Graeme Kirkland
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Graeme Kirkland is a Canadian record producer, composer, musician, and performance artist active during the late 1980s and 1990s.
Musical career
At age 15, while too young to be formally enrolled, Kirkland studied music in advanced classes at York University. During his teen years, he received three full scholarships to The Banff Centre School of Fine Arts studying and working alongside Big Miller, John Abercrombie, Kenny Wheeler, Don Thompson, Dave Holland, Hugh Fraser, and Albert Mangelsdorff. He also studied privately in Toronto & New York City.
During his musical career, Kirkland played alongside and recorded with the Leslie Spit Treeo, Varga, Jeff Healey,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Ashley MacIsaac,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Tim Brady, Holly Cole, Mark Feldman, John Zorn, George Koller,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Fred Stone,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Jane Bunnett, Bob Wiseman,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> John Gzowski,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Shuffle Demons, Joey Goldstein, as well as the National Ballet of Canada. Kirkland, together with Tom Walsh, composed and played for the Hemispheres Orchestra in 1988.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> His music was featured on Citytv, MuchMusic,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and in the movie Roadkill, which won an award at the 1989 Toronto International Film Festival.
Albums produced by Kirkland include There's No Such Word As Can't,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Sleep Alone,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and Sing Along With Graeme, which featured famous musicians Mary Margaret O'Hara, and Jim Cuddy from Blue Rodeo.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Along with being a respected studio drummer, Kirkland was well known for his street busking performances, using overturned buckets and other available surfaces.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He organized his annual Santa's Jolly Christmas Benefit show,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> as well as the urban-drumming show Graeme Kirkland's Long Distance Canada Day event in Toronto.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After his musical career, he became a financial advisor.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Awards
Kirkland was a popular performer in Toronto being voted "Best Drummer" by NOW magazine's readers consecutively for 6 years (1996–2001)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> in their annual Reader's Poll. The runner-up in each of these 6 years was Neil Peart of Rush.
Discography
Albums
| Year | Album | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | There's No Such Word As Can't | Graeme Kirkland and The Wolves |
| 1989 | Sleep Alone! | Graeme Kirkland and The Wolves |
| 1990 | Don't Cry Too Hard | The Leslie Spit Treeo |
| 1993 | Compositional Collage | Graeme Kirkland and The Wolves |
| 1996 | Sing Along with Graeme | Graeme Kirkland |
| 1996 | Oxygen | Varga |
| 1996 | Hi How Are You Today? | Ashley MacIsaac |
| 1999 | Beat Truths | Graeme Kirkland |