Biographic - Sunday April 10, 2011 Comic Strip Licensing and Permissions

Transcript

From Paul Anka to Justin Bieber, and Anne Murray to Avril Lavigne, Canadians have long enjoyed chart success in the United States. Many have become superstars on a global scale... Justin Beiber is the latest in a long line of Canadians who have found pop and rock superstardom in the states. The first Canadian to pop the U.S. charts in the rock 'n' roll era was Paul Anka, who was only 16 years old when "Diana" made him a teen idol in 1957. It was the first of his 3 U.S. chart-toppers and the start of a career that saw him become a vegas star and a songwriter whose credits include the English lyrics to the Frank Sinatra classic "My Way." Canadian singer/songwriter Gordon Lightfoot, Leonard Cohen, and Joni Mitchell emerged in the late '60s. As did Toronto's Neil Young, who first found fame as a member of Buffalo Springfield before teaming up with Crosby, Stills, and Nash in one of Rock's first Supergroups. He topped the U.S. charts in 1972 with "Heart Of Gold" two years before Terry Jacks hit it big with "Seasons In The Sun." Anne Murray and AndyKim both topped the U.S. charts in the 1970s, as did Canadian bands The Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive. Rush formed in Toronto in 1968 and is now one of the most successful bands in rock history. The likes of Sheriff and Men Without Hats enjoyed brief stateside success in the '80s and Bryan Adams emerged as a global star. Canadian exports ranged from the radio-friendly rock of Loverboy to the gentlefolk of Sarah McLachlan. Rocker Alannah Myles kicked off the '90s with the U.S. smash "Black Velvet." A number of Canadian women enjoyed Stellar success in the 1990s, led by Celine Dion- who topped the Billboard Charts four times- Shania Twain and Alanis Morissette. The new millennium brought a new wave of Canadian stars, with Nelly Furtado, Avril Lavigne, and Nickelback achieving multiplatinum success. Other Canadian artists who notched a U.S. chart presence included Barenaked Ladies, Sum41 and reggae artist Snow. Billboard named British Columbia's Daniel Powter the "One-hit wonder of the decade" for his "Bad Day" smash. Canadian's continue to loom large south of the border. Quebec's Arcade Fire has exploded out of the indie scene, Drake is one of Hip hop's new stars and "Biebermania" rages worldwide!

Tags