Bill Colgate

Artist Information

Biography

What is a Bill Colgate? He is a bar band singer turned actor turned award winning singer/songwriter. Over the past few years he has won 2nd Grand Prize Overall in the USA Songwriting Competition (2002) and 5th Place in The John Lennon Songwriting Contest (1997) for his song "Let It Be There" and was a finalist in The Mountain Stage NewSong Contest (2003) for "Emperor's New Clothes".

Born in Welland Ontario and raised in Toronto, the arc of Bill's professional life begins in the early 70's, fronting such memorable bar bands as Uncle John's Dirty Secret and The All Star Disco Band (currently residing in the 9th Circle of Hell). It was while playing The Nickleodeon (Ronnie Hawkins’ old "Hawk's Nest") that things took a left turn when he was approached by the artistic director of a fledging theatre company with the proposal that he might consider giving acting a try "since you seem to be handling the role of lead singer pretty well". 20 years later, when he recorded his first CD, Bill had appeared in every aspect of the profession: stage, screen (BIG and small), radio, cartoon and commercial voice work. He has performed the plays of Shakespeare, Beckett, Shaw and Ibsen but is most often recognized as The Singing Pirate from an episode of the children's show "Join In" recorded 15 years ago.

Bill has worked with the following names you may recognize: Tommy Lee Jones, John Cusack, Billy Bob Thornton, Diane Keaton, Diane Lane, Kiefer Sutherland, Liev Schreiber, Matt Dillon, Anthony Edwards, Tia Carrere, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Beau Bridges, Joe Mantegna, Sarah Polley, Kyra Sedgwick and Joanna Cassidy.

While with a small theatre company in Mississauga Ontario (Cyclos Theatre), the process of osmosis first affected Bill's artistic life. He discovered that all those years of singing in bar bands had given him an instinctive understanding of song structure. This came in especially handy as he was the only one in the company with any musical background and someone was needed to write original songs for their children's shows. Thus began Bill's education in songwriting. It proved to be an excellent training ground. The lyrics had to convey information and "further the plot" while the melody had to engage the notoriously fickle pre-pubescent audience. It was an apprenticeship that's advantages far outweighed the one disadvantage of having to "unlearn" a certain didacticism inherent in children's music as he later struggled to find his own "voice"

This struggle began during an hour long walk Bill would take every summer day from the hamlet of Port Ryerse to the town of Port Dover (where he was appearing at The Lighthouse Festival Theatre) along The Radical Road It had been several years since Bill had been required to write a song but, for some reason, that summer they came fast and furious and, so far, the flood has not abated. Whereas once the osmotic process had flowed from music to theatre, the reverse was now the rule. All the experience Bill had acquired from his years as an actor - his understanding of imagery, the rhythms of speech, the relationship and responsibilities of performer to audience - informed his songwriting. He had a foot in both camps. He could stand on the shoulders of the giants, not only of the music he loved (The Band, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen) but of the theatre, whose works he had performed (Shakespeare, Beckett, Ibsen, Shaw).

Bill does not play an instrument. He has too much respect for musicians to call what he does to a harmonica "playing an instrument". Nevertheless, with his principal musical collaborator, Cam MacInnes, he has successfully developed techniques for getting what he hears in his head “outta there”. At 3 critically lauded CDs and counting, it must be workin’.

Fast forward to today and we have a Bill Colgate who, ironically enough, uses the acting profession as that thing to fall back on if this singer/songwriter gig doesn't work out. Look out world there's a not-so-new-kid in town.

Bill has shared the concert stage with the following names you may recognize: Ron Sexsmith, Bobby Wiseman, Kevin Hearn, Sarah Slean, Mia Sheard, Tamara Williamson, Amos Garrett, The Bills, and, in his bar band days: John Lee Hooker, Chubby Checker, Sha Na Na, Lighthouse and The Stampeders.

Instrumentation

Bill Colgate - Vocals., harmonica.
Cam MacInnes - Electric, Dobro, acoustic and baritone guitars
Joe Gaitanis - Banjo, Vocals, electric and acoustic guitars
Jeff Dunk - Vocals, Bass, Acoustic Guitar
Bruce Moffet - Drums

Discography

boomer bust 2007
waiting for simon 2004
when dinosaurs ruled the earth 1996

Links

• MySpace

Audio

• The Emperor's New Clothes
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• I Don't Know A Soul In Toronto Tonight
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• Grand Old Tradition of Saturday Night
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• Borderline Crazy
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• It Doesn't Grow On Trees
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Lyrics

• Emperor's New Clothes
• I Don't Know A Soul In Toronto Tonight
• The Grand Old Tradition Of Saturday Night
• Borderline Crazy
• It Doesn't Grow On Trees

