Sylvia Tyson

Born Sylvia Fricker, Tyson became one of the music world’s most recognizable and respected names in the early 1960s as half of one of the biggest music acts in the business, with the folk duo, Ian and Sylvia.

Tyson then established a distinguished solo career, and is also known today as one of the Canadian vocal divas within the award winning group, Quartette. She has graced our country’s recordings for four decades, writing classic songs, such as, ‘You Were On My Mind’, ‘Truckers Café’, ‘Smiling Wine’ and ‘River Road’, and made music that has made this Chatham, Ontario native an international star, and a Canadian treasure. As one half of the Folk Country duo, Ian and Sylvia, she recorded 13 albums and helped change what the world was listening to. The album most revered today: ‘Great Speckled Bird’ is now acknowledged as the beginning of a Country Rock sound that led to an evolution, still at the core of Country radio playlists.

Sylvia Tyson is a recipient of the Order of Canada. She treasures many awards and is a member of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. In the mid-70s, Sylvia Tyson went on to release many critically acclaimed solo albums and host award winning radio and television programs such as the Roots series, “Touch The Earth”.

With three of Canada’s purest voices today (Caitlin Hanford, Cindy Church, Gwen Swick), Tyson performs as a member of Quartette and also continues with solo projects, including her much lauded one woman theatrical tour, “River Road & Other Stories”.

Sylvia Tyson is credited in helping give Canada its classic “folk” sound and has helped shape our incredible Canadian musical history. Thousands of fans throughout the world grew up with her beautiful image and her sweet voice. She is a testament to Canada’s cool, laid back, country-roots beginnings.

HALL OF FAME INDUCTION:

Sylvia Tyson was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame at the 2003 Canadian Country Music Association Awards: