​DAVID
BRADSTREET

BY: -Robert Williston - © The Museum of Canadian Music

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DAVID BRADSTREET has long been one of Canada’s most quietly influential singer-songwriters — a musician whose voice, guitar work, and production sensibilities helped shape multiple corners of Canadian folk, acoustic, instrumental, and independent music from the 1970s onward.

Best known for his much-loved song “Renaissance” and for winning the 1977 JUNO Award for Best New Male Vocalist, Bradstreet built a career defined not by commercial flash but by craft, commitment, and a startling breadth of creative reach.

  Born in London, England, Bradstreet arrived in Canada as a child and gravitated toward music after studying architecture in college. By the early 1970s he was traveling the U.S. college circuit as a solo performer, honing the warm vocal presence and intricate fingerstyle guitar work that would

become his signature. Back home, he rose quickly through the Canadian folk-club scene, recording early sessions in the basement of Bob and Danny Lanois’ mother’s home in Hamilton — a now-legendary incubator of Canadian talent.

  Two pivotal years in New York City followed, where he worked under the wing of Peter Yarrow and Phil Ramone, performed as a duo with Mimi Fariña, and briefly joined Lazarus in Woodstock under Albert Grossman, touring alongside Todd Rundgren. During this period he wrote “Renaissance,” a song that became a Canadian folk standard and remains the cornerstone of his repertoire. Its success led to his JUNO win and opened the next phase of his career.

  Signed to A&M Records, Bradstreet released the albums David Bradstreet (1976) and Dreaming in Colour (1977), produced by Don Oriolo and engineered by Ed Stasium, setting in motion a cycle of national tours, concert hall appearances, and CBC broadcasts. Rather than remain inside

the major-label system, he pivoted to independence, releasing Black & White (1981) on his own Street Records imprint — the same label on which he produced the debut album of a then-unknown Jane Siberry, marking one of his earliest major discoveries as a producer.

  His abilities behind the console became a parallel career. Bradstreet went on to produce or engineer projects for Billie Hughes, Carl Keesee, Nancy Simmonds, Colleen Peterson, Jason Fowler, Robert Priest, and many others, while co-creating highly successful instrumental and nature-

themed recordings for Dan Gibson’s Solitudes series — several of which   earned JUNO nominations and Gold and Platinum certifications. His workin film and television expanded steadily through the 1980s and 1990s,  from TSN’s For the Love of the Game to commercials, documentaries,  corporate scores, and theatre productions, reflecting both his versatility. and the trusted reputation he carried in Canadian studio circles.

  Bradstreet’s return to solo recording in the 1990s produced Renaissance. (1998), followed by Lifelines (2006) with Jason Fowler and David Woodhead. He co-produced Tears of a Thousand Years, a benefit

collection inspired by 9/11, and helped bring forward posthumous and. tribute works including Colleen Peterson’s Postcards from California. In. 2006 he launched TheraMusic, a series of music-therapy recordings. (TheraSleep, TheraCalm) that found international audiences and. broadened his catalogue into a new and unexpected field.  Later projects reaffirmed his enduring connection to song craft. 08.20.10. (2010), recorded live-off-the-floor with Carl Keesee, showcased the intimacy of his voice, guitar, and writing. During 2011 he served as artist- in-residence in Antarctica, documenting the landscape in sound and image. He continued producing emerging artists such as Mira Meikle, while also returning to his own material with Best Foot Forward (2020) and. Hindsight (2023), both recorded at his Toronto studio, The Cave. In 2025. he released Bradstreet & Keesee – Live in London, a document of two

lifelong collaborators at ease in their shared musical language.  Across six decades Bradstreet has accumulated an unusually broad body. of work: acclaimed solo albums, influential production credits, award-winning instrumental recordings, television and film scores, commercial work heard nationwide, and a reputation as a subtle, generous collaborator. Yet at the centre of his story remains the combination identified early in his career — a distinctive voice, his Composite Acoustics OX or vintage Martin D-35 guitars, and a songwriting style marked by clarity, warmth, and emotional precision. That combination has made “Renaissance” endure, but it also. explains the lasting impact of his larger catalogue, one that continues to grow as new generations discover his music.

