Matt Minglewood

Matt Minglewood
Minglewood between sets at a MingleBells concert in Wallace, Nova Scotia
Minglewood between sets at a MingleBells concert in Wallace, Nova Scotia
Background information
Birth nameRoy Alexander Batherson
Born (1947-01-31) 31 January 1947 (age 77)
Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
OriginNorth Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
GenresCountry, blues, folk, roots, rock
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, musician
Years active1966–present
LabelsSavannah Records
Websitemattminglewood.com

Matt Minglewood (born Roy Alexander Batherson, 31 January 1947) is a Canadian musician whose style can be described as a blend of country, blues, folk, roots and rock. The name "Matt" was borrowed from his brother, Matt Batherson.

Career

Born in Moncton, New Brunswick, Minglewood later relocated to North Sydney, Nova Scotia with his family. He later moved to nearby Glace Bay, Nova Scotia where he resides to the present day. His nephew Norm Batherson played hockey professionally, and his grand-nephew Drake Batherson is currently a right winger for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League.[1]

Minglewood joined his first band, the Rockin' Saints, when he was in his late teens, playing local high school dances, and even tavern gigs before he was old enough to get into bars. He played organ and rhythm guitar.[2]

When he was in his early twenties he was part of a band called 'Sam Moon, Matt Minglewood & The Universal Power'. The group was formed in 1969 with Sam Moon[3] and Minglewood sharing vocal duties. The band soon changed their name to Moon – Minglewood and performed regularly in the Halifax/Dartmouth metro area, becoming a staple at local high school dances in the area.[citation needed]

Minglewood briefly sang lead vocals and played guitar for Pepper Tree, then formed Cold Duck, and then in 1974 formed The Minglewood Band, a band which toured Canada extensively and achieved a measure of national success. The Minglewood Band recorded their first album with Solar Records in 1975. Soon after the album was released they signed a major label deal with RCA Records. The group received a 1980 Juno Award nomination for the Most Promising Group of the Year.[4]

From 1984 to 1985, Minglewood took a sabbatical before launching a solo career. In the mid 1980s to early 1990s he was also part of an annual seasonal troupe called the Cape Breton Summertime Revue, consisting of about 12 members performing musical and comedy skits for all ages throughout the Maritimes.[citation needed] . Over his career he has won and been nominated for numerous East Coast Music Awards,[5] Canadian Country Music Awards and Juno Awards.[6] In 2013 he received the Blues With a Feeling Lifetime Achievement Award at the 16th annual Maple Blues Awards in Toronto.[7] In January 2020, Music Nova Scotia and Casino Nova Scotia announced his induction to the Casino Nova Scotia Music Hall of Fame.[8]

On 4 July 2019, Minglewood suffered an eye injury which left him temporarily blind in his left eye.[9]

Discography

Minglewood performing in 2007

Albums

Year Album CAN
1975 The Red Album
1979 Minglewood Band 60
1980 Movin 57
1981 Out on a Limb 40
1982 M5
1984 Smokers
1986 Me and the Boys
1988 The Promise
1999 Drivin' Wheel
2003 Live at Last
2005 The Story
2017 Fly Like Desperados

Singles

Year Single Chart Positions Album
CAN Country CAN
1979 "Ain't What It Used To Be" - 84 The Minglewood Band
1985 "Livin' Outside of the Law" 41 — Me and the Boys
"Me and the Boys" — 94
1986 "Georgia on a Fast Train" 24 —
1987 "Cajun Stars" 34 — The Promise
1988 "You Win Again" 30 —
"Someday I'm Gonna Ride in a Cadillac" 10 —

Music videos

Year Video
1985 "Me and the Boys"

References

  1. ^ "Drake Batherson". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  2. ^ Dillon, Charlotte. "Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  3. ^ Crowe, Peter. "Sam Moon". Nova Scotia Classic Rock. Archived from the original on 11 May 2009. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
  4. ^ "Past nominees and winners". junoawards.ca. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  5. ^ Young, Norma (7 May 2018). "2018 East Coast Music Awards Rundown". Canadianbeats. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  6. ^ "Minglewood to be inducted into hall of fame". Cape Breton Post. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  7. ^ Grant, Jean. "An award of a lifetime for Matt Minglewood". Cape Breton Post. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  8. ^ "Casino Nova Scotia Music Hall of Fame". Music Nova Scotia. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  9. ^ "Despite eye injury, Minglewood vows to keep 'rockin' the blues'". atlantic.ctvnews.ca. 11 July 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
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