Embedded Files
Gary's Bio
Gary's Bio
Raised on the farm on the Canadian prairies this award winning singer/songwriter is a champion of vanishing values and the frontier spirit. His western heritage, cattle drives, wagon treks, and working folks with ties to the land have all been an inspiration for the lyrical imagery in his songs.
In 2005 this Juno Award winner was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame.
After 40 years of entertaining, Gary looks back on a rewarding career and gratefully acknowledges the hundreds of town and cities and thousands of listeners who have been touched by his music. With his finger style acoustic guitar, gentle vocals, colorful stories, Gary takes his western roots music to the people with a rare sincerity.
Gary and his wife Lynne make their home on Canada's west coast. His lifelong love for Lynne, their four daughters and their many grandchildren is lovingly illustrated in many of his songs.
All in the Journey - Interview
All in the Journey - Interview
Straight Outta Gabriola - July 2020
Straight Outta Gabriola - July 2020
An interview and featured songs with islander Gary Fjellgaard, a Canadian icon of country-roots music with 15 albums and over 30 hit songs.
As a songwriter and performer, he’s received a mitt-full of awards from the Canadian Country Music Association, plus a Juno Award for Best Country Male Vocalist and in 2005 was inducted into Canada’s Country Music Hall of Fame.
FREE MP3 Downloads
FREE MP3 Downloads
I Apologize
I Apologize
"I Apologize" is dedicated to the First Nation's victims and survivors of the cultural genocide which occurred in Canada for over a century. No apology can heal the wounds caused by the far reaching effects of the Residential School System. I can only add my voice as a member of the generation who allow this abuse to take place.
Gary Fjellgaard
Broken Heroes
Broken Heroes
A Remembrance Day song - My brother-in-law, Stewart Anderson, was my real life hero who was wounded in Belgium in the Second World War. He went on to have a long productive life as a Saskatchewan farmer. I wrote this song and sang it at his memorial as a tribute to all the wounded veterans. I call them Broken Heroes.
Gary Fjellgaard
AWARDS & NOMINATIONS
AWARDS & NOMINATIONS
Valdy and Gary onstage at CCMA - Sept 11 2005
Hall of Fame Inductee
Hall of Fame Inductee
Gary was honoured with the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame Award Sept. 11th 2005 at a Gala Dinner at the Convention Centre in Calgary attended by approximately 1000 Music Industry people. Valdy made the presentation after which Gary and Valdy performed the song "Contenders" to a standing ovation.
Juno Award
Juno Award
1993 Country Male Vocalist of the Year
1993 Country Male Vocalist of the Year
Juno Nominations
Juno Nominations
1993 Country Group or Duo of the Year
(with Linda Kidder)
1993 Country Male Vocalist of the Year
1992 Country Male Vocalist of the Year
1990 Country Male Vocalist of the Year
1987 Country Male Vocalist of the Year
1980 Most Promising Male Vocalist of the Year
1992 Vocal Collaborator of the Year
(with Linda Kidder)
1990 Duo of the Year
(with Linda Kidder)
1989 Duo of the Year
(with Linda Kidder)
1989 Male Vocalist of the Year
1987 Songwriter of the Year
"Heroes"
1985 Single of the Year
"Riding On The Wind"
SPECIAL AWARD
SPECIAL AWARD
TMI/Fender Humanitarian Award
TMI/Fender Humanitarian Award
The TMI/Fender Humanitarian Award was presented to Gary by the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) in recognition of his outstanding contribution to increased environmental awareness through his composition, “Somewhere On The Island” in 1990.
1993 Male Vocalist of the Year
1992 Song of the Year
"Drifting Cowboy"
1992 Album of the Year
"Winds Of October"
1992 Composer of the Year
(with Linda Kidder)
1992 International Achievement Award
1992 Entertainer of the Year
1992 Male Vocalist of the Year
1991 International Achievement Award
1990 Song of the Year
"Somewhere On The Island"
1990 Composer of the Year
1990 Entertainer of the Year
1990 Male Vocalist of the Year
1989 Composer of the Year
1987 Album of the Year
"No Time To Lose"
1987 Male Vocalist of the Year
1985 Male Vocalist of the Year
1984 Song of the Year
"Finest Dancer"
1984 Album of the Year
"Time & Innocence"
1984 Male Vocalist of the Year
1982 Song of the Year
"Ten Years Old & Barefoot"
West Coast Tribute Awards
West Coast Tribute Awards
1989 Male Vocalist of the Year
1988 Male Vocalist of the Year
1987 Male Vocalist of the Year
1990 Composer of the Year (2nd place)
"Cowboy In Your Heart"
1986 Composer of the Year (2nd place)
"Dancing In The Ring"
1991 Composer of the Year
"Somewhere On The Island"
1990 Composer of the Year
"Cowboy In Your Heart"
1989 Most Promising International Artist
1985 Male Vocalist of the Year
(Fan Award)
1987 Certificate of Honour
"Dancing In The Ring"
Reviews
Reviews
"The romance and adventure of the west has been a part of me since I was a kid riding bareback across the prairies yodeling up a storm."
