Jim Cuddy

Cuddy was born in Toronto, Ontario. His Mother was an English teacher at Monarch Park Secondary School. He attended North Toronto Collegiate Institute, where he met and befriended Greg Keelor, his future bandmate. He also went to Upper Canada College and Queen's University.

The Hi-Fis

After graduating from university, Cuddy and Keelor formed a band called the Hi-Fis along with Jim Sublett on drums and Malcolm Schell playing bass. The band released a single in 1980 featuring "I Don't Know Why (You Love Me)" and on the B side "Look What You've Done". The record was not a commercial success, and when they couldn't get a record deal in Toronto, they headed off to New York. In New York they met keyboardist Bob Wiseman, but were still unable to arrange a recording contract. They later moved back to Toronto.

Blue Rodeo

In 1984 Cuddy and Keelor formed a new band, Blue Rodeo, with Wiseman, and recruited Basil Donovan on bass and Cleave Anderson on drums as backup. Since that time, Cuddy has continued to lead the band, which has toured extensively and released 21 albums.

Jim Cuddy Band

Cuddy performs and has recorded three albums with the Jim Cuddy Band, featuring musicians Bazil Donovan, Colin Cripps, Joel Anderson, Anne Lindsay and Gavin Brown. Guest performers include Kathleen Edwards, former Weeping Tile member Sarah Harmer, and Wilco's Jeff Tweedy.

Other musical endeavors

In 2016 Cuddy participated in a benefit concert in Edmonton, Alberta and another in Toronto for the citizens of Fort McMurray, whose town was destroyed by fire.

In 2000, Cuddy and Blue Rodeo bandmate Greg Keelor were the recipients of the National Achievement Award at the annual SOCAN Awards held in Toronto.

In 2013, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada along with Greg Keelor, "for their contributions to Canadian music and for their support of various charitable causes".

Cuddy is married to Canadian actress Rena Polley. They have three children. Their son Devin is a musician and bandleader.(born 1987). His brother Loftus Cuddy was a Conservative candidate for the riding of Toronto-Danforth in the 2004 Canadian federal election.

In the 2004 edition of Canada Reads, Cuddy advocated for Guy Vanderhaeghe's novel The Last Crossing, which won the competition. In the 2007 edition of Canada Reads, an "all-star" competition pitting the five winning advocates from previous years against each other, Cuddy returned to champion Timothy Taylor's novel Stanley Park.

In 2016 Cuddy is collaborating with Tawse Winery in Niagara to launch a new wine brand, Cuddy by Tawse.

Albums

Singles

Guest singles

Music videos