STONY PLAIN RECORDS PRESENTS THE GIFT: A TRIBUTE TO IAN TYSON

STONY PLAIN RECORDS PRESENTS THE GIFT: A TRIBUTE TO IAN TYSON

ALL-STAR CAST SALUTES CANADIAN MUSICAL ICON WITH PERFORMANCES FROM JENNIFER WARNES, CHRIS HILLMAN, GORDON LIGHTFOOT, RAMBLIN’ JACK ELLIOTT, TOM RUSSELL, AMOS GARRETT AND MANY OTHERS ON OCTOBER 9 U.S. RELEASE

EDMONTON, AB – Stony Plain Records announces an October 9 U.S. release date for The Gift: A Tribute To Ian Tyson, an all-star tribute featuring performances of the Canadian musical icon’s songs by such performers as Jennifer Warnes, Chris Hillman, Gordon Lightfoot, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Tom Russell and Amos Garrett, among others.

The album’s striking artwork features rarely-seen sketches from legendary western artist Charles M. Russell, a former cowboy and wrangler who documented the Old West during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, capturing the spirit and the character of that time. The sketches were obtained with permission from the C.M. Russell Museum in Great Falls, Montana.

The Gift: A Tribute To Ian Tyson has been in the works for more than a year. Stony Plain Records’ president Holger Petersen and award-winning music journalist Peter North asked Tyson's friends, associates, admirers and one-time sidemen to contribute, and shepherded their songs through production. All of the songs were recorded expressly for this album, with the exception of Gordon Lightfoot’s track, “Red Velvet,” released on an earlier album of his, and Tom Russell’s cover of “Old Cheyenne,” recorded several years ago as a “promotion only” track. Just released in Canada, the album has already garnered rave reviews and strong sales in that country.
In addition to guitarist Amos Garrett, other former musicians who have worked with Tyson over the years, such as David Rea, Stewart MacDougall, Cindy Church, Buddy Cage and Jeff Bradshaw, all contributed tracks to the new album. Other participants include Blue Rodeo, Corb Lund, The Good Brothers and The McDades.
In a world-wide career that spans almost half a century, Ian Tyson was a pioneering folk singer whose initial impact came as one-half of the duo Ian and Sylvia, one of the most popular acts of the early ‘60s folk music movement, who recorded a number of albums (most notably with Vanguard Records). At the end of that decade, he helped launch the country-rock explosion with the landmark band Great Speckled Bird and its self-titled album, released in 1970. Tyson followed that by being at the vanguard of the “cowboy music” revival on the strength of his seminal 1986 album, Cowboyography. His achievements thus far have earned him a place in the Juno Hall of Fame (the Canadian equivalent of the GRAMMY), and he has been a recipient of the Order of Canada.Dotted with classic pieces and sprinkled with timeless hits, Tyson’s brilliantly crafted catalogue contains the finest examples of songs that have stitched stunning melodies and gripping grooves with deep emotions and finely etched imagery. Not only has he been on the receiving end of considerable acclaim and commercial success during his long run, other artists have consistently gone to and drawn from Tyson’s deep well. Neil Young, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Nanci Griffith, Suzy Bogguss, Bobby Bare, Tony Rice, Judy Collins, David Bromberg, and Jerry Jeff Walker are just a few of the artists who have covered his songs. Neil Young continues to express his belief that “Four Strong Winds” is one of the greatest contemporary folk songs ever written. Tyson, who marks his 75th birthday next year, continues to run the Tyson Ranch in the foothills of the Rockies south of Calgary, and tours in Canada and the U.S., playing some 75 concerts a year.

“A tribute to Ian, who is certainly not ready to call it a day on the ranch, has definitely been in order for some time now,” says co-executive producer Peter North, who is also the music director for the CKUA Radio Network in Edmonton, Alberta. “Tyson’s songs cross a musical landscape that includes the folk revival of the ‘60s, the birth of country rock, hardcore honky-tonk music and his own chosen place as a spokesperson for cowboy culture.”
Stony Plain is distributed by Koch Entertainment. For more, visit http://www.iantyson.com/
The Gift: A Tribute To Ian Tyson Track Listing:
1. Four Strong Winds Blue Rodeo
2. MC Horses Corb Lund
3. Blue Mountains of Mexico Jennifer Warnes
4. What Does She See Chris Hillman
5. Red Velvet Gordon Lightfoot
6. The Gift David Rea
7. Range Delivery Cindy Church
8. Smuggler’s Cove The McDades
9. Some Kind Of Fool Amos Garrett
10. Old Cheyenne Tom Russell
11. Someday Soon The Circus In Flames with Buddy Cage
12. Will James Ramblin’ Jack Elliott
13. You’re Not Alone Anymore Stewart MacDougall
14. Summer Wages The Good Brothers
15. Moondancer Jeff Bradshaw
16. Bonus Track: Interview with Ramblin’ Jack Elliott & Buddy Cage