Background
He is the son of portrait photographer Paul Horsdal and wife Lillian Horsdal (née West) a nurse, writer and independent thinker.
He is the son of portrait photographer Paul Horsdal and wife Lillian Horsdal (née West) a nurse, writer and independent thinker.
He is known for "Rock and Roll Song", his first mainstream single released in mid-1972 on Haida/Agricultural and Mechanical.
Prior to beginning his solo career, he was based in Victoria working with various artists, including Blake Emmons. Of Canadian folk artists in the mid-1970s, only Gordon Lightfoot was more popular. His music was featured in the Steve McQueen film The Getaway.
Valdy also appeared on the Canadian Broadcasting Company television show The Beachcombers as the environmental activist "Halibut" Stu.
He also managed to secure a part in the reunion production of The New Beachcombers performing a song he wrote, "lieutenant"s The Water," as part of a jug band. He also has two adopted sons by a previous marriage to Penny Christie: Theo Horsdal and Yani Horsdal.
His live albums include Family Gathering (Agricultural and Mechanical) recorded at Massey Hall in Toronto for 1974 release, and 2003"s Viva Valdy: Live at Last (Rack-On-Tour). In 1986, Valdy made a special guest appearance as himself in the popular 1980"s Canadian children"s television show, Today"s Special (episode entitled: "trash").
As of mid-2009, Valdy continued to regularly tour across Canada.
Valdy is the winner of two Juno Awards for Folk Singer of the Year and Folk Entertainer of the Year, and has received seven additional Juno nominations. His fourteen albums have achieved sales of nearly half a million copies, four of which are certified gold. He was appointed a member of the Order of Canada in June 2011.
He was a member of the London Town Criers during the 1960s and subsequently joined Montreal band The Prodigal Sons.
