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Ian Tyson Memorabilia

Not currently on exhibit

Artifact TypeBoots, Cowboy; Hat, Cowboy; Lasso

Date20th Century

Cowboy boots, an old hat and some frayed rope—these simple artifacts are the embodiment of Ian Tyson’s dual life as a singer-songwriter and a working cowboy (he owns a ranch in Pincher Creek, Alberta). Along with Sylvia Fricker, to whom he was married for 10 years, Tyson formed Canada’ first superstar folk duo, Ian & Sylvia, in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Their tune “Four Strong Winds” has been covered by artists including The Carter Family, Neil Young, Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan.

Cultural SignificanceIan Tyson, both in his solo work and as one half of the Ian & Sylvia duo, is one of the most recognizable and iconic voices in Canadian country and folk music. His notable recordings include the seminal song, “Four Strong Winds”, which was written by Tyson and performed by the duo on their second album of the same name. Ian & Sylvia were one of the major players in the folk revivalist movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s along with international musicians such as Bob Dylan and Donovan.Users/PerformersIan Tyson was born 25 September 1933 in Victoria, British Columbia and was raised in Duncan, British Columbia. As a teenager, he left for southern Alberta where he worked as a rodeo rider before taking up guitar and singing while recovering from an injury in a Calgary hospital. In 1958, he relocated to Toronto where he met another singer, Sylvia Fricker (born 19 September 1940 in Chatham, Ontario). By 1959, the two were performing together under the moniker Ian & Sylvia, relocating to New York City in 1962 and marrying in 1964. The duo featured Sylvia on vocals, autoharp, and guitar, and Ian on vocals and guitar. Their initial efforts included some original songwriting, but consisted largely of their interpretations of traditional repertoire, including Scottish laments, country blues and French-Canadian sing-alongs. The group, who were considered Canada’s first folk superstar duo, born of the same lineage that produced Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, released thirteen studio albums, including Ian & Sylvia, Four Strong Winds, and Northern Journey, all from 1963, and The Great Speckled Bird from 1969, which was produced by Todd Rundgren and featured musicians who had performing associations with Neil Young and Gram Parsons. Their most well known songs include “You Were On My Mind”, written in 1964 by Sylvia and “Four Strong Winds”, written by Ian. During the 1960s, Ian and Sylvia also formed a more rock-oriented group called The Great Speckled Bird, which helped develop the burgeoning genre of country rock. Tyson’s “Four Strong Winds” in particular has been covered by numerous artists, and stands as one of the seminal recordings of the folk revivalist movement of the late 1960s. Throughout the early 1970s, Tyson hosted his own show on CTV, The Ian Tyson Show, formerly Nashville North. Ian and Sylvia divorced amicably in 1975, consequently dismantling their musical partnership as well, and Tyson settled into a ranch in Pincher Creek, Alberta. His first solo effort, Old Corrals & Sagebrush was released in 1983. He was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 1989, the Juno Hall of Fame in 1992, the Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame in 2000, the Prairie Hall of Fame in 2001, and the Alberta Order of Excellence in 2006, and was made a member of the Order of Canada in 1994. Additionally, he holds honourary doctorate degrees from both the University of Calgary and Athabasca University. His music, both solo and as part of Ian & Sylvia, is lauded for encapsulating imagery and nostalgia associated with the Canadian rural west, and has been covered over the years by the likes of Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and Gordon Lightfoot. In 2011, Canadian publishers McClelland and Stewart released John Einarson’s Four Strong Winds: Ian & Sylvia, the first authorized biography of the folk duo.

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