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Bill Colgate at Home County Folk Festival [+ Show ]
  

  Bill Colgate, a name you might not know but you should because he is an excellent, excellent singer/...Bill Colgate, a name you might not know but you should because he is an excellent, excellent singer/songwriter. - James Reaney

• Bill Colgate's "boomer bust" [+ Show ]
  

  Bill Colgate has a voice that sounds lived in, possibly even squatted in by tramps for a while. It'...Bill Colgate has a voice that sounds lived in, possibly even squatted in by tramps for a while. It's the perfect voice for barstool philosophy and "boomer bust", Colgate's third album, is full to overflowing with the wisdom you only reach after midight and several beers have passed.
  Matt Hutchinson

• "boomer bust" [+ Show ]
  

  "boomer bust" by Bill Colgate and The Urbane Guerillas is an extremely exciting album without any cl..."boomer bust" by Bill Colgate and The Urbane Guerillas is an extremely exciting album without any cliches anywhere.
  John Gjaltema

• when dinosaurs ruled the earth [+ Show ]
  

  "Bill Colgate might not have the cure for cancer, but his honest, soulful songwriting has the potent..."Bill Colgate might not have the cure for cancer, but his honest, soulful songwriting has the potential to heal a world suffering from insipid popular music.
  While Colgate's songs mainly seem to fall into a country/gospel vein, there is genuine rock there too, plus a good dash of blues and jazz. The mix of Colgate's husky, expressive, Tom Waits-style voice and pastoral, melodic piano a la Bruce Hornsby, with a strong, blue-collar Springsteen feel (the Boss is mentioned by name in one of the songs) creates a unique listening experience.
  Colgate scores with both uptempo and slower material. "Stuck Here in the Blues" and "Freight Train Roll" both feature tight, funky grooves that make you want to dance, while "Hockey Night" evokes feelings of regret and loss of innocence and "Hate That Train" has a passionate angst for love lost that is guaranteed to make even the most jaded listener stop and think...I thoroughly enjoyed this CD and hope to hear more from Bill Colgate in short order."
  David Lockeretz

• waiting for simon [+ Show ]
  

  Toronto actor- turned-award-winning singer/songwriter Bill Colgate's impressive roots rock debut a c...Toronto actor- turned-award-winning singer/songwriter Bill Colgate's impressive roots rock debut a couple of years ago - songs from "when dinosaurs ruled the earth" won top prizes in the prestigious USA Songwriting Competition and The John Lennon Songwriting Contest and led to showcase appearances in New York and Nashville - served notice of the arrival of an important and committed new talent on the Canadian independent music scene.
  Colgate's sophomore effort is a mature set of largely accoustic, folk based story songs marked by a literate wit (the comicallysardonic
  "The Emporor's New Clothes" was a finalist in last year's Mountain Stage New Song Festival in the U.S.), whimsy and more than a touch of melancholy. Co-produced by multi-instrumentalist Cam MacInnes and Bob Cobban and featuring drummer David Norris, primo bassist David Woodhead and a bevy of local specialists (singers Kim Cole and Liz Tansey, accordionist and string arranger David Matheson, Steve Goldberger and Joe Ingrao on Hammond B3)
  "waiting for simon" benefits from the sense of drama inherent in Colgate's compelling and distinctive vocal style, and from several remarkably well crafted songs, among which "The Grace Of You", "I Don't Know A Soul In Toronto Tonight" and "Not Another Song About The Rain" are spectacular standouts. - Greg Quill

• "dinosaurs" an album of triumph [+ Show ]
  

  when dinosaurs ruled the earth by Toronto singer Bill Colgate, is an album of triumph for an amazing...when dinosaurs ruled the earth by Toronto singer Bill Colgate, is an album of triumph for an amazing artist that was born deaf in his right ear. Colgate’s debut effort is a collection of 11 songs that combine roots rock with the sound of a bar band. His music also has it’s roots in jazz, gospel, and R&B. My favourite track is “Let It Be There” because this is an upbeat, somewhat biographical song about hope and never forgetting where one has come from. Another favourite is the lead track “I Got The Rhythm” which effortlessly demonstrates lyrical prowess in addition to his musical ability. Furthermore, both tracks demonstrate the influences of the above-mentioned musical styles on Colgate’s own musical creations. All I all, Colgate’s strong voice, his powerful lyrics, and his musical style make when dinosaurs ruled the earth a wonderful album to listen to over and over again. This is truly a debut album that one can enjoy. - Melissa Kowalewski

• TORONTO SONGWRITER SHINES [+ Show ]
  

  TORONTO SONGWRITER SHINES Ex-actor excels in U.S. competition Canadian roots music got a big b...TORONTO SONGWRITER SHINES
  
  Ex-actor excels in U.S. competition
  
  Canadian roots music got a big boost late last week when Toronto songwriter Bill Colgate and Winnipeg's James Keelaghan took top prizes in the gospel and folk categories respectively of the prestigious USA Songwriting Competition.
  
