Road Stories with Alan Frew

The Funny Thing

Here's the funny thing.

When I first signed on with True North Records in 1990, I decided to author my own bio to avoid the embarrassment of having to explain to a PR
person that I'd had an uneventful and very un-cool life growing up in Happy Valley: the youngest of 5 children, born in Montreal and moved to
Ontario at 9 years, inspired by musical uncle to pick up guitar, by the age of 15 a veteran of local coffee houses, talent shows and weddings blah blah
blah... it was a very short bio as I wrote that there was, in effect, very little to say.

Surprisingly, the bio was welcomed by the music writers of the day for its' lack of hype and "refreshing honesty" and it probably played a part in
getting the disc out of the garbage pile into the listening pile. It did get listened to, as did the next recording of mine, and by and large the critics liked
it. Some liked it a lot. So we tour, videos are made and put into rotation, songs on the radio... then life is interrupted for about 6 years or so.

Skip to present day.

Facing the task of writing another bio, I come across this funny thing. Here it is, as promised: there's still nothing extraordinary to write in a bio.

Not that there haven't been some mind blowing things I've seen during my time "away", but none of that belongs in a thing like this. It does, though,
belong in the songs I write. Which actually brings me to something almost extraordinary. It seems that, if anecdotal evidence can be trusted, that
instead of disappearing into the nothingness from whence they came, recordings I've made have had an impact on people far beyond my
imaginings, serving at times as a soundtrack to some event in their life: mother-daughter reunion after being separated at birth ; ignored wife with
newborn leaving cruel husband; weddings; funerals; love making;
mountain drives; coastal drives; pre-natal music appreciation... these are some of the places that people have included a song I've written.

I don't know. I think that is pretty interesting, if not extraordinary.

Gregory Hoskins, May 14, 2001

Discography

The King of Good Intentions:
Gregory Hoskins
Recorded Fall/Winter 2000
To Be Released in Canada August 2001

Surgery:
Gregory Hoskins and The Stickpeople
1999 A Label of Love Records

Raids on the Unspeakable:
Gregory Hoskins and The Stickpeople
1993 True North Records/Sony Music
Planne Records/BMG in Europe/1994

Moon Come Up:
Gregory Hoskins and The Stickpeople
1991 True North Records/Sony Music
Planne Records/BMG in Europe/1992

Opening Credits

Sarah McLachlan Barenaked Ladies
The Indigo Girls Rickie Lee Jones
The Neville Brothers Bruce Cockburn

Noteworthy Press (about recordings and performances)

Hoskins takes himself so seriously, he calls his songs "pieces"...Though, given an excellent voice and songwriting brilliance, his ego may be justified.
Edmonton Sun, Concert Review

You know, I really like this album. There are a few moments I can't stand, a few moments that I love... Gregory Hoskins really does have a beautiful
voice. I don't know why I never realized that before. And I like his songwriting. I like the way he goes for that oblique approach; that veiled way of not
spelling it out but getting to the heart of the matter. It walks the line between a well crafted, wonderfully produced pop album, and a piece of truly
inspired and inspiring work.
Suzanne Matzuck, DNTO, CBC, Surgery Review

It's nice to hear songs rather than just sound.
Now Magazine, Toronto. Rating: NNNN , Raids

Not everyone will "get" Raids On The Unspeakable while others will hail it as a masterpiece.
Canadian Composer, Raids

It's an emotional roller coaster ride, but the ride is well worth taking. This album deserves a serious listen.
Evening Patriot, Charlottetown, PEI., Moon Review

Cockburn wasn't the only hit of the evening. The crowd of 10,000 plus was treated to a mellifluous 45 minute set tied together by Hoskins' fragile
voice... he held the crowd spellbound.
The Hamilton Spectator, Concert Review

Film and Television Credits

The Birthday Cake, 2000, Dir. Barclay Hope
Distributed by Hipnotic/Universal USA/UK

F.R.O.G, 1994, Various Dirs.
Produced for Owl TV

Visit the official Gregory Hoskins web site: