Biography
Newfoundland native Rex Goudie belongs to the expanding roster of singers propelled onto the global stage through the Idol enterprise. Born and raised in a coastal settlement numbering just 300 residents, he entered adulthood with scant formal training in music yet remained determined to pursue it professionally. During adolescence he assembled several rock groups with local peers, later relocating from that community to enroll in engineering studies at Memorial University of Newfoundland. His successful audition secured a place among the contestants of Canadian Idol, the popular television series, where he finished as runner-up during its third season. The exposure proved sufficient to launch a recording career without needing the top prize, leading directly to a major contract with Sony/BMG that supported the release of his first album, Under the Lights. Within thirty days of its appearance the project attained gold certification across Canada. His follow-up effort, Look Closer, arrived in stores on December 12, 2006, and entered the national album charts at position eleven. Although initial sales proved encouraging, the title soon faded from public view. Recognition arrived nonetheless when Goudie was named Best New Solo Artist at the 2007 Canadian Radio Music Awards. He maintains an active schedule of songwriting and live performances, joining the ranks of other musicians whose trajectories have been shaped by the volatile momentum of the Idol-driven music industry.