Ron Hynes

Ron Hynes
Born (1950-12-07)December 7, 1950
St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada
Died November 19, 2015(2015-11-19) (aged 64)
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Genres Folk, Country
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter
Years active 1972–2015
Labels World Records (1972)
Grand East Records (1978)
Lost Island (1990)
EMI (1993)
Borealis Records (2003)
Website Hynesite.org

Ron Hynes (December 7, 1950 – November 19, 2015) was a folk singer-songwriter from Newfoundland. He was especially known for his composition "Sonny's Dream," which has been recorded worldwide by many artists and was named the 41st greatest Canadian song of all time on the 2005 CBC Radio One series 50 Tracks: The Canadian Version.[1]

Biography

Hynes was born in St. John's in December 1950, and raised in Ferryland. He was a founding member of The Wonderful Grand Band, one of Newfoundland's most popular performing groups, and has released seven solo albums. His debut album, Discovery, released in 1972, was the first album composed of totally original content by a Newfoundland artist. Hynes is a seven-time East Coast Music Awards winner, and past Juno and Canadian Country Music Awards nominee.[2] He was named Artist of the Year ('92) and was presented with the prestigious Arts Achievement Award (2004) by the Newfoundland/Labrador Arts Council. In 2002, Hynes received an honorary Doctor of Letters from Memorial University in St. John's in recognition of his original songwriting and his contribution to the cultural heritage of Newfoundland. In 2006, Hynes was honored as the recipient of the St. John’s Folk Arts Council’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Widely regarded as one of Canada's premiere singer-songwriters with a career spanning over 30 years, Hynes' songs have become part of the fabric of Newfoundland culture. His self-titled album was released in early 2006 to critical acclaim. His work is also known outside the province; Hynes' songs have been covered worldwide by over 100 artists, including Emmylou Harris, Valdy and Christy Moore.[3]

Most recently, Hynes was the winner of Male Solo Recording of the Year at the 2007 East Coast Music Awards, and picked up three awards at the 2006 MusicNL awards show in November 2006. The awards included Entertainer of the Year, Songwriter of the Year and Folk/Roots Artist of the Year.

In July 2012, it was announced that Ron Hynes was diagnosed with throat cancer.[4] On August 11, 2012, Hynes performed to a sold-out crowd of more than 3,000 at the Mile One Centre in St. John's Saturday night, his last performance before undergoing cancer treatment. The concert included a reunion of Hynes' old band, The Wonderful Grand Band.[5] In the fall of 2013, he was in remission and back on tour, including participation in a Vinyl Cafe tour broadcast on CBC Radio. Hynes died at a hospital in St. John's on November 19, 2015 at the age of 64.[6][7]

Stage and screen career

Hynes had starred on screen and stage as an actor/writer in numerous roles dating back to the 1970s, including The Bard of Prescott Street, The Best of CODCO, Hank Williams: The Show He Never Gave, The Island Opry Show, The Lost Island Opry, Secret Nation, Anchor Zone and Dooley Gardens.

Drug Addiction

After Hynes' death, actor and writer Joel Thomas Hynes,[8] his nephew, announced on Facebook [9] that Hynes suffered from drug addictions that led to his demise. “He remained a hardcore addict right to his final days. And it killed him.”, said Joel Thomas Hynes.

Discography

Albums

Year Album Label
1972 Discovery World Records/Audat
1978 The Wonderful Grand Band (with The Wonderful Grand Band) Grand East Records
1981 Living in a Fog (with The Wonderful Grand Band)
1987 Small Fry: The Ron Hynes Album for Children Independent
1993 Cryer's Paradise EMI
1997 Face to the Gale
1998 Standing in Line in the Rain Independent
2001 The Sandcastle Sessions
2003 Get Back Change Borealis
2006 Ron Hynes
2010 Stealing Genius
2016 Later That Same Life

An independent tribute album, entitled 11:11 – Newfoundland Women Sing Songs by Ron and Connie Hynes, was also released in 1997, with Newfoundland's finest female artists performing songs written by Ron Hynes and his ex-wife Connie.

A documentary on Hynes, entitled Man of a Thousand Songs and directed by William MacGillivray, debuted at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival.[10]

Singles

Year Single CAN Country Album
1990 "Story of My Life" — singles only
"Sonny's Dream" 79
1993 "Cryer's Paradise" 18 Cryer's Paradise
"Man of a Thousand Songs" 13
1994 "No Kathleen" 10
"Atlantic Blue" —
"Roy Orbison Came On" 18
1997 "Godspeed" 36 Face to the Gale
1998 "Constance" —

Videography

Awards and nominations

References

  1. ↑ ""50 Tracks" list of essential Canadian music". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2005. Archived from the original on 2005-04-12. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  2. ↑ "Ron Hynes to undergo surgery". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 18 July 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  3. ↑ "Ron Hynes on CBC Music". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  4. ↑ "Musician Ron Hynes diagnosed with cancer". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 28 July 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  5. ↑ "'Magical' Ron Hynes performs before cancer treatment". CBC News. 12 August 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  6. ↑ Michael MacDonald. "Newfoundland and Labrador folk legend Ron Hynes dead at 64". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2015-11-20.
  7. ↑ "Songwriter Ron Hynes dead: reports - Local". The Telegram. Retrieved 2015-11-20.
  8. ↑ "Singer Ron Hynes brings his folk classic to Greenbank hall"
  9. ↑ The Canadian Press. "Family, friends hope Ron Hynes' death shines light on drug addiction". CTV News. Retrieved 2015-11-25.
  10. ↑ Jankovic, Jovana (November 9, 2010). "Review: Man of a Thousand Songs – RWMFF 2010". Toronto Film Scene. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
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