![]() ![]() In 2008, Downie appeared as a guest vocalist on City and Colour's single "Sleeping Sickness". Terfry composed the track and with the help of Charles Austen, his co-writer, decided Downie's vocals would be the best fit for their song. Terfry collaborated with Downie on the song "Whispers of the Waves" off the album 20 Odd Years. His most famous Canadian collaborations are with Richard Terfry (better known as Buck 65), Dallas Green of City and Colour and Alexisonfire and the Sadies. In addition to his solo works, Downie collaborated with several fellow Canadian and international artists. The Tragically Hip quickly became famous once MCA Records president Bruce Dickinson saw them performing at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto and offered them a record deal. In an interview with Canadian music journalist Steve Newton, Downie noted that the Tragically Hip's early setlist was originally drawn to bands such as The Yardbirds and The Stones, a decision that was made because the Hip wished other Kingston bar bands would also play the genre. Originally, the band covered popular British rock songs from the 1960s. In 1986, Manning left the band as guitarist-vocalist Paul Langlois joined. In 1984, at age 20, Downie formed the Tragically Hip with Rodents's members Rob Baker and Gord Sinclair, another younger Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute alumnus, Johnny Fay, and saxophonist Davis Manning. After graduating high school, Downie attended Queen's University where he majored in film studies, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts and Science in 1986. In high school, Downie was the frontman for a band called the Slinks performing at the KCVI Variety show and rivaling older members Rob Baker and Gord Sinclair's band the Rodents. In Kingston, Downie attended the downtown high school Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute, where other members of the Tragically Hip also attended. He was the son of Lorna (Neal) and Edgar Charles Downie, a travelling salesman, later a real estate broker and developer. “I never knew Chanie, the child his teachers misnamed Charlie, but I will always love him,” wrote Downie in a statement about his project.Gordon Edgar Downie was born in Amherstview, Ontario, and raised in Kingston, Ontario, along with his brothers Mike and Patrick, and sisters Charlyn and Paula. Thursday’s CBC interview was meant to promote Downie’s Secret Path, which is a solo album, graphic novel and film dedicated to 12-year-old Ojibway boy Chanie (Charlie) Wenjack, who died from hunger and exposure trying to escape from a residential school near Kenora, Ont. It’s like, wow. Passed out and to the hospital. We’d gone to Kingston and spent six days, months, helping get our dad ‘to the door.’ And the next day, we’re walking home, my mom and my sisters and my brothers, from lunch in Kingston. I’m grateful. It’s so strange how things happen. It’s giving me this long kind of way to do some of these things that I’ve always wanted to do. “If it has to be terminal, then I got a good … I didn’t get hit by a train. “I think I got lucky with this,” he said. But I have beautiful friends … I’ve been so lucky, living here in Toronto, being in the business I’m in. I am learning how to do it, because I’ve never done it before. I say that on purpose - ‘I’m doing good!’ - because I am,” he continued. “I really am, and because I can see it and feel it doing some … not doing some good, but it’s creating, it’s creating something.” ![]() “I am resigned to the direction this is heading, yes I am,” said the 52-year-old Downie. READ MORE: #GordDowniesCanada: Beautiful pictures of Canada trend for Tragically Hip singer In an interview with the CBC, The Tragically Hip lead singer was candid about his prognosis and how he feels, his upcoming Secret Path project and his desire to start a dialogue about indigenous issues in Canada. Gord Downie has opened up about his terminal brain cancer for the first time, saying he’s “resigned” to his fate. ![]()
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