcher.
==Early life== Peter Foldy was born in Budapest, Hungary but soon fled from the then Communist regime with his parents and sister. The family moved to Sydney, where Foldy attended high school and worked as an actor in television commercials. During this time, he also forged a friendship with three young brothers who would later find worldwide success as the Bee Gees.
After a family move to Toronto, Foldy enrolled in film school at York University, once again landing occasional work in Canadian TV commercials. He also formed a rock band that performed in various bars and lounges throughout the city.
==Career== ===Music=== ====Kanata records==== Foldy soon began writing songs and quickly landed a recording contract as an artist with a small indie label, Kanata Records. His first single, "Bondi Junction", was released in 1973 and the record eventually reached number one on ''RPM'' magazine's Adult Contemporary chart<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.4841.pdf| title=RPM AC Playlist - July 7, 1973}}</ref> on July 7, 1973. Foldy was also featured on the cover of ''RPM'' that same week. The record received two Juno Award nominations, including Canadian Pop Music Single of the Year.<ref name="[5]">1974 Juno Awards</ref> He was also awarded a 1973 BMI Canada Certificate of Honour from BMI Canada for "Bondi Junction" which was a legitimate national hit across Canada.
Foldy was suddenly appearing on Canadian TV shows, on radio station charts and on the pages of music magazines, including the popular U.S. teen publication, ''16 Magazine''. "Bondi Junction" was also released in the U.S. on Playboy Records, a label started by Hugh Hefner, where it penetrated the U.S. market place. ''Cash Box'' reviewed the song as "a super commercial track that will immediately influence the teen set." The record also peaked at number 113 in ''Billboard''.
====Capitol-EMI and Polydor==== In 1975, Foldy was signed by Capitol-EMI of Canada alongside a deal with Polydor in the U.S. His follow-up recordings, "Roxanne" and "Julie-Ann" also reached top-ten status on many charts across Canada, as well as in the U.S.
In 1976, he again received a BMI Canada Certificate of Honour for "Roxanne" and once again made the cover of ''RPM Weekly'' on July 3, 1976 (volume 25 #14).
====Free Flight records==== On the advice of his manager, Foldy left his deal with Capitol with the promise of bigger things in the United States which, unfortunately, failed to materialize. However, a pop label started by RCA Records in Los Angeles called Free Flight Records signed him a couple of years later. The move to Los Angeles allowed Foldy to continue his musical momentum with the self-written singles "Love City" and "School of Love", songs he co-produced with music producer, Tony Brown.
====Bronte Road Music==== In 2016, Foldy released a 10-track CD featuring all-new music entitled ''Nine Lives''. All songs were written and produced by Foldy. The CD received favorable reviews and radio airplay, particularly the single, "Carly". The album has received critical acclaim by both the ''Toronto Star''<ref name="[12]">[https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/2014/08/29/of_the_basement_tapes_and_impossible_expectations.html Toronto Star Article, 08/29/2014] at the [https://www.thestar.com Toronto Star]</ref> and ''Cashbox Canada''.<ref name="[13]">[http://www.cashboxcanada.ca/5426/peter-foldy-nine-lives Cashbox Canada article, 08/07/2014] at [http://www.cashboxcanada.ca Cashbox Canada]</ref>
A new single, "Toxic World" was released in 2019. Written by Foldy, it was co-produced with Miklos Malek. In 2020 he released the single, "This Christmas" co-produced with Gerry Stober and in 2021, another single, "Friend-Zone" was released through Foldy's Bronte Road Music label, also co-produced by Foldy and Miklos Malek.
===Film=== When Free Flight Records abruptly closed its doors in 1981, Foldy turned his attention back to film, quickly selling his first screenplay, ''Hot Moves'',<ref name="[6]">[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089304/plotsummary Hot Moves] at the [https://www.imdb.com Internet Movie Database]</ref> which became a considerable theatrical and video hit in the mid-1980s. In more recent pop culture, the film has been dubbed as the possible inspiration<ref name="[7]">[http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/columnists/story.html?id=d4c1819b-e729-48c9-80be-aa51da4e3703 Canada.com news "Aussies behind American Pie raunch"]</ref> for the 1999 Hollywood blockbuster ''American Pie''.
More screenplays followed and in the early 1990s, Foldy started directing.
