Valdy to perform at Osprey

The Osprey Arts Centre will present Folk Legend Valdy on Sunday, Nov. 23 at 3 p.m.

Valdy has been part of the fabric of Canadian pop and folk music for over 36 years. The man with a thousand friends, from Newfoundland to Vancouver Island to Texas to New Zealand, was born Valdemar Horsdal in Ottawa.

He's a singer, guitarist and songwriter who catches the small but telling moments that make up life.

Remembered for Play Me a Rock and Roll Song, his bitter-sweet memory of finding himself, a relaxed and amiable story-teller, facing a rambunctious audience at the Aldergrove Rock Festival circa 1968, Valdy has sold almost half a million copies of his 13 albums, has two Juno Awards (Folk Singer of the Year and Folk Entertainer of the Year), a total of seven Juno nominations and four Gold albums to his credit.

Valdy's recent CDs include "Contenders", a collaboration with friend and fellow singer/songwriter, Gary Fjellgaard and a solo release, "Viva Valdy: Live at Last", a two-CD package, one live and one studio.

One of Canada's most influential songwriters, Valdy's composition A Good Song was recorded under the title Just a Man by the venerable Quincy Jones (he sang lead on the recording). Play Me a Rock and Roll Song has been recorded by a few artists, including John Kay of Steppenwolf. Along the way, Valdy has taken his music to a dozen different countries, from Denmark to Australia.

Today, he is based on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia where he lives with his wife Kathleen, two dogs and two large cats.

Joining Valdy will be singer/songwriter and 2008 ECMA Female Artist of the Year Nominee Jessica Rhaye of Saint John, who has been praised as having a “very mature and sophisticated sound”, while her album Short Stories was described by UK’s Maverick Magazine as “the perfect feel-good” album.

Rhaye’s previous 2000 self-titled release landed her a performance on the East Coast Music Awards plus three ECMA nominations, including New Artist of the Year, Pop Artist of the Year, and Female Artist of the Year. Since the release of her debut recording, Jessica’s live performance has taken her across Canada, including a performance at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, and as far away as Niger, Africa.

Tickets are $20, available at The Whirligig Bookshop, 875-1117, or at the door one half hour before the performance.