About Rodney
Bio
A Northern Legacy
From the Fort William fur trade to the flooding of Lac Seul; from the Kaministiquia River to the shores of Lake Superior, the landscape and history of northern Ontario come to life in the songs of Rodney Brown.
A member of the first wave of Canadian singer-songwriters who toured the national festival circuit alongside Stan Rogers, Bruce Cockburn and Murray McLauchlan, Rodney is part of the collective of artists who helped forge the country’s musical identity – in his case, with stirring ballads such as “The Big Lonely,” about the a Scottish fur trader who falls in love with northwestern Ontario; and hook-laden roots rockers like “Freight Train Derailed” about the dangers of transporting hazardous materials.
Possessed of an expressive and resonant voice, Rodney is as skilled an interpreter as he is a writer, and his live shows are peppered with covers of favourite songs that pay homage to his home territory, such as Lightfoot’s “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” and Neil Young’s “Helpless,” about the “town in north Ontario” where “all my changes were there.”
He takes command of the stage like the veteran performer he is and holds audiences with his easygoing presence, like a man hosting 300 people in his living room – sometimes sharing a funny story or a pointed political barb, sometimes letting the music speak for itself.
Born and raised in Thunder Bay, Rodney began playing music at the age of seven with his country singing father, Mel.
He released his debut solo album in 1977 and achieved national recognition, with appearances on CBC’s Morningside, Touch the Earth, Simply Folk and Country Roads.
Artists such as Tom Jackson and Heather Bishop began covering his songs in concert, and he performed at every folk festival in Canada – all in the same summer at one point.
But while many artists would celebrate such an itinerary as a sure sign of impending stardom, Rodney could only think of the camping trips he was missing out on with his kids that summer, and realized he wasn’t OK with it.
So he walked away from the national circuit around 1985, and he went on to carve out a unique and extraordinary career as a community artist in northwestern Ontario – the kind of career that groups like 100-Mile Arts are now exploring as a possible response to the climate crisis.
He has developed four concerts with the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra – including two featuring songs about northwestern Ontario history – and taken one of them on the road across northern Ontario.
He performed on Thunder Bay tapings of CBC’s Vinyl Cafe.
He’s written music for the Kam Theatre and toured with them to Newfoundland.
He’s toured schools, libraries and seniors homes; he’s performed at protest rallies and done concerts of labour songs for local unions; he is a regular at regional music festivals, and he’s been a fixture at a dizzying array of community events – from the children’s picnic and the Thunder Bay AIDS Walk to the Nipigon River Brook Trout Festival and the Norseman Floatplane Festival.
He’s released a total of 12 albums – including three children’s albums produced by Ken Whiteley.
He was even commissioned to write an official Thunder Bay 50th birthday song.
Rodney’s been Awarded the Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal and the Canada 125 Medal for his service to northern Ontario culture.
But arguably, the real reward for that service is the astonishing degree to which his name has become synonymous with folk music in Thunder Bay.
Just ask long-time residents to name a Thunder Bay folksinger, and you’ll hear the same answer over and over.
Rodney Brown.
Rodney Brown.
Rodney Brown.
The city was raised on his music.
Rodney is a world-class talent who focused his career on service rather than celebrity.
But a world-class talent he remains.
With his children now grown, Rodney leaves the region occasionally to play gigs at venues such as Hugh’s Room Live or do occasional Home Routes or coffee house tours.
He’s hoping to increase his presence on the national circuit in 2026 and beyond.
Rodney Brown for Kids
Rodney Brown as a Children's Musician
“The children, adults and teddy bears loved Rodney Brown. In fact the adults in the audience often drowned out the childrens voices as they sang along heartily and encouragingly….they didn’t want to leave!”
– The Sudbury Star, Sudbury Ontario.
“An uplifting show, parents and children laughing and singing with Rodney…he held the children’s attention at all times.”
– Port Stanley Library, Port Stanley, Ontario
“The eclectic mix of music kept the audience of five hundred entertained. It was obvious that the adults enjoyed the concert as much as the children. Many people approached me afterward to mention that this was one of the best children’s programs that we’ve ever had! I highly recommend RODNEY BROWN as a lively,memorable music performer.”
– Kaleidoscope Concert Series, Duluth, Minnesota
Rodneys children’s concerts are loads of fun for people of all ages. Rodney has the ability to enertain large and small audiences by involving the children every step of the way. The songs and stories are of high interest to the children will entertain and enlighten them with a terrific sense of fun. Brown mixes a rainbow of styles and topics that use the storyteller’s magic in getting his message across. With guitar, banjo and dulcimer, Rodney sings an Ojibwe version of ‘Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star’ and delights his audience with a rock and roll impromptu rhythm band.
Albums
Discover a Harmonious Blend of Song & Story
The landscape and history of northern Ontario come to life in the songs of Rodney Brown, a member of the first wave of Canadian singer-songwriters who toured the national festival circuit alongside Stan Rogers and others, helping forge the country’s musical identity.
