Ridley Bent is the stage name of Brian Daniel Fowler,"Greased lightning", Chilliwack Progress, February 18, 2005. a Canadian country singer-songwriter. Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Bent was raised throughout Canada in a military family.Patrick Langston, "'Hick-hop' worth hearing". Ottawa Citizen, July 16, 2005. He formally launched his musical career in 2000 in British Columbia, including performances as an opening act for Great Big SeaMike Devlin, "Great Big Sea rises despite turbulence". Victoria Times-Colonist, July 22, 2004. and Sam Roberts.Mike Youds, "Roberts' power has Store rocking". Kamloops Daily News, September 4, 2004.
His debut album, Blam!, was released on MapleMusic Recordings in 2005, and was marked by a style that incorporated country, rock and hip hop influences, in a manner similar to Buck 65.Robert Everett-Green, "Blam: Ridley Bent". The Globe and Mail, May 13, 2005. The album was produced by Chin Injeti, formerly of the R&B band Bass is Base. Described by Bent as "hick hop","An earful of Bent 'Hick-Hop'". The Golden Star, October 26, 2005. the album was best known for the single "Suicidewinder".
His subsequent albums, 2007's Buckles and Boots and 2010's Rabbit on My Wheel, pursued a more conventional country sound.Mark Weber, "Ridley Bent brings country tunes to City; Wild Card, his newest project, is the latest in a line of compelling recordings". Red Deer Express, February 19, 2014.
In early 2009, Bent's song "Nine Inch Nails" won in the 8th Annual Independent Music Awards and Vox Pop vote for Best Country Song.Melissa Martin, "Move here in January? Must be love". Winnipeg Free Press, January 24, 2009.
More recently he has toured and recorded with a new backing band, the Killer Tumbleweeds. His first album with that band, Ridley Bent and the Killer Tumbleweeds, was released in 2018.Greg Vandermeulen, "Ridley Bent & The Killer Tumbleweeds". Morden Times, August 22, 2019.
Discography
Albums Title Details Blam! Release date: 24 May 2005 Label: MapleMusic Recordings Buckles and Boots Release date: 27 November 2007 Label: Open Road Recordings Rabbit on My Wheel Release date: 15 June 2010 Label: Open Road Recordings Wildcard Release date: 29 April 2014 Label: Americana North Ridley Bent and the Killer Tumbleweeds Release date: 6 April 2018 Label: Americana North
Singles Year Single Album 2005 "Suicidewinder" Blam! 2008 "Heartland Heartbreak" Buckles and Boots "Buckles and Boots" 2009 "Arlington" 2010 "I Can't Turn My Back on the Bottle" Rabbit on My Wheel "Love Car" "All the Heat Is in the Whiskey" 2011 "Living with Her Ex" 2014 "The Most Beautiful Woman Around" Wildcard "You Got Lucky"
Music videos Year Video Director 2009 "Arlington" Christopher Mills
Awards and nominations Year Association Category Result Ref 2008 Canadian Country Music Association Roots Artist or Group of the Year "CCMA list of nominees". Windsor Star, September 8, 2008. Top New Talent of the Year – Male 2009 Roots Artist or Group of the Year François Marchand, "And the winners could be ...". Regina Leader-Post, September 10, 2009. 2010 Roots Artist or Group of the Year Elizabeth Withey, "Sounds like Job well done, Gord; New album puts Alberta singing star at head of CCMA nominations list". The Province, July 29, 2010. 2011 Roots Artist or Group of the Year Jane Stevenson, "CCMA nominees announced". Grande Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune, July 28, 2011. 2012 Roots Artist or Group of the Year
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