Myles Goodwyn To Be Inducted Into Songwriters Hall of Fame Today

By FYI Staff

 April Wine co-founder, longtime frontman and lyricist Myles Goodwyn is expected to be honoured by the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame today. The presentation falls under the umbrella of the East Coast Music Awards in Halifax.

His almost 50 years with April Wine produced 22 studio albums and 20 Top 40 hits, making the ensemble one of the most successful made-in-Canada success stories ever. The group also had a flurry of success in the US and the UK with albums such as Harder Faster, Power Play and The Nature of the Beast.

In 2003, the acclaimed songwriter received the ECMA Lifetime Achievement Award for his impact on the music industry of Atlantic Canada. It’s a place where he was born and where he now lives.

Later this year, his name will be included in the permanent exhibit at the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame Museum in the National Music Centre in Calgary as the organization commemorates 25 years of celebrating Canada’s greatest songs and songwriters.

"To be inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame has been a wish of mine for many years. It is possibly the most significant award I've ever received. What has mattered most to me, for all my years in the business, was to be taken seriously as a songwriter," Goodwyn says.

He gave his final live performance with April Wine on March 2nd, 2023, as the only remaining original member of the iconic rock group. 

"After more than 50 years of touring and performing as the voice and songwriter behind April Wine, we're thrilled to be able to induct Myles and his iconic body of work into the CSHF," said Stan Meissner, Board Chairman. “On behalf of all music fans, we thank Myles for sharing his gift as a songwriter, singer, guitarist, and performer who has given us the soundtrack to a generation; and he'll continue to inspire a new generation as the creative force behind the next evolution of April Wine.”

He founded April Wine in 1969 with long-time friend Jim Henman and Henman’s cousins David and Ritchie Henman in Nova Scotia.  Less than a year later, the group moved to Montreal to sign a record deal with Aquarius Records and embarked on a “Fast Train” to success.

Their first album was released in 1971, which included their first hit single, Fast Train, written by Goodwyn; followed by penned classics like Roller, I Wouldn’t Want to Lose Your Love, and I Like to Rock. Their album The Whole World’s Goin’ Crazy became the first Canadian album to sell over 100,000 copies.

Since going solo, he’s tackled political topics in Some of These Children (bringing awareness to unmarked residential school graves) and 2022’s “For Ukraine”, which was written in support of the citizens of war-torn Ukraine, garnering him the SIFA Award for Best Social Impact Music/Art 2022.

He’s also released two pop albums under his own name and two hallmarked by their blues motif.

In March 2009, April Wine was inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame and received the Juno Lifetime Achievement Award. Goodwyn and April Wine were also inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2010 and have garnered two Félix Awards as well as several SOCAN Classic Awards.

Goodwyn continues writing and producing for April Wine as the band continues to tour with his artistic involvement, and his third blues recording will be released in the summer of 2023.