Biography
Hailing from Nova Scotia, the gifted singer-songwriter Cindy Church discovered her passion for music during childhood. Performing at family gatherings and with close companions only deepened that early enthusiasm. After relocating to Canada, she launched her professional career in 1984 by collaborating with guitarist Nathan Tinkham. The pair soon joined the country outfit Chinook Arch Riders, led by Ian Tyson. In 1986 they teamed with banjo player and songwriter Dave Wilkie to create the trio Great Western Orchestra, which issued its self-titled debut album three years later.
Reviewers began highlighting Church’s distinctive vocal timbre and compositional skill once she stepped out alone with the 1992 single “The Road to Home.” The following year she contributed the fundraiser single “A Song for Brent,” joined the country ensemble Quartette alongside Caitlin Hanford, Sylvia Tyson, and Gwen Swick, and earned Female Artist of the Year honors at the Alberta Country Music Awards; Swick had stepped in after the 1996 death of original member Colleen Peterson. Throughout 1994 Church issued two singles and an album with Quartette while also delivering three solo singles and her first full-length project, Love on the Range. Her equally demanding 1995 schedule produced additional solo and group singles plus the albums Just a Little Rain and Work of the Heart.
All three of her solo long-players appeared on Stony Plain Records, including the self-titled Cindy Church. Among the country-folk selections listeners may appreciate are “Wichita,” “The Only Star I See,” “Trying to Rope the Wind,” “Sleeping Alone,” “Tired of Having You Gone,” and “The Chance You Took With Me.” During this period Church collected multiple award nominations, among them Best Female Country Artist of the Year nods from both the Juno Awards and the Canadian Country Music Awards as well as recognition for Best Female Country Vocalist of the Year.
Reviewers began highlighting Church’s distinctive vocal timbre and compositional skill once she stepped out alone with the 1992 single “The Road to Home.” The following year she contributed the fundraiser single “A Song for Brent,” joined the country ensemble Quartette alongside Caitlin Hanford, Sylvia Tyson, and Gwen Swick, and earned Female Artist of the Year honors at the Alberta Country Music Awards; Swick had stepped in after the 1996 death of original member Colleen Peterson. Throughout 1994 Church issued two singles and an album with Quartette while also delivering three solo singles and her first full-length project, Love on the Range. Her equally demanding 1995 schedule produced additional solo and group singles plus the albums Just a Little Rain and Work of the Heart.
All three of her solo long-players appeared on Stony Plain Records, including the self-titled Cindy Church. Among the country-folk selections listeners may appreciate are “Wichita,” “The Only Star I See,” “Trying to Rope the Wind,” “Sleeping Alone,” “Tired of Having You Gone,” and “The Chance You Took With Me.” During this period Church collected multiple award nominations, among them Best Female Country Artist of the Year nods from both the Juno Awards and the Canadian Country Music Awards as well as recognition for Best Female Country Vocalist of the Year.
Albums