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- Robert Williston - © The Museum of Canadian Music

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      Born in London, England, David came to Canada as a child with his parents. After college where he studied architecture, he worked the college circuit in the U.S. visiting most states as a solo performer and achieving rising star status in Canada on the folk club trail in the early '70s. This period was marked by: early sessions in Bob and Danny Lanois' mother's basement; two pivotal years in New York City with Peter Yarrow and Phil Ramone including a duo with Mimi Farina; teaming up with Lazarus and Albert Grossman in Woodstock NY and touring with Todd Rundgren; having one of his songs, "Renaissance", become a folk standard - followed by the JUNO for Best New Male Vocalist 1977. The late '70s phase of David's career, which included two high profile albums on A&M, “David Bradstreet” and “Dreaming in Colour” (produced by Don Oriolo and engineered by Ed Stasium), was one of major tours and high profile concert and broadcast appearances. Bradstreet opted to go the independent route and recorded another solo album, “Black & White” in 1981. 

 

      As a record producer/engineer, he released the first album by a then unknown Jane Siberry on his own Street Records label in 1981, and another by his former Lazarus partner Billie Hughes the same year. Hughes, along with Carl Keesee from that band formed life-long friendships with David, leading to the co-production of the excellent tribute album to Canadian singer/songwriters, “Horton Bates & Best”. His “Renaissance” CD was released in 1998 and his first A&M album, the eponymous "David Bradstreet", was re-released under the new Universal Music banner, The Heritage Series in 2002, (along with A&M release "Dreaming in Colour"), followed by “Lifelines” in 2006 with Jason Fowler and David Woodhead. He was co-producer of the CD compilation, “Tears of a Thousand Years”, a benefit project for 911. He also co-produced, with Nancy Simmonds, a posthumous CD of Colleen Peterson songs, "Postcards from California" - as well as Nancy's CDs "Debut" and “Tortilla Flats”, released on Joe Tucker Records. Also in 2006, he started a new record company, TheraMusic, for his internationally successful music therapy releases, "TheraSleep" and "TheraCalm". He produced Jason Fowler’s CD, “Lumens of Light”, and produced Robert Priest's CD, "Feeling the Pinch".. David's release, "08.20.10", was recorded live-off-the-floor (vocal, guitar and bass) in four days, August 17 - 20, 2010 at Dave's Cave in Toronto, Canada with Carl Keesee. As well as his own original compositions, this release includes two songs: “Nowhere Anywhere”, that he co-wrote with Robert Priest; and “Sea Fever”, a poem written by John Masefield for which David wrote the music. In 2011 he travelled to Antarctica as artist-in-residence aboard the MS Expedition. He produced Mira Meikle's debut CD, "MIRA", released March 2015. He released "Best Foot Forward" CD in 2020.

David's most recent studio CD, "HINDSIGHT", features: Carl Keesee, bass; Mark Kelso, drums & percussion; and Nancy Simmonds - BGs. Recorded and mixed at The Cave & Sunroom Studios, Toronto, Canada.​ His most recent CD is "Bradstreet & Keesee LIVE in London" releasesd 2025.

