Valdy

{{Short description|Canadian musician (b. 1945)}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Valdy | image = Valdy performing in 1976.jpg | caption = Valdy in 1976 | image_size = | background = solo_singer | birth_name = Paul Valdemar Horsdal | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1945|9|1}} | birth_place = Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | origin = | instrument = Vocals, guitar | genre = Folk, country | occupation = Singer-songwriter, musician | spouse = {{marriage|Kathleen Fraser|1986}} | years_active = 1960s–present | label = | associated_acts = | website = }}{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}}

'''Paul Valdemar Horsdal''', {{post-nominals|country=CAN|CM}} (born 1 September 1945<ref name=birth>{{cite news | newspaper=Ottawa Journal | date=3 September 1945 | page=12 | title=Want Ads: Births }} {{cite news | newspaper=Ottawa Citizen | title=Want Ads: Births | page=12 | date=3 September 1945 }}</ref>), commonly known as '''Valdy''', is a Canadian folk and country musician whose solo career began in the early 1970s. He is known for "Rock and Roll Song", his first mainstream single.<ref name=Jam>{{cite encyclopedia | url=http://jam.canoe.com/Music/Pop_Encyclopedia/V/Valdy.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150620005824/http://jam.canoe.com/Music/Pop_Encyclopedia/V/Valdy.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=20 June 2015 | access-date=2009-05-06 | title=Valdy (biography) | encyclopedia=The Canadian Pop Encyclopedia|publisher=Jam!/Canoe }}</ref><ref name="Inc.1972">{{cite magazine|author=Michael Bennett|title=Western Canada:Activity abounds on all fronts|magazine=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YUUEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA48|date=30 September 1972|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|pages=48–|issn=0006-2510}}</ref> Valdy is the winner of two Juno Awards for Folk Singer of the Year and Folk Entertainer of the Year and has received seven additional Juno nominations. His fourteen albums, including four which are certified gold, have achieved sales of nearly half a million copies.

==Early life and education== Valdy was born and grew up in Ottawa, Ontario,<ref>[https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/valdy-emc "Valdy"]. ''The Canadian Encyclopedia'', by Holly Quan, 7 February 2006</ref> the third child of Danish portrait photographer Paul Horsdal and Lillian Horsdal (née West), an English nurse and writer.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cheknews.ca/country-story-canadian-folk-singer-valdy-289165/ | title=Your Country, Your Story: Canadian Folk Singer Legend, Valdy | publisher=CHEK News | first=Veronica | last=Cooperon | date=15 March 2017}}</ref> He studied guitar and piano,<ref>[https://www.allmusic.com/artist/valdy-mn0000837237/biography " Valdy"]. ''AllMusic'', biography by John Bush</ref> and attended Lisgar Collegiate Institute.

==Career== ===Early career=== Valdy was a member of The London Towne Criers during the 1960s and subsequently joined Montreal band The Prodigal Sons. He then moved to Victoria, where he worked with various rock and country musicians, including Blake Emmons.<ref name=Jam />

When he was 25 Valdy bought several acres of land in Sooke, BC, and began farming.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.sookenewsmirror.com/entertainment/legendary-folk-singer-valdy-returns-to-sidney-for-fourth-show-in-four-years/ | title=Legendary folk singer "Valdy returns to Sidney for fourth show in four years" | newspaper=Sooke News Mirror | first=Hugo | last=Wong | date=29 December 2017}}</ref> He began performing as a solo artist, and in 1972 recorded his "Rock and Roll Song" on Haida/A&M; it became a hit.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.keremeosreview.com/entertainment/valdy-performs-to-sell-out-crowd-at-the-grist-mill/ | title=Valdy performs to sell out crowd at the Grist Mill | work=Keremeos Review | date=2 September 2014}}</ref><ref name="Makin2015">{{cite book|author=David Makin|title=Reantasy, Montreal: The Book to Read, the Place to Be|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NpCzCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT46|date=5 October 2015|publisher=AuthorHouse|isbn=978-1-5049-5071-8|page=46}}</ref> His music was featured in the 1972 Steve McQueen film ''The Getaway''. In 1973 he won a Juno Award for Outstanding Folk Performance.<ref name="Inc.1973a">{{cite magazine|title=This Year's Winners|magazine=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3CcEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA56|date=7 April 1973|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|pages=56–|issn=0006-2510}}</ref>

Valdy recorded a live album, ''Family Gathering'', through A&M; it was recorded at Massey Hall in Toronto and released in 1974.

