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Gord Bamford

Started playing in: 2000

Place: , Alberta

Genre: Country

Band Members: Gord Bamford, Mark Branconnier, Steve Farrell, Jonathan Quickstad, Matt McKay, Jeff Bradshaw

Website: Gord Bamford

Biography

Whether he’s opening for George Strait at the Calgary Stampede or playing for an intimate crowd in Meaford, Ontario, Gord Bamford puts his heart and soul into Canadian country music.
more...

The Australian-born, Alberta-raised Bamford has been making country music a priority for the past 15 years. But make no mistake the road to releasing “Day Job”, Bamford’s highly anticipated fourth CD release, has been serious business. Set to be released on April 6, 2010, the CD explores a time when Gord wondered if a career in music was realistic. While working a day job as a concrete truck driver, he discovered the freedom to explore country music in the security of that truck cab. “In that truck, I was on my own. I loved it. My mind could go wherever it wanted and it gave birth to many of my song ideas,” Gord says. “That’s when I realized I wasn’t done with music.” Shortly thereafter Bamford won Q91 radio station’s “Search for the Stars” talent contest in 1994, which included a recording session at a professional studio.

It was take a few more years before Gord would record his first full length album. In 2001 he began writing the songs for “God’s Green Earth”. During the recording sessions, Gord came across a song “God’s Green Earth” that had been sent to him from Nashville written by respected Nashville hit-maker Byron Hill. (Hill wrote Fool Hearted Memory, George Strait’s first number one single.) Once the album was finished, Gord sent a copy to Byron so he could hear how the song turned out. Byron heard something he liked and invited Gord to Nashville to meet and discuss both his music and future. Since that time, Byron has been co-producing and co-writing with in Gord ever since.

“Life Is Good” was released in 2004 to rave reviews and generated six top twenty radio hits for Bamford. Songs such as “Life Is Good’, “Heroes”, “All About Her”, and “I Would For You”, firmly establishing Bamford as a serious musician in the Canadian country music scene. It was during these years, Gord spent a lot of time honing his skills out on the road playing clubs, halls, and rodeos. For every mile under those tires, there was a story waiting to be told. Gord took advantage of each opportunity to write those songs and tell those stories. Numerous trips to
Nashville, writing with Byron as well as other top songwriters, has sharpened Gord’s skills
and have made him a sought after collaborator in Canada.

Gord’s third full length album titled “Honkytonks and Heartaches”, was released in September,
2007 and included 4 singles that topped the Canadian Charts. This album solidified his place as a bonified hitmaker in the Canadian country music industry. His skills as a song writer are evident in the CD’s first three singles: “Blame it On That Red Dress”, “Went For One, Stayed Till Two”, racing up the charts to become number one top charting Canadian singles on country radio. Also on the album, “Postcard from Pasadena” and the popular single “Little Guy” are the type of country songs that Albums of The Year are made of. In December, 2009, Larry DeLaney (Publisher of Country Music News) named “Honkytonks and Heartaches” Canadian Country Album of the Decade.

Gord’s hard work over the years began to pay off in 2008. He received his first ever Juno nomination for Country Recording of the Year. This honour was followed by the Calgary Stampede asking Gord to write the 2008 Stampede theme song titled “This Old Hat”. Then at the Canadian Country Music Awards, Gord picked up four CCMA awards for Top New Male Talent, Record Producer Of The Year (with Byron Hill), and Video Of The Year for Blame It On That Red Dress (which also was a number one video on CMT).

The Society of Composers Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (Socan) also recognized Bamford for his songwriting talents for his song Stayed ‘Til Two in November, 2009. It was one of the top three country music songs that achieved the greatest number of performances on domestic radio in 2008.
In addition to his devotion to country music, Gord is a stead fast family man, working tirelessly to find ways to give back. The Gord Bamford Charitable Foundation and his annual charity golf tournament raised over $200,000 dollars in the past two years to support local central Alberta charities. The Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Lacombe Accessible Park Scoiety, Lacombe Athletic Park and the Ronald MacDonald House Red Deer project have all been recipients of Gord’s charitable heart. He also collaborated with the Calgary Stampede Giddy Up Gala to create a heart-warming video for his song “Things Go Better With Love”, and was privileged to star in this video with special needs kids from the Calgary area.

The importance of kids and the western lifestyle are also apparent in Gord’s recent partnership with the Canadian 4-H Council. Set up as a fundraising initiative, 4-H members across the country will be selling his CDs, with a substantial portion of the profits going back to their 4-H clubs. Gord, a former alumni member of the Lacombe 4-H Beef Club, believes in giving back to an organization that had such a big impact on him in his formative years.

Family, country music and the western lifestyle make up the fabric of Gord Bamford’s life. It’s also the support of his fans, partnerships and family and friends that keep him grounded.

You only have to read the lyrics of a Gord Bamford song to realize he’s the real deal.

“You and me in the Amber Glow
Side by side on the back-porch swing
Watching that ol’ sun sink low
Ain’t life a beautiful thing
A little breeze and a windchime song
All the worries of the day let go
I’ve been waiting for it all day long
You and me in the Amber Glow.”

Amber Glow, written by JB Rudd/Gord Bamford/Byron Hill, 2009, from Bamford’s new CD Day Job
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Music


Title	Album	Listen

Day Job	Day Job

My Daughter's Father	Day Job

She Can Bring It	Day Job

Cheap Date	Day Job

Posts

posted on Mon Aug 2 10:14 PM
Longtime Fan

Almost 3 years ago I went to see George Canyon in Whitby Ontario and opening for him was Dave Gunning as well as Gord Bamford. As soon as Gord and Matty MacKay came on the stage and started their set I was like...I KNOW all these songs I love this guys sound! Ever since that night I have followed ...

posted on Wed Jul 28 02:57 PM
Gord Bamford leads 2010 CCMA Awards noms

It's a big day to celebrate for Gord Bamford as he gathered up six nominations for the 2010 CCMA Awards. This year's nominees were announced at a press conference held in Edmonton earlier today and the "Day Job" sing...

posted on Sun Jun 6 10:00 AM
Post Card From Mount Forest

"Gord rocks", I met Gord in my home town on the front steps of the ROXY. There I welcomed him to our fair town of (Mount Forest) and proceded to sing one of my favorite karaoke songs and, his big hit "Post card from Pasedena". The concert was great. I was Living the thrill of a life time moment and...

posted on Thu Apr 16 09:35 PM
Went For One Stayed For Two

I absolutely loved his show in Warburg on April 4/09. He was great, I went to see george Canyon and was very impressed with Gord. Glad he is from Alberta.

posted on Tue Apr 14 10:53 AM
little guy

Absolutely love your song Little Guy....me and my little guy always stop what were doing and slow dance to it when it comes on the radio...i change some of the words to "im going to be the best MOM that i can" :)