 

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AWARDS
1977 - JUNO - Best New Male Vocalist, David Bradstreet

1978 - SOCAN Song Awards - "Renaissance", "One Way or Another", "Long Long Road", David Bradstreet, songwriter

1985 - GEMINI Nomination - Best Original Music Score for a Documentary "For The Love Of The Game" TSN TV Series

1998 - JUNO Nomination - Best Instrumental Album, David Bradstreet/Dan Gibson, "Whispering Woods" (Solitudes)

1999 - JUNO Nomination - Best Instrumental Album, David Bradstreet/Dan Gibson, "Natural Sleep" (Solitudes)

2001 - JUNO Nomination - Best Instrumental Album, David Bradstreet/Dan Gibson, "Angel's Embrace" (Solitudes)

2002 - GOLD Album - "Natural Stress Relief" (Solitudes)

2002 - GOLD Album - "Natural Sleep Inducement" (Solitudes)

2002 - PLATINUM Album - "Natural Stress Relief" (Solitudes)

2006 - GOLDEN QUILL AWARD - for songwriting excellence

2006 - PORCUPINE AWARDS HALL OF FAME - for lifetime achievement

2008 - HALL OF FAME - T.A.Blakelock H.S., Oakville, Ontario.

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DAVID BRADSTREET - DISCOGRAPHY

1976 - "DAVID BRADSTREET" - David Bradstreet - A&M #SP9026 (artist)

1977 - "DREAMING IN COLOUR" - David Bradstreet - A&M #SP9032 (artist)

1979 - "BLACK & WHITE" - David Bradstreet - Street Records #SR001 (artist, producer, engineer)

1980 - "Jane Siberry" - Jane Siberry - Street Records #SR002 (co-producer, engineer)

1980 - "Horton, Bates & Best" - Bill Hughes - Street Records #SR003 (co-producer, engineer)

1981 to present - various broadcast commercials, filmscores etc.

1995 - "All Year Long" - Cathy & Don (David Bradstreet producer, engineer)

1997 - "Whispering Woods" - Solitudes #CDG139 (producer, composer, engineer)

1997 - "Natural Stress Relief" - Solitudes #CDG143 (producer, composer, engineer)

1998 - "Natural Sleep Inducement" - Solitudes #CDG150 (producer, composer, engineer)

1998 - "RENAISSANCE" - David Bradstreet - Street Records #SR004 (artist, producer, engineer)

1998 - "Natural Concentration" - Solitudes #CDG158 (producer, composer, engineer)

1999 - "Mountain Sunrise" - Solitudes #CDG166 (producer, composer, engineer)

2000 - "Angel's Embrace" - Solitudes #CDG181 (producer, composer)

2000 - "Healing" - Avalon #19520 (producer, composer, engineer)

2001 - "Tears of a Thousand Years" - various artists (co-producer, artist)

2001 - "A Long Time Coming" - Michel Dumont (mixing and mastering engineer)

2002 - "Walkin' on Sunshine" - Avalon #24548 (producer)

2002 - "Can't Close a Blind Eye" - David McLachlan (David Bradstreet producer, engineer)

2002 - "Carolina Calling" - Avalon #SOLCD70 (producer)

2003 - "Good Night, Sleep Tight" - Fisher-Price #22972 (producer, composer, engineer)

2003 - "Music to Enhance Concentration" - Avalon #28030 (co-producer, co-composer)

2003 - "Musical Tails" (CD Series) - Nancy Simmonds - (David Bradstreet mastering engineer)

2004 - "Postcards from California" - Colleen Peterson - Souvenir #SM0104 (David Bradstreet/Nancy Simmonds co-producers)

2005 - "TheraSleep" / "TheraCalm"- TheraMusic #TM101/TM102 (all hats)

2006 - "LIFELINES" - David Bradstreet - Street Records #SR005 (artist)

2007 - "Debut" - Nancy Simmonds - Joe Tucker Records (David Bradstreet co-producer)

2009 - "Lumens of Light" - Jason Fowler / (David Bradstreet producer)

2010 - “08.20.10 - Bradstreet & Keesee"- Street Records #SR006 - (Bradstreet & Keesee producers)

2011 - "Tortilla Flats" - Nancy Simmonds - Joe Tucker Records (David Bradstreet co-producer)

2012 - "Feeling the Pinch" - Robert Priest  (David Bradstreet producer/engineer )

