In 2003, acclaimed songwriter and April Wine lead singer Myles Goodwyn received the East Coast Music Awards’ (ECMAs) Lifetime Achievement Award for his impact on the music industry of Atlantic Canada. Exactly 20 years later, he’ll return to the ECMAs to accept his latest distinction as the newest Inductee to the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (CSHF). Considered by many as one of Canada’s greatest rock ‘n’ roll songwriters, Goodwyn will see the CSHF celebrate the catalogue of classics he penned for April Wine, spanning more than five decades.
On May 4, 2023, the CSHF will present Goodwyn with the Award at the ECMAs in Halifax, NS; and later this year, his name will be included in the permanent exhibit at the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame Museum in the National Music Centre in Calgary, as the organization commemorates 25 years of celebrating Canada’s greatest songs and songwriters.
The 35th Annual East Coast Music Awards will be broadcast across the country on selected community television stations, and also available online at ECMA.com and RogersTV.com. Announced performers include Jimmy Rankin, Nick Earle, Christine Campbell, and Colin MacDonald, with friend and “Right Myself” collaborator, Lennie Gallant presenting to Goodwyn. Tickets are available at ECMA.com.
“To be inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, has been a wish of mine for many years,” says Goodwyn. “It’s possibly the most significant award I’ve ever received. What has mattered most to me, for all my years in the business, was to be taken seriously as a songwriter.”
Goodwyn gave his final live performance with April Wine on March 2, 2023, as the only remaining original member of the iconic rock group.
“After he’s spent more than 50 years touring and performing as the voice and songwriter behind April Wine, we’re thrilled to be able to induct Myles and his iconic body of work into the CSHF,” said Stan Meissner, CSHF Board Chairman. “On behalf of all music fans, we thank Myles for sharing his gift as a songwriter, singer, guitarist, and performer, who’s given us the soundtrack to a generation; and he’ll continue to inspire a new generation as the creative force behind the next evolution of April Wine.”
Goodwyn founded April Wine in 1969 with longtime friend, Jim Henman, and Henman’s cousins David and Ritchie Henman, in Nova Scotia. Less than a year later, the group moved to Montréal to sign a record deal with Aquarius Records, and embarked on a “Fast Train” to success.
Their first album, released in 1971, included their first hit single, “Fast Train,” written by Goodwyn; followed by Goodwyn-penned classics like “Roller,” “I Wouldn’t Want to Lose Your Love,” and “I Like to Rock.” Their album The Whole World’s Goin’ Crazy became the first Canadian album to sell more than 100,000 copies.
Goodwyn’s songs have ranged in style from edgy rock to romantic ballads, from country to blues – and his subject matter was just as wide-ranging, encompassing piano classics such as “Comin’ Right Down on Top of Me,” “Like a Lover, Like a Song,” and “I Wouldn’t Want to Lose Your Love,” as well as the environmental song, “Lady Run, Lady Hide.”
He also wasn’t afraid to tackle political topics in “Some of These Children” (bringing awareness to unmarked residential school graves), and 2022’s “For Ukraine,” which was written in support of the citizens of the war-torn country, garnering him a Social Impact Film and Art (SIFA) Award for Best Social Impact Music/Art 2022.
As a hardworking master of his craft, Goodwyn has said, “I worked diligently and tenaciously on becoming a good, consistent songwriter. To me, it’s the most important part of what I do. Always has been.”
April Wine disbanded in 1984, after releasing 22 studio and two live albums. They re-grouped in 1993 and resumed touring, once again selling out shows continent-wide. In March 2009, April Wine was inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame, and received the JUNO Lifetime Achievement Award. Goodwyn and April Wine were also inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2010, and have garnered two Félix Awards in Québec, as well as several SOCAN Classic Awards.
Goodwyn will continue writing and producing for April Wine as the band continues to tour with his artistic involvement; and his third blues recording will be released in the summer of 2023.