After graduating from university, Cuddy and Keelor formed a band called the Hi-Fis along with Jim Sublett on drums and Malcolm Schell playing bass. The band released a single in 1980 featuring "I Don't Know Why " and on the B side "Look What You've Done". The record was not a commercial success, and when they couldn't get a record deal in Toronto, they headed off to New York. In New York they met keyboardist Bob Wiseman, but were still unable to arrange a recording contract. They later moved back to Toronto.
Blue Rodeo
In 1984 Cuddy and Keelor formed a new band, Blue Rodeo, with Wiseman, and recruited Bazil Donovan on bass and Cleave Anderson on drums as backup. Since that time, Cuddy has continued to lead the band, which has toured extensively and released 15 studio albums.
Jim Cuddy's song "Whistler" from the All in Time album was featured in the 2002 documentary Ski Bums by John Zaritsky. In 2016, Cuddy participated in a benefit concert in Edmonton, Alberta and another in Toronto, Ontario for the citizens of Fort McMurray, whose town was destroyed by fire. On March 19, 2020, he performed the first concert in the National Arts Centre's #CanadaPerforms series of livestreamed home concerts by Canadian musicians during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Awards
Cuddy won Best Male Vocalist at The 1999 JUNO Awards and Adult AlternativeAlbum of the Year for The Light That Guides You Home at The 2007 JUNO Awards In 2000, Cuddy and Blue Rodeo bandmate Greg Keelor were the recipients of the National Achievement Award at the annual SOCAN Awards held in Toronto. In 2013, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada along with Greg Keelor, "for their contributions to Canadian music and for their support of various charitable causes".
Personal life
Cuddy is married to Canadian actress Rena Polley. They have three children, their daughter Emma, and their two sons, Devin and Sam, who are also musicians. His brother Loftus Cuddy was a Conservative candidate for the riding of Toronto-Danforth in the 2004 Canadian federal election. In the 2004 edition of Canada Reads, Cuddy advocated for Guy Vanderhaeghe's novel The Last Crossing, which won the competition. In the 2007 edition of Canada Reads, an "all-star" competition pitting the five winning advocates from previous years against each other, Cuddy returned to champion Timothy Taylor's novel Stanley Park. In 2016, Cuddy collaborated with Tawse Winery in Niagara to launch a new wine brand, Cuddy by Tawse. In 2017, Cuddy narrated the documentary TV series Striking Balance.
Discography
Albums
Singles
;Notes
A^ "Too Many Hands" peaked at number 13 on the Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks chart and number 34 on the RPM Country Tracks chart.