2015 - "MIRA" - Mira Meikle  (David Bradstreet producer /engineer)

2020 - "BEST FOOT FORWARD" - David Bradstreet - Street Records #SR007 -  (D. Bradstreet prod./eng. )

2023 - "HINDSIGHT" - David Bradstreet - Street Records #SR008 -  (David Bradstreet producer/engineer )

2025 - "BRADSTREET & KEESEE - LIVE in London" - Street Records #SR009

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SELECTED CREDITS:

Selected Television
FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME - TSN TV Series - music composition and production / Aiken Scherberger, director/ Barry Duller, producer
ONCE UPON A HAMSTER - TV Series (YTV) - music composition / John Herberman, Music Director, composer / Paul Sutherland, Producer
SUCCESSFUL HOME VIDEO - TVO Series (8 part) - music composition and production / Peter Hitchcock Productions
MY CANADA INCLUDES QUEBEC - CTV/ - music composition and production / Sussex Productions / Michael Gibson, director
WHO'S MINDING THE SET? - music composition and production / - Rogers Cable / Michael Desci, director
N.E.W.S. - music composition and production / Current affairs program with David Shatsky & Mary Lou Finlay
SEX, ROCK'N'ROLL...DRUGS - music composition and production / Mediabridge Entertainment/Prime Network-Global TV

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Selected Filmscores & Documentaries
REVENGE OF THE RADIOACTIVE REPORTER - Feature film, Craig Pryce, producer/director / Pryceless Productions
FISH TALE SOUP - Feature film, FilmWorks / Annette Mangaard director/writer, Pam Davenport, producer
COLLATERAL DAMAGE - New Reel Films / Leonard Farlinger, director/writer / GLOBAL TV, Short feature release
THE SKY'S THE LIMIT - National Film Board/Perigee Productions / Antonin Lhotsky, director
REX, REBECCA & VIVIAN - Canadian Centre for Advanced Film Studies / Aiken Scherberger, director / Ann Medina, Producer

Selected Commercials
AIR CANADA / AIR NOVA / ALTAMIRA / AMERICAN MOTORS / AMERICAN STANDARD / BECKER'S / BLACK FLAG / CABLE ATLANTIC / CANADA DRY / CANADA GAMES / CARNATION / COMMUNICATION WORKERS OF CANADA / FABERGE / FACTORY CARPET / GLOBE & MAIL / GOOSEBUMPS / HO LEE CHOW / HONDA CARS / HYUNDAI CARS / JOURNEY'S END MOTELS / LABATTS / LEON'S / MACLEAN'S / MEADOWLIGHT BUTTER / MILKBONE-NABISCO / MONSANTO / NEW TEL CELLULAR / NEWFOUNDLAND TOURISM / NEWFOUNDLAND POWER / ONTARIO HYDRO / PASCAL'S FURNITURE / PELLER ESTATE WINES / PERRIER / PETRO CANADA / PIONEER ELECTRONICS / PLAYTEX / RADIO SHACK / SANYO / SHELL OIL / SPEEDY / THRIFTY'S / TOSHIBA / TRUE VALUE HARDWARE / ULTRAMAR / XEROX / YOUNG DRIVERS...etc.

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Selected Corporate Film,Video, Radio, Theatre, Incidental Music
I CONCENTRATE ON YOU - Cole Porter Special, CBC Radio / with Marek Norman, producer
ASSASSINS - Theatrical Sound Design (Music & Lyrics, Stephen Sondheim) / with Marek Norman, producer
NOW THE DETAILS - Theme Music - CBC Radio, national
COCA COLA "Ragtime Coke" - Special Presentation
NEWFOUNDLAND TOURISM Theme Music - "The Far East of the Western World" - promotional film
DRINK SELLS THE DREAM - Mid-State Substance Abuse Commission

DANCER - Original Theatrical Presentation / Centre for National Ballet of Canada - Marek Norman, composer - Jim Betts, book - db music production

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