When fans lined Toronto’s Queen Street to get into clubs where Blue Rodeo was performing in the mid-1980s, the band felt they had achieved success. And, in fact, they had. But that success has grown exponentially over the ensuing four decades, and by staying true to themselves, Blue Rodeo has built an enduring love affair with Canadians.
Now celebrating their 40th anniversary, Blue Rodeo has proven to be one of Canada’s most enduring and important bands. They have received 31 JUNO Award nominations (winning 12) and 17 CCMA Awards (winning two). Blue Rodeo has sold more than four million albums, played thousands of shows, been inducted into both the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, received a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame, been named to the Order of Canada and been honoured with the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award.
Reflecting back on four decades of success, the band is able to fully appreciate where Blue Rodeo sits in the pantheon of music. “Success seemed real when we were entertaining people in The Horseshoe. That was the top of the heap for us,” Cuddy says. “When you look back, you realize it’s just been this beautiful dream.”