Canada’s impact on the world music market has been immeasurable, and now, like its contribution to the movie industry, it is taken for granted.Canada has had a long history of great music but it remained within the country’s borders for many years, rarely crossing over into the international marketplace.

In 1959 Moe Koffman had an instrumental hit with Swinging Shepherd Blues, Oscar Peterson was an international jazz star, and before that arguably the most ‘Canadian’ song was Canadian Sunset. Then along in the 60’s and 70’s the songs of Canada started to make an impact on the ears of the world, led most notably with the monster hit by Terry Jacks entitled Seasons In The Sun. Following that were hits by groups such as The Band, Lighthouse, April Wine and The Poppy Family.Canada was on the move and continued to reach the international marketplace in the 70's with from Gordon Lightfoot, Anne Murray, and others.But Canada and the rest of the world wanted to rock, and sensitive ballads were soon transplanted by what are now considered classics from such artists as Ian Thomas and David Clayton Thomas of Blood Sweat and Tears.

Vancouver was a hotbed of talent, paralleling the west coast attitude of Los Angeles. From the loins of the west sprang bands such as Joni Mitchell, Chilliwack, Darby Mills & the Headpins, Powder Blues, and eventually such megastars as Loverboy and Bryan Adams. Not to be outdone, hell bent on making an impact in a big way, came The Guess Who, who would eventually split up into the renowned solo acts of Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman (BTO).The supergroup format was born and Canada’s own Neil Young, a star in his own right, became a part of Crosby, Stills, and Nash….and Young, adding memorable classics to the lexicon of rock and roll history.

The world was lapping up what Canada had to offer, and the Canadian music scene was getting revved up. The blues and boogie of Matt Minglewood, Downchild Blues Band, Powder Blues, and even the transplanted British icon Long John Baldry rang out over the airwaves alongside dance floor new wave from Men Without Hats, and Echo and the Bunnymen, and went toe to toe with the mainstream rockers such as Loverboy, The Payolas, Idle Eyes, BTO, Harlequin, Rush, Trooper, Stonebolt, Bryan Adams, and many more.Once Canada had hit the airwaves with such an assault, there was no way that North American and the world could turn its back on the great sounds from north of the 49th. In the 90’s, out of the land of the Canucks, came the superstars, most still reigning supreme today. Where once Canadian acts were niche artists, now they are household names: