Although wide commercial appeal eluded him for much of his four-decade career, his songs like "Canada Day", "Up Canada Way", "The Hockey Song", "Bud the Spud", and "Sudbury Saturday Night" have come to be regarded as national anthems.
He bought his first guitar at age 14. He worked odd jobs as he wandered from town to town, working on fishing boats, as a grave digger, tobacco picker, and fry cook.
Named an Officer of the Order of Canada.
Recorded some of his work at the Escarpment Sound Studio in Acton,
Ontario