His feature film credits include: * 1993: ''Midnight Witness'' starring Jan-Michael Vincent and Maxwell Caulfield * 1994: ''Tryst''<ref name="[8]">[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111506/combined Tryst] at the [https://www.imdb.com Internet Movie Database]</ref> with Barbara Carrera, David Warner and Academy Award winner Louise Fletcher * 1996: ''Widow's Kiss''<ref name="[9]">[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111711/combined Widow's Kiss] at the [https://www.imdb.com Internet Movie Database]</ref> with former Foldy background singer, Beverly D'Angelo * 1998: ''Seeds of Doubt''<ref name="[10]">[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117593/combined Seeds of Doubt] at the [https://www.imdb.com Internet Movie Database]</ref> with Peter Coyote * 2000: ''Silver Man''<ref name="[11]">[https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/silver_man/ Silver Man] at [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/ Rotten Tomatoes]</ref> starring Eugene Levy and Joe Pantoliano * 2019: ''Love on Repeat''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8130252/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1|title = Love on Repeat| website=IMDb |date = February 14, 2020}}</ref> starring Jen Lilley * 2021: ''Help Wanted'' '<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12718280/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1/|title = Help Wanted| website=IMDb }}</ref> with Sarah Fisher, Conner Floyd and Preston Ward.
==Current projects== Foldy is in development on several feature films as well as two plays, ''Spin'' and ''Liverpool Lads''. ''Spin'' is a humorous look at the resistance received by Canadian artists when Canadian content regulations were introduced in the early 1970s, while ''Liverpool Lads'' is the true story of the first songwriters signed to the Beatles company, Apple, after a random meeting with Paul McCartney in London's High Park. It is based on the book, ''All You Need Is Luck... Or How I Got a Record Deal by Meeting Paul McCartney'', written by Paul Tennant. McCartney has added a glowing quote to the back of the book.
An avid photographer, Foldy has exhibited his black and white photographs.
==Discography== ===Albums=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Record label |- | 1974 | ''Peter Foldy'' | Kanata |- | 2009 | ''Bondi Junction and Other Hits'' | Pacemaker/EMI |- | 2014 | ''Nine Lives'' | Bronte Road Music |- | 2014 | ''Peter Foldy 4 Christmas'' | Bronte Road Music |}
===Singles=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Record label |- | 1973 | "Bondi Junction" / "Alice Mary Jane MacPherson" (#17<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.4844.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Singles - July 7, 1973}}</ref>)(#1AC) | Kanata/Quality |- | 1973 | "I'll Never Know" / "Yes, Operator" (#61<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rpmimages.3345.ca/pdfs/Volume+20+No.+25+-+February+2%2C+1974.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Singles - February 2, 1974 - Page 15}}</ref>)(#55AC<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.4956.pdf| title=RPM Top AC Singles - February 2, 1974}}</ref>) | Kanata/Quality |- | 1974 | "When I Am So in Love" / "Remember" (#63<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rpmimages.3345.ca/pdfs/Volume+21+No.+6+-+March+23%2C+1974.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Singles - March 23, 1974 - Page 15}}</ref>)(#18AC<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.5037.pdf| title=RPM Top AC Singles - April 13, 1974}}</ref>) | Kanata/Quality |- | 1974 | "Christmas Eve with You" / "Spanky" (#21AC<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.3911.pdf| title=RPM Top AC Singles - December 28, 1974}}</ref>) | Kanata/Quality |- | 1975 | "Hollywood" / "Paris Bound" | Capitol/EMI |- | 1976 | "Roxanne" / "Funny" (#39<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.5098.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Singles - November 20, 1976}}</ref>)(#13AC<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rpmimages.3345.ca/pdfs/Volume+26+No.