Valdy appeared on the CBC TV show ''The Beachcombers'' as the environmental activist "Halibut" Stu. He also secured a part in the reunion production of ''The New Beachcombers'' performing a song he wrote, "It's The Water," as part of a jug band.

===1980s=== In 1986, Valdy made a guest appearance as himself in the popular 1980's Canadian children's television show, ''Today's Special'' (episode entitled: "trash"). He also guest appeared as himself on ''Sharon, Lois & Bram's Elephant Show'' in the third-season episode titled "Growing Up".

===2000s=== In 2000, Valdy released the album ''Contenders'' with country musician Gary Fjellgaard.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/valdy_gary_fjellgaard-contenders | title=Valdy & Gary Fjellgaard Contenders | magazine=Exclaim! | first=Eric | last=Thom | date=1 April 2000}}</ref> He continued to tour with Fjellgaard for many years.<ref>[https://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/entertainment/contenders-still-valdy-on-why-he-s-still-on-the-road-1.23477503 "Contenders, still: Valdy on why he's still on the road"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181124105854/https://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/entertainment/contenders-still-valdy-on-why-he-s-still-on-the-road-1.23477503 |date=24 November 2018 }}. Sean Brady ''Kamloops This Week'', 26 October 2018</ref>

Valdy recorded 2003's ''Viva Valdy: Live at Last'' during the Rack-On-Tour. On 21 November 2005, Valdy was awarded the National Achievement Award by SOCAN at the 2005 SOCAN Awards in Toronto.<ref>[http://www.socan.ca/about/awards/2005-socan-awards "2005 SOCAN Awards"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105181912/http://www.socan.ca/about/awards/2005-socan-awards |date=5 January 2018 }}. SOCAN website</ref>

===2010s=== Valdy was appointed a member of the Order of Canada in June 2011.<ref>{{cite news |date=30 June 2011 |title=Appointments to the Order of Canada |publisher=Governor General of Canada |url=http://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=14175 |access-date=1 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110704224012/http://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=14175 |archive-date=2011-07-04}}</ref><ref name=devlin /> In 2012, he released his 18th album, ''Read Between the Lines'', and toured across Canada in support.<ref>[https://www.vernonmorningstar.com/life/street-sounds-folk-troubadour-remains-relevant/ "Street Sounds: Folk troubadour remains relevant"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181124162200/https://www.vernonmorningstar.com/life/street-sounds-folk-troubadour-remains-relevant/ |date=24 November 2018 }}. ''Vernon Morning Star'', Dean Gordon-Smith, 9 Nov. 2012</ref><ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/nb/mt/east-coast-music/2012/10/valdy-in-province-for-tour-new-album.html "Valdy in Province For Tour, New Album"]. ''CBC East Coast Music'', Bob Mersereau, 4 Oct 2012.</ref>

In 2013, Valdy toured in Canada with New Zealand guitarist Graham Wardrop.<ref name=devlin>[https://www.timescolonist.com/folk-stalwart-valdy-at-home-on-the-coast-1.653230 "Folk stalwart Valdy at home on the coast"]. Mike Devlin, ''Times Colonist'', 8 October 2013</ref> In 2014, he continued to perform at folk festivals, including Kingsville Folk with jazz pianist Karel Roessingh and Nadina Mackie-Jackson on bassoon.<ref>[http://folkrootsradio.com/festival-review-kingsville-folk/ "Review: Kingsville Folk 2014"]. ''Folk Roots Radio'', JAN HALL</ref>

As of 2018, Valdy continues to regularly tour across Canada, including a performance on the main stage at the Mariposa Folk Festival.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.barrietoday.com/local-news/mariposa-folk-festival-a-record-breaker-13-photos-978105 | title=Mariposa Folk Festival a record breaker | work=Barrie Today | date=7 July 2018 | first=Nathan | last=Taylor}}</ref>

