Gwen Swick
Gwen Swick is a Canadian singer-songwriter from Elora, Ontario.[1] Although she has recorded and performed as a solo artist, she has been best known as a member of folk music groups such as Tamarack,[2] The Three Marias,[3] Quartette[4] and The Marigolds.[5]
Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, she grew up in a variety of Canadian cities as her father was a member of the Canadian Armed Forces.[6] After studying music at York University,[3] she began performing as a singer-songwriter in the mid-1980s.[7] She recorded demos with Eddie Schwartz for a planned debut album in this era,[7] but paused her career for a few years after giving birth to her daughter Anna with husband Randall Coryell.[3]
She joined Tamarack in 1991,[8] and performed with Cherie Camp and Shirley Eikhard in The Three Marias during the same era.[3] She released her self-titled debut album in 1993, and followed up in 1995 with A Pebble of Mercy.[6]
She joined Quartette in 1996 following the death of Colleen Peterson.[9]
In 2002 she released her third solo album, Love and Gold.[10] In the 2000s she also performed with Caitlin Hanford and Suzie Vinnick as The Marigolds.[5]
Her songs have also appeared in film soundtracks, including Never Talk to Strangers,[11] Heater,[12] and Sleeping Dogs.[13]
References
[edit]- ^ Liam Lacey, "Surprising tunes and unusual lyrics: Swick's songs a pure delight". The Globe and Mail, June 28, 1985.
- ^ Tony Atherton, "Tamarack taps Ontario's roots in folk music". Ottawa Citizen, September 20, 1992.
- ^ a b c d Peggy Nagle, "Uplifting folkie : Gwen Swick tackles romantic themes that invariably end on positive note". Waterloo Region Record, August 6, 1992.
- ^ Ted Shaw, "Blend of seamless grace served up by Quartette". Windsor Star, December 20, 1996.
- ^ a b Robert Reid, "Marigolds for a State of bliss". Guelph Mercury, September 24, 2009.
- ^ a b Lynn Saxberg, "Swick rides back into Ottawa on rave wave over solo album". Ottawa Citizen, February 15, 1996.
- ^ a b Evelyn Erskine, "Gwen Swick's sound piques interest". Ottawa Citizen, October 24, 1985.
- ^ "Fields of rock and folk : LPs highlight Guelph singer's range". Waterloo Region Record, August 15, 1991.
- ^ Ted Shaw, "Quartette copes with loss". Windsor Star, December 14, 1996.
- ^ Peter North, "Swick finds her direction with wise, honest view of life". Edmonton Journal, December 6, 2002.
- ^ Joel Rubinoff, "Gwen Swick: Elora singer beats stage fright with personal songs". Waterloo Region Record, January 11, 1996.
- ^ Robert Reid, "Gwen Swick; Her lyrics tell stories". Waterloo Region Record, September 21, 2000.
- ^ Robert Reid, "Odette returns to his roots; Award-winning filmmaker drawn to native Kitchener to shoot new project". Waterloo Region Record, September 9, 2006.