Blue Rodeo is a Canadian country rock band formed in 1984 in Toronto, Ontario. The band consists of original members Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor, along with Bazil Donovan, Colin Cripps, Mike Boguski, and Glenn Milchem. Blue Rodeo is known for their blending of rock and country music and have been referred to as “the Canadian version of The Band.” They have released 15 studio albums, won 7 Juno Awards, have a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame, and in 2013 were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. Some of their most well-known songs include “Try”, “Hasn’t Hit Me Yet”, “After The Rain”, and “Lost Together”. Blue Rodeo enjoyed great mainstream success in Canada in the late 1980s and 1990s but saw their popularity decline in the 2000s. So what exactly happened to this once hugely popular band?
The Band’s Early Days and Rise to Fame
Blue Rodeo formed in 1984 when high school friends Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor came together and began playing bars and clubs in Toronto. Cuddy was originally on vocals while Keelor played guitar and did backing vocals. They were soon joined by Bob Wiseman on keyboards, and Mark French on drums. With this lineup, Blue Rodeo released their debut album Outskirts in March of 1987. Propelled by the singles “Try” and “Outskirts”, the album was a hit in Canada, going platinum within a year. This success earned them the Juno Award for Most Promising Group of the Year in 1988.
In 1989 Blue Rodeo released their second album, Diamond Mine. This album featured the popular single “Rose Colored Glasses” and also went platinum in Canada. Around this time, the band’s keyboardist Bob Wiseman left Blue Rodeo to pursue a solo career. He was replaced by James Gray, who remained with the band for the next 20 years.
Blue Rodeo’s third album, Casino, was released in 1990 and marked their commercial peak. The album featured the hit singles “Til I Am Myself Again” and “Trust Yourself” and sold over 200,000 copies in Canada, going double platinum. Cuddy and Keelor’s songwriting abilities earned them additional Juno Awards for Songwriter of the Year and Group of the Year. During this period Blue Rodeo also began attracting attention outside of Canada, gaining popularity in the United States and embarking on headlining tours there for the first time. The early 1990s marked Blue Rodeo at the height of their fame and cemented their status as one of the most prominent Canadian bands.
Continued Success in the 1990s
Even after their commercial peak, Blue Rodeo continued releasing successful albums through the 1990s. Their 1992 album Lost Together went platinum in Canada and their 1993 album Five Days in July, featuring the hit single “5 Days in May”, also went platinum. While they may have passed their absolute popularity zenith, Blue Rodeo remained one of Canada’s most famous and acclaimed bands through the 90s. They won multiple Juno Awards during the decade, including Group of the Year in 1994 and 1995.
In 1997 Blue Rodeo released their eighth studio album Tremolo, a more experimental offering that incorporated psychedelic rock and art pop influences. Though not as commercially successful as previous efforts, Tremolo was critically acclaimed and demonstrated Blue Rodeo’s willingness to evolve their sound in new directions. Their 1999 album The Days in Between also had a more solemn, melancholic tone and delved into deeper themes inspired by Keelor’s recovery from a serious car accident. While this period saw Blue Rodeo move away from the upbeat country rock that initially brought them fame, they continued receiving accolades like the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement in 2009.
Declining Popularity in the 2000s
As Blue Rodeo entered the 2000s, their popularity and record sales began to decline, especially in comparison to their overwhelming success in the 80s and early 90s. Though they still maintained a dedicated fanbase, they were no longer dominating the Canadian airwaves and charts. There are a few possible contributing factors to this declining popularity:
- The band members getting older and their music maturing resulted in a more mellow, melancholy sound that didn’t have as much mainstream appeal. Their 2000s albums like Palace of Gold and Are You Ready received positive reviews but didn’t produce huge hits.
- The rise of new genres like alternative rock and hip hop in the 90s and 2000s meant that Blue Rodeo’s traditional country rock style was no longer as current or trendy.
- By the 2000s the band had been around for almost 20 years. While their longtime fans remained loyal, they struggled to gain younger listeners.
- Changes in the music industry landscape with the rise of streaming and downloads impacted album sales for all musicians including Blue Rodeo.
Though they remained an acclaimed and respected group, Blue Rodeo’s era of dominating the charts had passed. Their popularity peaked during the late 80s and early 90s but declined over the course of the 2000s.
Recent Years and Looking Forward
In the last decade Blue Rodeo has continued to tour regularly and release new music even if they aren’t achieving the same level of mainstream success as in their heyday. Their albums have received mixed reviews, with some critics arguing the band has settled into a comfortable but predictable sound. Others maintain that though they aren’t breaking new ground, Blue Rodeo’s substantive songwriting and musical talent endure.
They celebrated the 25th anniversary of their album Diamond Mine with remastered reissues and a special tour in 2014. In 2017 Blue Rodeo was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, affirming their lasting legacy and influence in Canadian music. Though not radio mainstays anymore, tracks like “Hasn’t Hit Me Yet” and “Lost Together” remain staples of adult contemporary and classic rock radio in Canada.
As Blue Rodeo marks close to 40 years as a band, they seem poised to continue making music on their own terms for their devoted fanbase. Though unlikely to return to the mainstream fame of their prime, Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor’s songwriting partnership remains fruitful and their live shows are still acclaimed. Blue Rodeo’s 25 studio albums and multiple awards cement them as one of the most decorated and successful Canadian bands of the last 40 years, even if their popularity has waned from their commercial peak. Their influence on Canadian music remains undeniable, and their back catalogue of melancholy ballads, roots rock stompers, and country pop is a cherished part of the Canadian music canon.
Conclusion
In summary, Blue Rodeo rose to fame in the late 80s with their signature country rock style and had enormous mainstream success throughout the early 90s, becoming one of Canada’s most popular bands. But as the decades wore on, their music evolved in more mellow and melancholy directions that likely didn’t have the same broad appeal. Combined with music industry changes and the emergence of new genres, Blue Rodeo saw their popularity as hitmakers decline over the course of the 2000s. However, their accomplishments and influence are undisputed, they remain acclaimed for their live shows and musicianship, and they continue releasing new music and touring regularly despite no longer dominating radio play or record sales. Though their era of tremendous commercial success has passed, Blue Rodeo’s legacy in Canadian music is assured. Their career trajectory reflects the natural arc many bands experience, from meteoric rise to comfortable elder statesmen.