==Personal life==

In 1986, Valdy married Kathleen Fraser Horsdal. Kathleen is a teacher, hospice worker and song co-writer. His daughter with his then partner Lindsay Whalen is actress Chelah Horsdal (b. 1973).<ref>{{cite web |title=Dear Daddy: The father-child bond is many things, but it's almost always complicated |url=https://theprovince.com/life/dear-daddy-the-father-child-bond-is-many-things-but-its-almost-always-complicated |website=theprovince.com}}</ref><ref name=tvg>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/chelah-horsdal/bio/227049|title=Chelah Horsdal|publisher=TVGuide.com|accessdate=January 11, 2016|archivedate=October 4, 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004061033/http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/chelah-horsdal/bio/227049}}</ref>

==Discography== ===Albums=== {| class="wikitable" ! Year ! Album ! width="45"| CAN |- | 1972 | ''Country Man'' | align="center"| 39 |- | 1973 | ''Landscapes'' | align="center"| 39 |- | 1974 | ''Family Gathering'' | align="center"| 35 |- | 1975 | ''See How the Years Have Gone By'' | align="center"| — |- | 1976 | ''Valdy and the Hometown Band'' | align="center"| 40 |- | 1978 | ''Hot Rocks'' | align="center"| 65 |- | 1980 | ''1001'' | align="center"| — |- | 1980 | ''Passport: Best of Valdy'' | align="center"| — |- | 1981 | ''Valdy's Kids Record'' | align="center"| — |- | 1986 | ''Notes from Places'' | align="center"| — |- | 1988 | ''Classic Collection'' | align="center"| — |- | 1993 | ''Heart at Work'' | align="center"| — |- | 1996 | ''Smorgasbard'' | align="center"| — |- | 1999 | ''Contenders'' (with Gary Fjellgaard) | align="center"| — |- | 2001 | ''Valdy: Millennium Collection'' | align="center"| — |- | 2003 | ''Viva Valdy: Live at Last'' | align="center"| — |- | 2007 | ''Contenders Two: Still in the Running'' (with Gary Fjellgaard) | align="center"| — |- | 2012 | ''Read Between The Lines'' | align="center"| — |}

===Singles=== {| class="wikitable" ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Single ! colspan="3"| Chart Positions ! rowspan="2"| Album |- ! width="45"| CAN AC ! width="45"| CAN ! width="45"| CAN Country |- | 1972 | "Rock and Roll Song" | align="center"| 31 | align="center"| 17 | align="center"| — | rowspan="2"| ''Country Man'' |- | rowspan="2"| 1973 | "A Good Song" | align="center"| 9 | align="center"| 9 | align="center"| — |- | "Simple Life" | align="center"| 22 | align="center"| 16 | align="center"| — | rowspan="2"| ''Landscapes'' |- | rowspan="2"| 1974 | "Landscapes" | align="center"| 87 | align="center"| — | align="center"| — |- | "Renaissance" | align="center"| — | align="center"| 23 | align="center"| — | ''Family Gathering'' |- | rowspan="2"| 1976 | "Yes I Can" | align="center"| 12 | align="center"| 63 | align="center"| — | rowspan="2"| ''Valdy and the Hometown Band'' |- | "Peter and Lou" | align="center"| 15 | align="center"| 58 | align="center"| — |- | 1978 | "Dirty Old Man" | align="center"| 38 | align="center"| — | align="center"| — | rowspan="3"| singles only |- | rowspan="2"| 1981 | "Easy Money" | align="center"| 17 | align="center"| — | align="center"| — |- | "Thank God He's a Stranger" | align="center"| 28 | align="center"| — | align="center"| — |- | 1985 | "Sonny's Dream" | align="center"| — | align="center"| — | align="center"| 17 | ''Notes from Places'' |- | 1993 | "Link in a Chain" | align="center"| — | align="center"| — | align="center"| 36 | rowspan="2"| ''Heart at Work'' |- | 1994 | "Dreams About You" | align="center"| — | align="center"| — | align="center"| 48 |}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.valdy.com/ Valdy's website] * [https://canadianbands.com/valdy/ CanConRox entry] * [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/valdy-emc The Canadian Encyclopedia: Valdy] * {{Discogs artist|Valdy}} *{{IMDb name|id=1284660}}

Category:1945 births Category:Living people Category:Canadian folk singer-songwriters Category:Canadian country singer-songwriters Category:Canadian male singer-songwriters Category:Juno Award winners Category:Singers from Ottawa Category:Singers from British Columbia Category:Members of the Order of Canada Category:Lisgar Collegiate Institute alumni Category:Stony Plain Records artists Category:A&M Records artists