- Tom Cochrane
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Tom Cochrane 
Tom Cochrane, Ottawa 2003Background information Born May 14, 1953 Origin Lynn Lake, Manitoba, Canada Genres Rock Occupations Singer-songwriter, musician Instruments Vocals, guitar, harmonica Years active 1973–present Labels Capitol, Universal Music Associated acts Red Rider Website tomcochrane.com Tom Cochrane, OC (born May 14, 1953) Canadian musician and humanitarian, best known for his hit songs "Life Is a Highway", "Lunatic Fringe", "Human Race" 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.
Contents
Biography
Earlier 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 Oakville, Ontario 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, his wife Kathleene and Alex Lifeson 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
Solo
- 1974 - Hang on to Your Resistance
- 1991 - Mad Mad World
- 1995 - Ragged Ass Road
- 1997 - Songs of a Circling Spirit
- 1998 - X-Ray Sierra
- 2006 - No Stranger
With Red Rider
- 1980 - Don't Fight It
- 1981 - As Far as Siam
- 1983 - Neruda
- 1984 - Breaking Curfew
- 1986 - Tom Cochrane & Red Rider (as Tom Cochrane & Red Rider)
- 1988 - Victory Day (as Tom Cochrane & Red Rider)
- 1989 - The Symphony Sessions (as Tom Cochrane & Red Rider)
Compilation Albums
- 1987 - Over 60 Minutes with Red Rider
- 1989 - Anthology 1980-1987
- 1993 - Ashes to Diamonds
- 2002 - Trapeze: The Collection
Singles
Solo
Release date Title Chart peak Album Canada
RPM 100US
Hot 100US
Main-
stream
Rock1973 "You're Driving Me Crazy (Faith Healers)" 71 — — Hang on to Your Resistance 1974 "Charlie Was a Dancer" — — — 1976 "Sail On" — — — Non-album single 1991 "Life Is A Highway" 1 6 6 Mad Mad World "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" — — — 2005 "Christmas All The Time" — — — Non-album 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 With Red Rider
Release date Title Chart peak Album Canada
RPM 100US
Hot 100US
Main-
stream
Rock1980 "White Hot" 20 48 — Don't Fight It "Don't Fight It" 75 103 — 1981 "What Have You Got To Do" 42 — — As Far as Siam "Lunatic Fringe" — — 11 1983 "Human Race" 29 — 11 Neruda "Power (Strength in Numbers)" — — 13 "Crack the Sky (Breakaway)" — — 39 1984 "Young Thing, Wild Dreams (Rock Me)" 44 71 13 Breaking Curfew "Breaking Curfew" 93 — — 1986 "Boy Inside The Man" 25 — 17 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 1989 "Good Times" 2 — — "Victory Day" 32 — — "Different Drummer" 67 — — "White Hot" (Live) 50 — — The Symphony Sessions 2002 "Just Like Ali" — — — Trapeze: The Collection "Pictures From The Edge" — — — "—" denotes a single that didn't chart Music videos
Year Video Director 1988 "Big League"[1] Victory Day 1991 "Life Is a Highway"[2] David Storey 1992 "No Regrets" Curtis Wehrfritz 1995 "Wildest Dreams" George Dougherty 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 - Rascall 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
- "Lunatic Fringe"- Matthew Modine film Vision Quest
- "Lunatic Fringe"- Smugglers Blues episode of Miami Vice feat. Glenn Frey
- "Human Race"- Miami Vice
- "Not So Far Away"- Keanu Reeves film Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure
- "Vacation (In My Mind)"- Baywatch.
- "Friendly Advice"- Used in a bar scene in Melrose Place.
- "Ragged Ass Road"- Due South
- "Life is a Highway"- used in the film Cheaper By The Dozen
- "Life is a Highway"- Disney/Pixar "Cars"
- "Life Is a Highway"- American Idol several occasions
- "Life Is a Highway"- Canadian Idol
- "Life Is a Highway"- Nashville Star
- "Big League"- Canadian Idol
- "Life Is a Highway"- Clash of the Choirs
- "Life Is a Highway"- 2008 "Employee Transfer" episode of The Office
Additional career highlights
- In 1985, Cochrane participated 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 1992, Cochrane sang the Canadian national anthem before game 2 of the 1992 World Series at Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta when The Toronto Blue Jays beat The Atlanta Braves 5-4 on their way to winning their first World Series.
