Valdy, born Valdemar Horsdal in Ottawa, Canada has been part of the fabric of Canadian pop and folk music for over 34 years. A man with a thousand friends, from Newfoundland to Vancouver Island to Texas to New Zealand, he’s a singer, guitarist and songwriter who catches the small but telling moments that make up life.
Remembered for Play Me a Rock and Roll Song, his bitter-sweet memory of finding himself, a relaxed and amiable story-teller, facing a rambunctious audience at the Aldergrove Rock Festival circa 1968, Valdy has sold almost half a million copies of his 13 albums, has two Juno Awards (Folk Singer of the Year and Folk Entertainer of the Year), seven Juno nominations, and four Gold albums to his credit.
Valdy’s recent CDs include “Contenders 3”, the third collaboration with friend and fellow singer/songwriter, Gary Fjellgaard, with whom he has an absolute blast touring, a solo release, “Viva Valdy: Live at Last”, a two-CD package, with a total of 25 tunes and lyric booklet, and a recent release “Read Between the Lines”.
One of Canada’s most influential songwriters, Valdy’s composition A Good Song was recorded under the title Just a Man by the venerable Quincy Jones (he sang lead on the recording!). Play Me a Rock and Roll Song has been recorded by a few artists, including John Kay of Steppenwolf.
Along the way, Valdy has taken his music to a dozen different countries, from Denmark to Australia and recently New Zealand. He has been an often-invited performer at the Kerrville Festival in Texas. His recent television appearances include Canada AM and Open Mike with Mike Bullard. Valdy has also been a panelist on Front Page Challenge, and played a lead role in an episode of The Beachcombers original series.
Today, he is based on Salt Spring Island, where he lives with his wife Kathleen, three dogs. All three children are grown, flown and doing famously living in or near Vancouver, or Colorado.
* 14 albums, 22 singles, 4 Gold Records, nearly half a million units sold worldwide.
* 2 Juno awards, 7 Juno nominations (Country Male Vocalist & Folksinger).
* “Songwriter of the Year” and CARAS awards in Folk/Bluegrass categories.
* Host of “BC Music Project” music video show, winner of the 1989 Gold Ribbon Talent Development Award.
* TV talk show guest (Open Mic w/ Mike Bullard Feb.’01, Canada AM Feb.’01) and occasional guest/host
*Twice was a panelist on the popular Front Page Challenge
* CBC simulcast (TV w/ Radio 2 stereo), an hour-long TV special “Folksinger Deluxe with a Side of Fries”.
*Lead role on “The Beachcombers”, minor roles in 2 movie features.
*Valdy has toured, and still does tour, in America, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Holland, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. Valdy is an oft-invited performer at the Kerrville Folk Festival in Texas.
*Song writing workshops. Movie sound tracks, TV and film scores. CD producer.