Canada Post has released a new stamp celebrating Blue Rodeo, the iconic Canadian band whose signature blend of country, folk and rock has left a lasting mark on the country’s musical landscape.
Unveiled April 3, the stamp pays tribute to the group’s 40-year career, which began in Toronto in 1984. Led by singer-songwriters Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor, Blue Rodeo rose to prominence in the mid-1980s and quickly became a mainstay of the Queen Street West music scene. The band’s enduring popularity has seen them sell more than four million albums and perform more than 2,500 shows, including more concerts at Massey Hall than any other rock band.
Canada Post’s latest commemorative issue, according to a press release, features a collage of studio portraits of the seven current band members: Mike Boguski, Jimmy Bowskill, Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor in the front row, with Colin Cripps, Bazil Donovan and Glenn Milchem behind them. The design, created by Jim Ryce, incorporates photography by Luis Mora and illustrations by Katy Lemay, along with floral elements that reflect the western-style shirts worn by the band.
The stamp is available in a booklet of six Permanent™ domestic stamps and an Official First Day Cover. The cancel site is Toronto, with a guitar pick-shaped postmark that includes a floral motif at its centre – a nod to Blue Rodeo’s roots and visual style.
Since their 1987 debut album Outskirts – propelled by the hit single “Try” – Blue Rodeo has received 12 JUNO Awards, a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame, induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, and the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement.
Their catalogue of fan favourites, including “Lost Together,” “5 Days in May,” and “Hasn’t Hit Me Yet,” continues to resonate with generations of listeners as the band remains active on stage and in the studio.