George Canyon (Courtesy Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

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George Canyon (born Frederick George Lays on August 22, 1970) is a Canadian country music singer. He was runner up Nashville Star 2 in 2004. He grew up in Fox Brook, Pictou County, Nova Scotia and later lived in Hopewell, Nova Scotia (where he still owns land) before he moved west. He currently lives in High River, Alberta. He also holds an appointment in the Canadian Forces as the Colonel Commandant of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets.

Biography

He was born to Fred Lays Sr. and Cheryl Lays in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia.

George Canyon has held many jobs: he spent time working as a law enforcement officer, a slaughterhouse beef inspector, and the owner/operator of his own recording studio. He always dreamed of becoming a professional musician.

Canyon is the father of two children. His wife, Jennifer, worked three jobs during the day so that he could sing at night. In 2004, George Canyon competed in Nashville Star 2. He was the runner-up in the competition, but became very well known in Canada and garnered much support, being the only Canadian to make the cut for the competition. After the competition ended, he received many accolades from fans and the industry alike. These include the top 5 hit "My Name", a Juno Award for Best Country Recording of the Year (for his album One Good Friend), and, four Canadian Country Music Awards Nominations (CCMAs) including Male Vocalist of the Year and the Fan Choice Award.

On September 22, 2007, Canyon performed at China-Canada: Hand in Hand; a joint concert held in Vancouver between CCTV (China Central Television) and CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) to commemorate the one-year countdown of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. One of the songs performed by Canyon was "What a Fine Jasmine Blossom". Sung entirely in Mandarin, Canyon performed the duet with Mandarin singer Tang Can.

On 9 January 2008, Canadian defence minister Peter MacKay appointed the Nova Scotia"born Canyon to the position of honorary colonel at 14 Wing Greenwood, the largest air base on the east coast. After this appointment expired in December 2011, Canyon was appointed colonel commandant of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets.

Canyon was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 14 and has given talks to children about diabetes.

Acting

In addition to his singing career, Canyon has also performed as an actor in movies and television. His first role of note was as "Head Forest Ranger" in several episodes during the seventh and final season of the popular Showcase television series Trailer Park Boys in 2007. He also appeared as the character "Charlie Wells" in the series Heartland in 2010. His most notable film role to date was as the character "Cattle Jack" in the 2012 film Dawn Rider,a remake of a 1935 John Wayne film of the same name.

Band

• Jay Buettner (Guitar)
• Chris Byrne (Bass)
• Ed Ringwald (Pedal Steel Guitar)
• Shane Guse (Fiddle & Mandolin)
• Adam Dowling (Drums)
• Mike Little (Keyboard & Accordion)

Discography

Studio albums

1990s

Title	Album details
Ironwolf	Release date: 1996 Label: Shoreline Records
George Canyon	Release date: 1999 Label: Shoreline Records

2000s

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions		Certifications (sales threshold)
		US Country	US Heat
One Good Friend	Release date: September 28, 2004 Label: Universal South Records	35	23	CAN: Gold
Somebody Wrote Love	Release date: September 12, 2006 Label: Universal Canada	"	"
Classics	Release date: October 9, 2007 Label: Universal Canada	"	"
What I Do	Release date: November 11, 2008 Label: Universal Canada	"	"
""" denotes releases that did not chart

2010s

Title	Album details	Peak positions	Certifications (sales threshold)
		CAN
Better Be Home Soon	Release date: March 22, 2011 Label: Universal Canada	25	CAN: Gold
Classics II	Release date: November 20, 2012 Label: Universal Canada

Holiday albums

Title	Album details
Home for Christmas	Release date: November 8, 2005 Label: Universal South Records

Singles

1990s

Year	Single	Peak positions	Album
		CAN Country
1999	"Her Everything"	"	George Canyon
	"Enough Said"	71
""" denotes releases that did not chart