- 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 1999, Country singer Chris Ledoux released a version of Cochrane's "Life Is A Highway".
- 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 December 2003, Cochrane traveled to Kabul as the key musical guest for a CBC special called, Rick Mercer's Christmas in Kabul.
- 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.
- In 2006, Rascal Flatts recorded Cochrane's "Life Is A Highway" for the animated Disney motion picture "Cars". The song became a major hit on both the Pop and Country charts in the U.S. and Canada.
- Cochrane joined Rascal Flatts onstage to perform "Life Is A Highway" before a sold-out crowd at Rexall Place in Edmonton on February 24, 2007.
- "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 December 2007, Cochrane inducted Canadian Superstar Gordon Lightfoot into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Toronto. Cochrane performed Lightfoot's "Early Morning Rain" during the tribute.
- 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 July 2009, Cochrane was invited by his friend Mike Weir to play in the inaugural "Mike Weir Charity Classic" with Michael Jordan, Kevin Costner and several PGA Stars.
- 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.
- In October 2009, Cochrane's Life is a Highway was voted #1 road song of all-time in the Econo Lodge "Travelin' Tunes" online survey of more than 20,000 people.
- On November 23, 2009, Cochrane received SOCAN awards for 5 of his songs reaching more than 100,000 plays on Canadian radio including Lunatic Fringe, Big League, Boy Inside The Man and I Wish You Well.
- On November 26, 2009, Cochrane joined World Vision President Dave Toycen to launch "Five for 5" campaign at a media event in Toronto. Cochrane urged Canadians to take 5 minutes to do 5 things to save a child's life.
- On December 12, 2009, Cochrane & Red Rider performed at a massive outdoor celebration to conclude Day 44 of the Olympic Torch Relay on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper addressed the crowd during the event.
- On February 15, 2010, Cochrane & Red Rider performed at Molson Canadian Hockey House in Vancouver during the 2010 Olympic Games. Cochrane was part of a legion of Canadian Music Stars who performed in Vancouver during the games.
- On February 18, 2010, Cochrane was invited to be a part of the charity recording remake of K'Naan's song Wavin' Flag in support of the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. Canadian Music Hall of Famer Bob Ezrin produced Young Artists for Haiti's version of the song featuring many of Canada's biggest names in music. The song debuted at #1 on the Canadian music charts in March 2010.
- On April 23, 2010, Cochrane performed at the 2010 Canadian Olympic Committee's Hall of Fame Induction dinner. Cochrane joined other Canadian stars including Sarah McLachlan, Simple Plan, Ginette Reno, the Canadian Tenors, Annie Villeneuve and Nikki Yanofsky.
- In April, 2010, Canadian Country singer Jaydee Bixby's version of Cochrane's song Boy Inside the Man made the Top 20 on the Canadian Country Music charts.
- In May 2010, the debut CD by Andrew Cole, "Why We Wonder" is set for release. Cole is managed by Tom Cochrane's wife, Kathleene Cochrane. The album features a cover of Cochrane's "Out of My Head".
See also
- Music of Canada
- Canadian rock
- Canadian Music Hall of Fame
- List of diamond-certified albums in Canada
References
- ^ ""Big League" by Tom Cochrane". VH1. http://www.vh1.com/video/tom-cochrane/55167/big-league.jhtml. Retrieved September 30, 2011.
- ^ ""Life Is a Highway" by Tom Cochrane". VH1. http://www.vh1.com/video/tom-cochrane/162352/life-is-a-highway.jhtml. Retrieved September 30, 2011.
- Canadian Music Encyclopedia entry
- Tom Cochrane official website
- Billboard Magazine official website
- RPM Canadian Music Charts
- Canadian Recording Industry Association official website
- Juno Awards official website
- Universal Music Canada official website
- EMI Music Canada official website
- World Vision Canada official website
External links
- The Official website
- Fan website
- The Tom Cochrane website
- Tom Cochrane discography at Discogs
- Tom Cochrane at Allmusic
Categories:- 1953 births
- Living people
- Canadian singer-songwriters
- Canadian rock singers
- Canadian male singers
- Juno Award winners
- Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductees
- Musicians from Manitoba
- Musicians from Ontario
- Officers of the Order of Canada
- Writers from Ontario
- People from Etobicoke
- People from Toronto
- People from Oakville, Ontario
- Red Rider members
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