Gwen Swick

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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]

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References

  1. ↑ Liam Lacey, "Surprising tunes and unusual lyrics: Swick's songs a pure delight". The Globe and Mail , June 28, 1985.
  2. ↑ Tony Atherton, "Tamarack taps Ontario's roots in folk music". Ottawa Citizen , September 20, 1992.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Peggy Nagle, "Uplifting folkie : Gwen Swick tackles romantic themes that invariably end on positive note". Waterloo Region Record , August 6, 1992.
  4. ↑ Ted Shaw, "Blend of seamless grace served up by Quartette". Windsor Star , December 20, 1996.
  5. 1 2 Robert Reid, "Marigolds for a State of bliss". Guelph Mercury , September 24, 2009.
  6. 1 2 Lynn Saxberg, "Swick rides back into Ottawa on rave wave over solo album". Ottawa Citizen , February 15, 1996.
  7. 1 2 Evelyn Erskine, "Gwen Swick's sound piques interest". Ottawa Citizen , October 24, 1985.
  8. ↑ "Fields of rock and folk : LPs highlight Guelph singer's range". Waterloo Region Record , August 15, 1991.
  9. ↑ Ted Shaw, "Quartette copes with loss". Windsor Star , December 14, 1996.
  10. ↑ Peter North, "Swick finds her direction with wise, honest view of life". Edmonton Journal , December 6, 2002.
  11. ↑ Joel Rubinoff, "Gwen Swick: Elora singer beats stage fright with personal songs". Waterloo Region Record , January 11, 1996.
  12. ↑ Robert Reid, "Gwen Swick; Her lyrics tell stories". Waterloo Region Record , September 21, 2000.
  13. ↑ Robert Reid, "Odette returns to his roots; Award-winning filmmaker drawn to native Kitchener to shoot new project". Waterloo Region Record , September 9, 2006.
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