  Colgate, who turned from acting a couple of years ago to pursue a career in music, and has released just one album of original songs, when dinosaurs ruled the earth, was also named second overall winner in the competition, which this year attracted 32,000 entries in 15 categories and bills itself as "the world's leading international songwriting competition" with more than $60,000 U.S. in prizes.
  
  The competition is administered by Lion Heart Productions, which founded the event in 1996 to give songwriters exposure and recognition. It is judged by a panel of industry experts, including artist managers and major record company representatives
  
  "I had no idea I was in the running," said Colgate at his home in Etobicoke. "As an independent singer-songwriter just starting out in the business at the tender age of 50, I'm always throwing stuff at walls, hoping something will stick. I applied last March after reading about the competition on the Maplepost folk music Internet newsgroup, and thought it sounded legitimate in terms of its size and profile, organization, sponsors and prizes. It was also reasonably inexpensive to enter, and after I submitted my song, I forgot about it.
  
  "I've learned after 20 years as an actor that if you worry about the auditions you do, you can go crazy."
  
  Colgate's winning song, "Let It Be There", is not a religious song, he says, but it seemed appropriate for the gospel category because of the gospel-style arrangement by Toronto guitarist/composer Ralph Cole - a founding member of Lighthouse - who produced when dinsosaurs ruled the earth, a roots-rock album that showcases Colgate's R'n'B-flavoured originals and powerful growl.
  
  He wins $2,000 U.S. for topping the gospel category, and $7,000 for the "overall second best in show prize," he said.
  
  Keelaghan's and Colgate's awards come with showcasing opportunities in the U.S. at such venues as Nashville's Bluebird Café, and airplay on the internationally syndicated U.S. radio program Acoustic Café.
  
  "There's also a compilation CD of category winners that will be distributed to radio stations, and meetings with major-league artist managers and music publishers," said Colgate. - Greg Quill

• A Wonderfully Subtle Materpiece [+ Show ]
  

  If one of the great injustices I face here everyday is subjecting myself to brilliance that will nev...If one of the great injustices I face here everyday is subjecting myself to brilliance that will never get the recognition it deserves, then Bill Colgate is the poster boy. With WAITING FOR SIMON, this Toronto actor/singer/songwriter delivers a wonderfully subtle masterpiece of troubadouria that glistens more with each additional play. The songs are character driven and story-told in the best folk tradition, and so vivid that the listener is transported. The first time I heard the title track, I was driving alone on the highway and damn it if I didn’t have to pull over to listen to the last verse to ensure that Simon indeed showed up (he doesn’t – and its heartbreaking). Colgate’s husky yet remarkably tuneful vocal style is the perfect pen to illustrate these vignettes, and the stark accompaniment by multi-instrumentalist Cam MacInnes (among others – a who’s who of Toronto talent) provides the perfect canvas. WAITING FOR SIMON is still in my car CD changer, at least until Colgate’s next outing, which better be soon. - Shael Risman

• when dinosaurs ruled [+ Show ]
  

  Toronto songwriter and actor Bill Colgate is a proud survivor of 1970s roots rock, the gospel-tinged...Toronto songwriter and actor Bill Colgate is a proud survivor of 1970s roots rock, the gospel-tinged and rhythm 'n' blues kind practised by Bob Seger and John Mellencamp in their prime.
  
  Assisted by veteran producers and arrangers Ralph Cole (Lighthouse) and Ray Parker, this relative unknown has managed to put together a dynamite band of top-notch Toronto studio players - guitarist Mike Francis, bassist Tom Szczesniak, drummer Brian Leonard and Parker on keyboards. They do wonders with Colgate's muscular compositions, jangly ballads, and straight -from-the-cuff narratives.
  
  A rough growler as convincing as Colgate is a rarity. when dinosaurs ruled the earth is a polished, assertive first effort. - Greg Quill

• When Bill Colgate Ruled The Dobro [+ Show ]
  

  Great Canadian singer/songwriter Bill Colgate gave an outstanding performance...Along with Cam MacIn...Great Canadian singer/songwriter Bill Colgate gave an outstanding performance...Along with Cam MacInnes and a stellar band of players, Colgate brought down the house with his acoustic, folk based story songs that have won him countless awards, including the USA Songwriting Competition and The John Lennon Songwriting Contest.

Setlist

Over 40 original songs in the style(s) of Singer/Songwriter, Folk/Roots, Blues, Rhythm and Blues.

Basic Requirements

Calendar