Jonathan Roy
Jonathan Roy | |
|---|---|
 Roy with the Quebec Remparts in 2009 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | March 15, 1989 Pointe-Claire, Quebec, Canada |
| Genres | Pop |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Years active | 2009–present |
| Labels | Siena |
| Website | jonathanroyofficial |
Jonathan Piuze-Roy (born March 15, 1989) is a Canadian pop singer, songwriter, and former ice hockey goaltender. He is the son of Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy. Initially pursuing a hockey career in junior leagues, Roy switched paths in favour of music in 2007 after his father encouraged him away from hockey. He has released three albums, and his major-label debut, Mr. Optimist Blues, was released in 2017, which includes several songs written by 1980s pop star Corey Hart.
Early life
[edit]Roy's father is famed Montreal Canadiens goaltender Patrick Roy. He moved with his family from Montreal to Colorado when he was six years old, due to his father being traded.[1] Roy was influenced by his mother's frequent piano playing for the family as he was growing up.[2] He wrote poetry from the age of 13 or 14, and began putting his poems to music around age 16.[3] At age 17, Roy played hockey for the Quebec Remparts, with his father coaching the team at the time.[2] Although he enjoyed goaltending, he dreamed of a music career, and was listening to the Backstreet Boys, John Mayer, and Ray LaMontagne.[4] At 18, when his father told him that his future would not be in hockey and that he needed to plan an education, Roy told his father that he wanted to be a musician and songwriter.[2] In 2009 Roy was charged with assault following an incident during a hockey brawl where he skated the length of the ice and attacked the opposing goaltender, punching him several times.[5]
Music career
[edit]Roy's album What I've Become came out in 2009.[3] His second album, Found My Way, came out in 2010.[6] He released his French-language debut album, La route, in 2011.[7] The title track, a duet with Natasha St-Pier, received the most attention.
Roy had a critically acclaimed role in the 2012 revival of the musical Don Juan.[8]
In 2012, his father helped him set up a meeting with 1980s pop singer Corey Hart, who runs Siena Records, an affiliate of Warner Music. Hart offered to sign him to his label after Roy performed a Teddy Thompson song for him at Hart's home in Nassau, Bahamas. Roy and Hart had a hit holiday release in 2016 when they duetted on the Chris Rea song "Driving Home for Christmas".[2]
In 2017, Roy released the album Mr. Optimist Blues on Siena Records, Corey Hart's music label. Hart executive-produced the album, and wrote three of the album's songs. The Montreal Gazette's music critic characterizes the style as "easygoing 21st-century pop with a little light reggae thrown in for good measure. Think Ed Sheeran meets Paolo Nutini and then slap on Bob Marley’s greatest hits."[2] Roy is based in Toronto.
He frequently collaborates with Kim Richardson as a duet or backing vocalist.[9]
In 2023, he participated in an all-star recording of Serena Ryder's single "What I Wouldn't Do", which was released as a charity single to benefit Kids Help Phone's Feel Out Loud campaign for youth mental health.[10]
Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]- What I've Become (2009) – No. 18 Canada[11]
- Found My Way (2010)
- La route (2011)
- Mr. Optimist Blues (2017) – No. 3 Canada[11]
- My Lullaby (2021) – No. 99 Canada[11]
- Life Distortions (2023)
References
[edit]- ^ Saxberg, Lynn (October 4, 2015). "Jonathan Roy shifts from fighter to lover". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e Kelly, Brendan (January 18, 2017). "Jonathan Roy: Out of the nets, onto the stage". The Gazette. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
- ^ a b Dixon, Guy (June 10, 2009). "Jonathan Roy: a lover, not a fighter". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
- ^ Fox, Luke (December 7, 2015). "Jonathan Roy Q&A: The fight, the father, the hit song". Sportsnet. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
- ^ "Jonathan Roy charged with assault". Sportsnet. September 14, 2009. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
- ^ Roy, Jonathan; Roy, Patrick (May 4, 2010). "Patrick Roy's son embarks on music career". Canada AM (Interview). Interviewed by Beverly Thomson. Toronto: CTV.
- ^ Usinger, Mike (February 15, 2017). "Perfection about the only option for optimistic Jonathan Roy". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
- ^ Williams, John (December 1, 2015). "Jonathan Roy trades goalie stick for guitar", Toronto Sun. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
- ^ Stéphanie Nolin, "Tournage idyllique pour Jonathan Roy et Kim Richardson". Showbizz, April 13, 2023.
- ^ Brent Furdyk, "Feel Out Loud: Alessia Cara, Serena Ryder & More Canadian Artists Collaborate On New Single Promoting Youth Mental Health Initiative". Entertainment Tonight Canada, March 2, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Jonathan Roy Chart History: Canadian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
External links
[edit]| International | |
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| Artists | |
