In 2003, acclaimed songwriter and April Wine frontman Myles Goodwyn received the ECMA Lifetime Achievement Award for his impact on the music industry of Atlantic Canada. Exactly 20 years later, he’ll return to the East Coast Music Awards to accept his latest distinction as the newest Inductee to the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (CSHF). Considered by many as one of Canada’s greatest rock n’ roll songwriters, the CSHF will celebrate Goodwyn’s catalogue of songs penned for April Wine, spanning more than five decades.
On May 4, the CSHF will present Goodwyn with the award at the ECMAs in Halifax, NS; and later this year, his name will be included in the permanent exhibit at the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame Museum in the National Music Centre in Calgary, as the organization commemorates 25 years of celebrating Canada’s greatest songs and songwriters.
The 35th Annual East Coast Music Awards Presented by Rogers will be broadcast across the country on selected community television stations including Rogers TV, and available to view online at ECMA.com and RogersTV.com. Announced performers include Jimmy Rankin, Nick Earle, Christine Campbell and Colin MacDonald; with friend, and Right Myself collaborator, Lennie Gallant presenting to Goodwyn. Tickets available at ECMA.com.
“To be inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, has been a wish of mine for many years. It is possibly the most significant award I’ve ever received. What has mattered most to me, for all my years in the business, was to be taken seriously as a songwriter,” says Myles Goodwyn.
Goodwyn, who penned songs for April Wine spanning more than five decades, will be inducted to the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame on May 4 at the ECMAs in Halifax.
Goodwyn gave his final live performance with April Wine on March 2nd, 2023, as the only remaining original member of the iconic rock group.
“After more than 50 years of touring and performing as the voice and songwriter behind April Wine, we’re thrilled to be able to induct Myles and his iconic body of work into the CSHF,” said Stan Meissner, Board Chairman. “On behalf of all music fans, we thank Myles for sharing his gift as a songwriter, singer, guitarist, and performer who has given us the soundtrack to a generation; and he’ll continue to inspire a new generation as the creative force behind the next evolution of April Wine.”
He founded April Wine in 1969 with long-time friend, Jim Henman, and Henman’s cousins David and Ritchie Henman in Nova Scotia. Less than a year later, the group moved to Montreal to sign a record deal with Aquarius Records, and embarked on a “Fast Train” to success.
Their first album was released in 1971, which included their first hit single Fast Train written by Goodwyn; followed by penned classics like Roller, I Wouldn’t Want to Lose Your Love, and I Like to Rock. Their album “The Whole World’s Goin’ Crazy” became the first Canadian album to sell over 100,000 copies.
Goodwyn’s songs ranged in styles from edgy rock to romantic ballads, from country to blues – and his subject matter was just as wide-ranging, encompassing piano classics such as Comin’ Right Down on Top of Me, Like a Lover, Like a Song and I Wouldn’t Want to Lose Your Love, and the environmental song Lady Run, Lady Hide.
Roller, is one of many April Wine classics written by Myles Goodwyn.
He also wasn’t afraid to tackle political topics in Some of These Children (bringing awareness to unmarked residential school graves), and 2022’s “For Ukraine”, which was written in support of the citizens of war-torn Ukraine, garnering him the SIFA Award for Best Social Impact Music/Art 2022.
As a hardworking master of his craft Goodwyn has said, “I worked diligently and tenaciously on becoming a good, consistent songwriter. To me it is the most important part of what I do. Always has been.”
April Wine disbanded in 1984, after releasing 22 studio and two live albums. They re-banded in 1993 and resumed touring, once again selling out shows continent-wide. In March 2009, April Wine was inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame and received the JUNO Lifetime Achievement Award. Goodwyn and April Wine were also inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2010 and have garnered two Félix Awards as well as several SOCAN Classic Awards.
Goodwyn will continue writing and producing for April Wine as the band continues to tour with his artistic involvement; and his third blues recording will be released in the summer of 2023.