+7+-+November+13%2C+1976.pdf| title=RPM Top AC Singles - November 13, 1976 - Page 26}}</ref>) | Capitol/EMI |- | 1977 | "Julie Ann" / "Paris Bound" | Capitol/EMI |- | 1979 | "Love City" / "Turn It Up" (#10AC<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.6918.pdf| title=RPM Top AC Singles - December 1, 1979}}</ref>) | Free Flight/RCA – U.S. |- | 1982 | "School of Love" / "Love City" (#25AC<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.6498.pdf| title=RPM Top AC Singles - August 14, 1982}}</ref>) | Rio |- | 1982 | "My Christmas Wish for You" / [Instrumental] (#29AC<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.6164.pdf| title=RPM Top AC Singles - December 25, 1982}}</ref>) | Nightflite |- | 1988 | "Desperately" <small>(duet with Mona Lisa Young)</small> / [Instrumental] (#26AC<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.6398.pdf| title=RPM Top AC Singles - August 7, 1989}}</ref>) | Filmstreet – U.S. |- | 1988 | "Is There Love in Your Heart" / "Desperately" (#25AC<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.8594.pdf| title=RPM Top AC Singles - August 20, 1988}}</ref>) | Southside |- | 2003 | "All I Want for Christmas Is You" | Pacemaker |- | 2009 | "Change Your World" <small>(with Róbert Gulya)</small> | Pacemaker |- | 2019 | "Toxic World" | Bronte Road Music |- | 2020 | "This Christmas" | Bronte Road Music |- | 2021 |"Friend-Zone" | Bronte Road Music |- |}
==Filmography== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Class ! Position ! Starring ! Awards/notes |- | 1985 | ''Hot Moves'' | Feature film | Co-writer/associate producer | Jill Schoelen | RIAA Gold Video Award |- | 1992 | ''Homeboys'' | Feature film | Writer/co-producer | Todd Bridges | |- | 1992 | ''Jamie's Secret'' | Dramatic short subject | Writer/director | Paul Rudd | Best Director/Best Film – ICVM Awards 1993<br> Cine Golden Eagle Award Winner 1993 |- | 1992 | ''Question of Ethics'' | Dramatic short subject | Writer/director | Paul Rudd | Cine Golden Eagle Award Winner 1993 |- | 1993 | ''Desperate Measures'' | Dramatic short subject | Writer/director | | Best Youth Film – ICVM Awards<br>Cine Golden Eagle Award Winner 1994 |- | 1993 | ''Midnight Witness'' | Feature film | Writer/director/producer | Maxwell Caulfield and Jan-Michael Vincent | |- | 1994 | ''Tryst'' | Feature film | Writer/director | Barbara Carrera, David Warner and Louise Fletcher | Aired on Showtime Network USA |- | 1995 | ''Widow's Kiss'' | Feature film | Co-writer/director | Starring Beverly D'Angelo | HBO World Premier 1995 |- | 1996 | ''US Customs Classified'' | Television | Segment director | | Aired on FOX |- | 1996 | ''Seeds of Doubt'' | Feature film | Director | Peter Coyote | |- | 1996 | ''Irresistible Impulse'' | Feature film | Director | Doug Jeffrey and Kathy Shower | |- | 1997 | ''Oomba Makoomba'' | Television | Segment director | | Walt Disney Channel |- | 1998 | ''Conversations in Limbo'' | Dramatic short subject | Director | Jason Priestley and Costas Mandylor | Toronto Short Film Festival Award Winner 1999 |- | 1999 | ''More to Love'' | Misc. | Music supervisor | Maxwell Caulfield | Winner New York International Film Festival 2000 |- | 2000 | ''Silver Man'' | Feature film | Director | Eugene Levy, Joey Pantoliano, Daniel Baldwin and Louise Fletcher | Winner Best Film, Best Director Planet Indie 2000 (Toronto)<br>Winner Jury Prize, Best Feature – Tambay Film Festival (Florida) |- | 2003 | ''My First Time'' | Television | Co-creator/co-producer | | Reality series |- | 2003 | ''Incredible Mrs. Ritchie'' | Feature film | Associate producer | Gena Rowlands and James Caan | Multiple Emmy Award Winner |- | 2006 | ''Out of Omaha'' | Misc. | Music supervisor | Dave Foley and Lea Thompson | |- | 2007 | ''Head, Heart & Balls'' | Dramatic short subject | Writer/director/music | Adam Carolla | |- | 2010 | ''The Wheeler Boys'' | Feature film | Co-producer | Bill Campbell, Portia Doubleday and Alex Frost | |- | 2014 | ''The Christmas Switch'' | Feature film | Music supervisor | Natasha Henstridge and Brian Krause | |- | 2015 | ''Fair Haven'' | Feature film | Music supervisor | Tom Wopat, Michael Grant and Gregory Harrison | |- |2019 |''Love on Repeat'' |Feature film |Director |Jen Lilly, Jonathan Bennett, Andrew Lawrence | |- |2019 |''A Thousand Little Cuts'' |Feature film |Producer |Marina Sirtis, Andrew Creer, Rebecca Liddiard | |- |2021 |''Black Bags'' |Feature film |Producer |Laura Vandervoort, Olesya Rulin | |- |2021 |''Help Wanted'' |Feature film |Director |Sarah Fisher, Conner Floyd, Preston Ward | |- |2021 |''Looking For Dr. Love'' |Feature film |Director |Anna Marie Dobbins, Julian Shaw | |- |2021 |''House of Lies'' |Feature film |Producer |Katerina Eichenberger, Rib Hillis, Colt Prattes |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.peterfoldy.com Official website] * {{IMDb name|0003328}} * {{discogs artist|Peter Foldy}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Foldy, Peter}} Category:Living people Category:Hungarian emigrants to Canada Category:Canadian male singer-songwriters Category:Canadian singer-songwriters Category:Canadian male screenwriters Category:Film producers from Ontario Category:Film directors from Toronto Category:Writers from Budapest Category:Screenwriters from Toronto Category:20th-century Canadian screenwriters Category:21st-century Canadian screenwriters Category:Year of birth missing (living people)