Ron Sexsmith

Artist Bio

Valdy, is a Canadian folk and country musician whose solo career began in the early 1970s. He is known for “Rock and Roll Song”, his first mainstream single. Valdy is the winner of two Juno Awards for Folk Singer of the Year and Folk Entertainer of the Year and has received seven additional Juno nominations. His fourteen albums, including four which are certified gold, have achieved sales of nearly half a million copies.

Valdy was a member of The London Towne Criers during the 1960s and subsequently joined Montreal band The Prodigal Sons. He then moved to Victoria, where he worked with various rock and country musicians, including Blake Emmons.

When he was 25 Valdy bought several acres of land in Sooke, BC, and began farming.  He began performing as a solo artist, and in 1972 recorded his “Rock and Roll Song” on Haida/A&M; it became a hit. 

His music was featured in the 1972 Steve McQueen film The Getaway. In 1973 he won a Juno Award for Outstanding Folk Performance.[10] Valdy recorded a live album, Family Gathering, through A&M; it was recorded at Massey Hall in Toronto and released in 1974.

Valdy appeared on the CBC TV show The Beachcombers as the environmental activist “Halibut” Stu. He also secured a part in the reunion production of The New Beachcombers performing a song he wrote, “It’s The Water,” as part of a jug band.