Gary Fjellgaard
* * * * * *
"Gary Fjellgaard is one of the few Canadian names that can be included on the list of cowboy / western performers. The BC Cowboy Heritage Society is very selective when picking entertainers for the Kamloops Cowboy Festival and other Annual Cowboy Concerts and we do insist on true western music. We also look for original material as much as possible - Gary is one of the few performers that has been back repeatedly, and is always on the list for future events.
Gary Fjellgaard has always (from the very first Kamloops Cowboy Festival) drawn a large number of fans to any event that includes his name. People love his music, voice, and lyrics. Songs of western heritage, prairie farms, cattle drives, wagon treks, buffalo, miners, cowboys, all accompanied by his wonderful finger style acoustic guitar. Sincere, colorful, often witty and rib-tickling, Gary's performances are always entertaining.
There is no doubt in my mind that the right choice was made when Gary was presented with a Juno Award, or when he was inducted into the BC Country Music Hall of Fame, and later the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame ... not to mention the numerous other awards that he has received over the years.
As Chairman of the Kamloops Cowboy Festival, and head of the BC Cowboy Heritage Society entertainment committee, I would highly recommend Gary Fjellgaard for any event where cowboy and western roots music, and good entertainment, is appreciated."
Mark McMillan
President BC Cowboy Heritage Society
Chairman of the Kamloops Cowboy Festival
Entertainment Committee Chair
* * * * * *
Gary, Saskia & Darrel: What a fabulous show! Between hilarious stories and poignant song lyrics accented by extraordinary harmonies, there was hardly a moment to catch one's breath. It was an evening none of us will forget for a very long while! Thank you on behalf of the Anne Murray Centre for an outstanding performance."
Susan Belliveau, Project Administrator,
Anne Murray Centre Springhill, Nova Scotia
* * * * * *
Standing Ovation in Switzerland. "My wife Marilyn and I recently had the honour and pleasure to host a superb evening at Canada's Official Residence on the occasion of the visit to Bern of Darrell De La Ronde and Saskia as well as Gary Fjellgaard. This Canadian musical trio wonderfully sang and played prairie folk songs, entertaining our 40 Swiss guests who were thrilled by their performance. At the end of the show, they spontaneously rose to their feet for a well deserved standing ovation, asking for several encores. It was a privilege for Marilyn and I to introduce Darrel, Saskia and Gary to Switzerland."
Signed Robert Collette,
Ambassade du Canada,
Berne/Canadian Embassy, Bern.
August 21/2008
* * * * * *
The consummate entertainer, Gary Fjellgaard’s rich, timbered voice, sculpted by caragana winds and sanded smooth by the salty breezes at his home somewhere on the island, left no doubt that we were right about this appealing performer all along. His room-filling, practically orchestral guitar style, optimistic and often soulful lyrics, combined with his respect for his art and his audience left no doubt we were in the presence of a master craftsman — and a witty one at that.
Review: "Contender" Earns another Title
Winspear Centre Theatre, Edmonton, Alberta
November 6th, 2007
* * * * * *
Fjellgaard, Saskatchewan-raised in the days of bad roads and good manners wouldn’t brag on this, but those of us “in the know” are aware of his trophy case groaning under the weight of numerous national and international music awards. Perhaps the most deserved was his induction into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, and after his performance last night at Edmonton’s Winspear Centre he proved us right yet again and earned another deserved title; the Legendary Gary Fjellgaard.
Terri Mason, editor,
Canadian Cowboy Country magazine
November 7, 2007
* * * * * *
Fjellgaard simply put together the most consistantly completely excellent evening in recent memory.
Regina Leader Post
* * * * * *
For over an hour he held the crowd spellbound receiving a standing ovation. It was a magnificent concert that only left you wanting more.
West Coast Pier Magazine
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