Town of Banff

Ron Sexsmith

Singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith will perform songs from his new album Exit Strategy for the Soul at the Banff Live street party and concert on Aug. 21

Ron Sexsmith is a major contemporary writer/artist, one of Canada's leading singer-songwriters. He has amassed a sizable and consistently enthralling body of work since making his major label debut in 1995.

In July 2008, he released his ninth album, Exit Strategy for the Soul. And as one new fan put it in a comment on iTunes, Sexsmith's music "wins you over with a silk punch."

Ron Sexsmith maps the human heart with surgical skill and great compassion. He offers us hard-earned pieces of wisdom, set to strong yet gentle melodies, and sung with emotional eloquence and genuine soul.
 
These are his creative signatures, and they have earned the Toronto-based singer/songwriter immense respect from his peers and critics, as well as a devoted international audience.

The Toronto Star recently noted that "Ron Sexsmith has produced a body of quality work that's unequalled in contemporary Canadian music in originality and musical daring."

The strength of his songwriting is such that Sexsmith tunes have been covered by artists from genres as diverse as classical (The Brodsky Quartet, Anne Sofie von Otter), Celtic (Mary Black), rock and pop (Rod Stewart, Feist, kd lang, Nick Lowe). Their covers have helped Ron sustain a prolific career.

Ron Sexsmith has so many celebrity endorsers that even Nike is envious: Paul McCartney, Elton John, Elvis Costello, Steve Earle (who produced Ron's 2001 album, Blue Boy), Sheryl Crow, John Hiatt, Bono, John Prine, Radiohead, and Chris Martin (who asked Ron to open many Coldplay tours and dueted on the track "Gold In Them Hills").

On the Canadian front, major admirers of Ron's artistry include Diana Krall, kd lang, Gord Downie, Feist, Andy Kim, Sarah McLachlan, Daniel Lanois, and many more. They've all shown their respect by covering his songs, inviting him on tour, or collaborating in some way.

More information:

• Ron Sexsmith official website