Doubleday Canada to Publish Memoir from Acclaimed Musician Tom Wilson

TORONTO, April 1, 2015 /CNW/ - Doubleday Canada is pleased to announce that it will publish a new memoir from acclaimed Canadian musician (Junkhouse, Blackie & The Rodeo Kings, Lee Harvey Osmond) and artist Tom Wilson. The book, written with the assistance of author/musician Dave Bidini, will hit bookstores in Fall 2017.

In the memoir, Wilson will offer a profoundly moving and humorous look at family and identity after a chance encounter with a stranger caused him to question everything he had always known about his past.

"I have never met a storyteller with the warmth, humour and heart of Tom Wilson," says Martha Kanya-Forstner, Editor-in-Chief of Doubleday Canada. "He reveals his story with such generosity and kindness that I've already come to love and embrace the characters it. In working with Tom, I feel like the lucky girl who won the lottery, and I can't wait to share his stories with the reading public."

Thomas Cunningham Wilson was born in Hamilton, Ontario on June 9, 1959. He began his songwriting and performing career in 1980 and continues his influential and compelling work today. Wilson is widely known as a passionate advocate of his hometown Hamilton and in particular the creative community within. His extensive career and tireless efforts as a musician has bestowed upon him numerous nominations and awards from the Hamilton Music Awards to the Polaris Prize to the Juno Awards, including certified gold records from his work with popular rock band Junkhouse. 

Wilson is a veteran of the Canadian music scene with years of experience in several different genres of music. His first performing group The Florida Razors was a popular band in Hamilton, producing Beat Music his first full-length album. In 1989 Wilson became the founder of the aforementioned Junkhouse. The band quickly grew in popularity and in 1993 signed a recording contract with Sony Music Canada. Lead by Wilson, Junkhouse skyrocketed in the 90's, producing three albums, Strays, Birthday Boy and Fuzz, before disbanding.  Wilson recorded his first solo album Planet Love (2001) for Sony Music. It was also during this time that Wilson starting dedicating more of his time and energy to his second passion, painting. ("I needed an outlet besides writing music and there is a great meditative bond I found between me and the canvas," says Wilson.) His painting, "Mystic Highway," was recently commissioned by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences for a 30' x 30' reproduction legacy piece adorning John Street in Hamilton. The painting pays homage to the rich history of Hamilton musicians and performers from past. 

In 1999, as a result of their shared love and admiration for one of Canada's great musical treasures, the late Willie P. Bennett , Wilson along with Stephen Fearing and Colin Linden formed what would soon become the highly acclaimed  roots music supergroup Blackie and the Rodeo Kings. The Rodeo Kings have produced seven albums and have toured throughout North America and Europe. While Wilson dabbled with solo albums, Planet Love and Dog Years (2006), it was with  his collaboration with producer and  Cowboys Junkies founder Michael Timmins that he  found  and settled into a new voice. The result is Wilson's genre defining, alter personae Lee Harvey Osmond. "Acid folk" was born in an old garage off Clinton Avenue in Toronto. With Timmins production and Wilson's baritone, LHO has become the soundtrack and the voice for the art of Tom Wilson.

Tom Wilson obviously lives in Hamilton Ontario close to family and friends. He can't be missed.

SOURCE Penguin Random House Canada Limited

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