Gregory Hoskins and the Stickpeople were a Canadian

folk rock Folk rock is a hybrid music genre that combines the elements of folk and rock music, which arose in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom in the mid-1960s. In the U.S., folk rock emerged from the folk music revival. Performers suc ...

band active between 1985 and 1996. best known for their 1991 single "Neighbourhood". The band's consistent members throughout its lifetime were singer/songwriter Gregory Hoskins, backing vocalist Lynn Simmons, keyboardist George Civello and drummer Michael Spencer-Arscott, while John McCormick, Phil Dwyer and Colleen Allen played saxophone, and Steve Lucas and Mike Fabello played bass guitar, at different times.

History

Hoskins, who had been writing songs since he was 14 years old, formed the Stickpeople in the mid 1980s with saxophonist John McCormick, and in 1990 signed with

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and Bernie Finklestein Management. The band released their debut album, ''Moon Come Up'', in February 1991. They toured nationally to support the album, opening for acts such as the Indigo Girls, the Neville Brothers and Sarah McLachlan. In 1993 they released ''Raids on the Unspeakable''. Both recordings were produced for True North Records by Jonathan Goldsmith. A total of five music videos were created and received regular rotation on

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. In 1992 and 1994, the band performed and toured as the musical accompaniment for the Heart of Mine Tour, actor and playwright Robert Morgan's one-man stage show about

Bob Dylan Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Often regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture during a career sp ...

. They also worked with Cheryl l'Hirondelle. In 1996, Hoskins, Simmons and Civello began recording a third record independently. Hoskins released ''Surgery'' on his own label in 1999.Charlotte Dillon
"Gregory Hoskins"
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Break-up

Following the release of ''Surgery'', the band parted ways. Hoskins released his first solo album, ''King of Good Intentions'', in 2001. He followed up with ''The Beggar Heart'' in 2007, ''Alone in the Mayor's House'' in 2008, ''Pleasure & Relief: A Live Concert Recording'' in 2008, ''The Map of Above, The Map of Below'' with drummer Gary Craig in 2013, ''Vain+Alone'' in 2017, and ''Nights of Grief & Mystery'' with Stephen Jenkinson also in 2017. He has performed and recorded with the Art of Time Ensemble and

The Henrys The Henrys is a Toronto-based, "nearly instrumental" quartet. Their music features the sound of an antique slide guitar called a kona (and other slide guitars), along with various other instruments, including pump organ, conch shell, guitars, vo ...

."The Best World Music of 2015"
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'', December 28, 2015.

Discography

*''Moon Come Up'' (1991) *''Raids on the Unspeakable'' (1993) *''Surgery'' (1999)

References

{{Authority control Canadian folk rock groups Musical groups from Toronto Musical groups established in 1990 Musical groups disestablished in 2001 1990 establishments in Ontario 2001 disestablishments in Ontario