Gregory Hoskins
Biography
True, his debut recording, Moon Come Up, was released in 1991 on True North Records just before Hoskins turned 27 and became a father, not exactly "young" by music industry standards. Still, with videos in high rotation, singles on the radio and lineups down the street in front of some of the country's most prestigious clubs, his advanced years didn't seem to be a problem. After all, he first picked up the guitar at age 6, wrote his first song (for his mother) at age 12 and by 15 he was playing in the local pizzeria and pub.
Weddings, funerals, and the ubiquitous Catholic Folk Mass rounded out his tour itinerary in the small town of Queensville where he grew up. It is important to note here, as an indication of the kind of material Hoskins would go on to create, his brief relationship with the then ailing author and civil rights luminary John Howard Griffin (Black Like Me, The Devil Rides Outside) and his first opening slot, when he was 17 years old, in front of 17,000 people at Toronto's Varsity Stadium for Mother Theresa of Calcutta. Yes, that Mother Theresa.
In 1994, while working on a Canada Council B Grant, Hoskins was in the midst of preparing for his 3rd recording when, after the birth of their 2nd daughter, his wife became ill. Hoskins left True North amicably to attend to things at home. It would be 5 years until he released another recording.
In 2002, a newly invigorated Hoskins went into the studio with bassist George Koller and drummer Gary Craig and emerged with The King of Good Intentions, a remarkable and simple recording again released on his own label. With new management and breakout performances at Winnipeg Folk Festival and Hillside Music Festival, along with growing audiences and fanatical fans, Hoskins began to wonder if it might be true: that he gets better with age.
Discography
Gregory Hoskins is no late bloomer. As Canadian music industry illuminary Richard Flohil described him, "He is a dramatically re-emerging Canadian talent." He is a songwriter's songwriter. A singer's singer. He translates his rather full life into material that transforms a simple concert into something that resembles communion.
- Pleasure Relief, Midnight Works, coming soon
- Alone In the Mayor's House...Almost, CandyRat Records, 2008
- The King of Good Intentions, Midnight Works, 2002
- Surgery, Midnight Works, 1999
- Raids on the Unspeakable, True North Records/Planne Records in Europe, 1993
- Moon Come Up, True North Records/Planne Records in Europe 1991
- Kindred Spirits, Independent, 1991
Performance Highlights
Gregory has opened for such notables as: Sarah Mclachlan, Bruce Cockburn, The Indigo Girls, Rickie Lee Jones, The Neville Brothers, Chris Isaak, Celine Dion, The Barenaked Ladies, The Wailin Jennys and more.
Some of Gregory's media appearances\performances include: CBC's Morningside, This Morning, DNTO, Bandwidth, CFTO's The Mike Bullard Show, Much Music/Musique Plus, TVO's Studio 2, Various news programming (i.e. morning shows etc.) and special event broadcasts (i.e. Video Awards Show etc.)
Gregory Hoskins web site
(opens in a new window)