Bill Bourne
Bill Bourne
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Bill Bourne

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Bill Bourne

William Sigurd Bourne (28 March 1954 – 16 April 2022) was a Canadian musician. He won three Canadian Juno Awards, and was an eight-time nominee. Bourne's music incorporates a variety of musical styles, including aboriginal, African, Cajun, Celtic, country, delta blues, flamenco, folk, funk, gospel, reggae, and world beat.

Bourne was born in Innisfail, Alberta on 28 March 1954 to parents Alfred William Bourne and Helga 'Iris' Bourne, nee Benediktson. He was the third of five children. Alfred and Iris played in a band with Dick Damron at local dances, where Bourne and his siblings would sleep behind the piano. Although interested in pursuing music as a career from an early age, Bourne trained as a mechanic to appease his father.

In 1970, at 16, Bourne ran away to join the burgeoning music scene in Toronto. He played a few times before returning to Alberta after six months.

Bourne began performing as a solo act in 1975. By 1978 he was part of a band named Sweetgrass, playing with second cousin Jim Morison and multi-instrumentalist Dave Richards.

He released a self-titled album in 1980, then joined The Tannahill Weavers, a traditional Scottish band he was introduced to by Jim MacLauchlan of Edmonton's Southside Folk Club. He stayed with the Weavers until 1984. After leaving the Weavers, Bourne paired up with Alan MacLeod, another former member. The two won a Juno Award in 1991 for their 1990 album, Dance and Celebrate. Bourne and MacLeod released two more albums. Around this time Bourne was playing periodically with Celtic punk group The Real McKenzies.

Bourne's second Juno came in 1992 courtesy of his contribution to the 1991 musical anthology Saturday Night Blues. He then partnered with Shannon Johnson, later of The McDades, to release two albums; one in 1994 and one in 1996.

In 1997 Bourne joined blues duo Schuld & Stamer on their debut album, No Special Rider. The record garnered a Juno nomination in 1998.

In 2000, Bourne, Madagascar Slim, and Lester Quitzau formed the string trio Tri-Continental. He recorded five albums with them. Their debut album brought a third Juno award.

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