2000s

Year	Single	Peak chart positions		Album
		CAN	US Country
2000	"Way Too Much"	"	"	George Canyon
2004	"Good Day to Ride"	"	"
	"I'll Never Do Better Than You"	"	"	One Good Friend
2005	"My Name"	"	44
	"Who Would You Be"	"	"
	"One Good Friend"	"	"
2006	"Somebody Wrote Love"	"	"	Somebody Wrote Love
	"Drinkin' Thinkin'"	"	"
2007	"I Want You to Live"	76	"
	"Ring of Fire"	"	"	Classics
2008	"Seven Spanish Angels"	"	"
	"Just Like You"	64	"	What I Do
2009	"All or Nothing"	99	"
	"Let It Out"	86	"
	"Betty's Buns"	92	"
	"In Your Arms Again" (with Crystal Shawanda)	"	"
""" denotes releases that did not chart

2010s

Year	Single	Peak positions	Album
		CAN
2010	"I Believe in Angels"	85	What I Do
	"Pretty Drunk Out Tonight"	"
	"Better Be Home Soon"	87	Better Be Home Soon
2011	"Surrender"	98
	"Sunshine"	96
	"When Love Is All You've Got" (with Richard Marx)	"
2012	"Saddle Up"	"	Non-album song
	"Rhinestone Cowboy"A		Classics II
""" denotes releases that did not chart

• ^A Current single.

Music videos

Year	Video	Director
1999	"Her Everything"
	"Enough Said"
2000	"Way Too Much"
2004	"I'll Never Do Better Than You"
2005	"My Name"	Shaun Silva
	"One Good Friend"	Margaret Malandruccolo
2006	"Somebody Wrote Love"
	"Drinkin' Thinkin'"
2007	"I Want You to Live"
	"Ring of Fire"
2008	"Seven Spanish Angels"
	"Just Like You"
2009	"Let It Out"
	"Betty's Buns"
2010	"I Believe in Angels"
	"Better Be Home Soon"	Oswaldo Quiroz/Warren P. Sonoda
2011	"Surrender"	Blake Horobin
	"When Love Is All You've Got" (with Richard Marx)
2012	"Saddle Up"	Warren P. Sonoda

Awards and nominations

• 2004 " winner, CCMA, Chevy Trucks Rising Star Award
• 2004 " winner, Music Industry of Nova Scotia, New Artist Recording of the Year " for the album George Canyon
• 2004 " winner, Music Industry of Nova Scotia, Country Recording of the Year " for the album George Canyon
• 2005 " winner, The East Coast Music Awards, Galaxie Rising Star
• 2005 " winner, The East Coast Music Awards, Country Recording of the Year " for the album One Good Friend
• 2005 " winner, The East Coast Music Awards, Entertainer of the Year
• 2005 " winner, Canadian Radio Music Awards, Best New Group or Solo Artist (Country) for his single Good Day To Ride
• 2005 " winner, Juno Award, Country Recording of the Year for One Good Friend
• 2005 " winner, CCMA, Fans' Choice Award
• 2005 " winner, CCMA, Male Artist of the Year
• 2005 " winner, CCMA, SOCAN Song of the Year, for the single "My Name"
• 2005 " winner, CCMA, Single of the Year, for the single "My Name"
• 2005 " winner, Music Box Awards (Paris, France), New Artist Male US/Canada
• 2005 " winner, 2005 Nova Scotia Crystal Tourism Awards of Excellence, Ambassador Award
• 2006 " winner, ECMA, Entertainer of the Year
• 2006 " winner, CCMA, Male Artist of the Year
• 2006 " winner, CCMA, Single of the Year, for the single "Somebody Wrote Love"
• 2007 " winner, ECMA, Entertainer of the Year
• 2007 " winner, ECMA, Country Recording of the Year
• 2007 " winner, ECMA, Video of the Year, for the video Drinkin' Thinkin'
• 2007 " nominee, ECMA, Best Album of the Year, for the album Somebody Wrote Love.
• 2007 " winner, Juno Award, Country Recording of the Year for Somebody Wrote Love
• 2008 " winner, ECMA, Entertainer of the Year
• 2008 " winner, CCMA, Humanitarian Award
• 2011 " winner, CCMA, Record Producer(s) of the Year with Richard Marx, for the album Better Be Home Soon

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