Bruce Guthro ONS (August 31, 1961 – September 5, 2023) was a Canadian singer-songwriter from Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. Guthro recorded as a solo artist, and was lead vocalist for the Scottish Celtic rock band Runrig from 1998,[1] until the group retired in 2018.[2] Guthro received several ECMAs (East Coast Music Awards),[3] and hosted and conceptualized the Canadian TV show Songwriters Circle, on which guests included Jim Cuddy, Colin James, and Alan Doyle (of the Canadian band Great Big Sea).[4]

Bruce Guthro
Guthro performing in 2010
Guthro performing in 2010
Background information
Born(1961-08-31)August 31, 1961
Sydney Mines, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada
DiedSeptember 5, 2023(2023-09-05) (aged 62)
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
Years active1994–2023
Labels
Websitewww.bruceguthro.com

Guthro was also the father of musicians Dylan Guthro and Jodi Guthro.[5][6] He co-produced Dylan's award-winning 2012 debut album All That's True with Dave Gunning and co-wrote five of the album's songs.[5][7]

Guthro died from cancer on September 5, 2023, five days after his 62nd birthday.[8] On October 4, 2023, he was posthumously appointed a member of the Order of Nova Scotia for contributions to the music industry, Canadian culture and philanthropy.[9]

Discography edit

Albums edit

TitleDetailsPeak positionsCertifications
(sales thresholds)
CAN CountryDEN
[10]
Sails to the Wind
  • Release date: 1994
  • Label: MCA
Of Your Son
  • Release date: 1998
  • Label: EMI
6
Guthro
  • Release date: 2001
  • Label: EMI
Beautiful Life
  • Release date: 2006
  • Label: RecArt
No Final Destination
  • Release date: September 7, 2009
  • Label: Ridge
39
Celtic Crossing
  • Release date: October 17, 2011
  • Label: Ridge
8
Bound for Bethlehem
  • Release date: 2012
  • Label: RecArt
18
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Singles edit

YearSinglePeak chart positionsAlbum
CAN CountryCAN ACCAN
1997"Walk This Road"116Of Your Son
1998"Falling"151239
"Ivey's Wall"12
1999"Two Story House" (with Amy Sky)45
"Good Love"27
2001"Factory Line"Guthro
"Disappear"
"Livin' a Lie"
2007"Touch"Beautiful Life
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Music videos edit

YearVideoDirector
1997"Fiddle & Bow" (with Natalie MacMaster)Andrew MacNaughtan
"Walk This Road"Pablo Fairhall
1998"Falling"George Dougherty
2001"Disappear"
2007"Holy Road"

Samplers edit

YearTitleAlbum
1995"Stan's Tune"Remembering Stan Rogers: An East Coast Tribute
1996"So Blue"An East Coast Tribute II
2000"Four Strong Winds" (with Raylene Rankin)Over Canada (Soundtrack)
2010"Acadie, Sing Me Home" (with Blair Douglas)Celtic Greatest

Guest appearances edit

YearTitleArtistAlbum
1997"Fiddle & Bow"Natalie MacMasterNo Boundaries
2008"Acadie, Sing Me Home"Blair DouglasStay Strong

Awards edit

YearAwardCategory
1997East Coast Music AwardSongwriter of the Year (Fiddle and Bow)
1998Canadian Radio Music AwardSolo Artist of the Year
1998Canadian Country Music AwardsRising Star of the Year
1999East Coast Music AwardMale Artist of the Year
1999East Coast Music AwardPop/Rock Artist of the Year
1999East Coast Music AwardSingle of the Year (Falling)
1999East Coast Music AwardSOCAN Songwriter of the Year (Falling)
1999East Coast Music AwardAlbum of the Year (Of Your Son)
2002East Coast Music AwardMale Artist of the Year
2002East Coast Music AwardPop Artist/Group of the Year
2002East Coast Music AwardAlbum of the Year (Guthro)

References edit

  1. ^ "RUNRIG NAME NEW SINGER: BRUCE GUTHRO JOINS TOP SCOTTISH BAND". prnewswire.co.uk. July 17, 1998.
  2. ^ "The Last Dance: thousands say farewell to Runrig". HeraldScotland. August 20, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  3. ^ "East Coast Music Association - Event History". Archived from the original on February 21, 2009. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
  4. ^ "Billboard". September 15, 2001.
  5. ^ a b "Dylan Guthro gets the stone rolling". thechronicleherald.ca. Archived from the original on February 12, 2012. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  6. ^ "Songwriter circles 'a jam' for Nova Scotia musician Bruce Guthro | Metro News". www.metronews.ca. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  7. ^ "The Halifax Musicphile: 2012 Music Nova Scotia Awards – List of Winners and Nominnees". Thehalifaxmusicphile.blogspot.com. November 13, 2012.
  8. ^ "Cape Breton singer-songwriter Bruce Guthro dies at 62". cbc.ca. September 6, 2023.
  9. ^ Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia (May 11, 2018). "2023 Order of Nova Scotia Recipients Announced". novascotia.ca. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  10. ^ "Discography Bruce Guthro". Danishcharts.dk. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  11. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Bruce Guthro – Of Your Son". Music Canada.

External links edit