Ken Greer

Kenneth William "Ken" Greer (born 25 July 1954) is a Canadian guitarist and keyboardist. He was one of the founding members of the Canadian rock band Red Rider. He is the pedal steel guitarist whose soaring, searing lines give Red Rider its distinctive sound.

Biography

Ken is the youngest of 7 children born into a very musical family in Toronto. He grew up in the North Toronto area where his musical talents were honed in his parents' basement, which he and his high school band-mates had sound-proofed with egg cartons. Trained with a classical background, Ken turned convention on its head with his use of the pedal steel guitar and after being in several bands doing gigs in and around the Toronto area, Red Rider was formed in the mid-late 1970s. Tom Cochrane came to see them play at the El Mocambo in 1978 and auditioned to become their lead singer.

"A friend took me to the El Mocambo to see this band, and right away something clicked. They had all the right parts, a really tight rhythm section (bassist Jeff Jones and drummer Rob Baker), great keyboards (Peter Boynton) and this incredible pedal steel player, Ken Greer, who used the instrument in a very unconventional way, not the way country players use it." Tom Cochrane, Trapeze liner notes.

This "very unconventional way" is Greer's signature sound, which cements his status as one of the most inventive and theatrical players. Throughout his career he has dazzled and intrigued fans with his musical mastery of the pedal steel.

His distinct sound can best be heard on songs such as:
"Lunatic Fringe" by Red Rider
"White Hot" by Red Rider
"Light in the Tunnel/Human Race" by Red Rider
"All The Lovers in the World" by Gowan

Some of his best recorded live work can be heard on The Symphony Sessions, which was recorded in 1989 with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra as a backing band to Red Rider. Ken's expert musical awareness and the band's tight jamming is evident throughout the album.

After a Red Rider hiatus during most of the 1990s, Ken was involved in numerous musical projects including Big Faith, Hunter-Greer and Gowan. Currently he stills tours as Tom Cochrane and Red Rider, playing guitar, pedal steel and keyboards. Ken also started touring with the Canadian country band The Road Hammers in 2005 and still joins them when available.

Ken also has worked as a producer for various bands, and has ties to Metalwork Studios, Phase One Studios, and Cherry Beach Sound.

Career Achievements

Juno Awards

-Won for "Group of the Year" in 1987

-Nominated for 11 various awards from 1981–1990

Gold & Platinum Records
-Nearly every Red Rider record went Gold or Platinum in Canada, with the band's most commercially successful effort "Victory Day" achieving Double Platinum.

Canadian Country Music Awards

-Won for All-Star Band Member, Steel Guitar in 2005 & 2007

Discography

• 1980 – Red Rider – Don't Fight It
• 1981 – Red Rider – As Far as Siam
• 1983 – Red Rider – Neruda
• 1984 – Red Rider – Breaking Curfew
• 1986 – Tom Cochrane & Red Rider – S/T
• 1988 – Tom Cochrane & Red Rider – Victory Day
• 1989 – Tom Cochrane & Red Rider – The Symphony Sessions (live CD)
• 1992 – Big Faith – Grounded
• 1993 – Ashes to Diamonds
• 1994 – Big Faith – Undertow
• 1994 – Hunter-Greer – Tales From Stoney's Bar & Grill
• 2002 – Tom Cochrane & Red Rider – Trapeze
• 2006 – Tom Cochrane – No Stranger

Producer

• 1987 – The Tragically Hip – The Tragically Hip EP
• 1989 – The Saddletramps – The Saddle Tramps
• 1994 – Peter Randall & The Raindogs – Peter Randall & The Raindogs
• 2002 – Andrew Brunet – Broken
• 2002 – Various Artists – Takin' Care of Christmas
• 2004 – Tango Sierra – This Is It

Official website

• Official Ken Greer website

Appearances on other Albums as Musician

• 1990 – Lost Brotherhood – Gowan
• 1993 – ...But You Can Call Me Larry – Lawrence Gowan
• 1994 – Borrowed Tunes: A Tribute to Neil Young – "Heart of Gold" Lawrence Gowan

References

Tom Cochrane, "Trapeze", Liner notes by Greg Quil
http://feverishthoughts.com/guitar/2008/08/10/canadas-own-ken-greer/