Ridley Bent

Ridley Bent
Birth nameBrian Daniel Fowler[1]
Born (1979-01-01) 1 January 1979 (age 45)
OriginHalifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
GenresCountry, rock, hip hop
OccupationSinger-songwriter
Years active2000–present
LabelsMapleMusic Recordings
Open Road
Websitewww.ridleybent.ca

Ridley Bent is the stage name of Brian Daniel Fowler,[2] a Canadian country singer-songwriter. Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Bent was raised throughout Canada in a military family.[3] He formally launched his musical career in 2000 in British Columbia, including performances as an opening act for Great Big Sea[4] and Sam Roberts.[5]

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.[6] The album was produced by Chin Injeti, formerly of the R&B band Bass is Base. Described by Bent as "hick hop",[7] the album was best known for the single "Suicidewinder".[6]

His subsequent albums, 2007's Buckles and Boots and 2010's Rabbit on My Wheel, pursued a more conventional country sound.[8]

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.[9]

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.[10]

Discography

Albums

Title Details
Blam!
Buckles and Boots
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"[11]

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 Nominated [12]
Top New Talent of the Year – Male Nominated
2009 Roots Artist or Group of the Year Nominated [13]
2010 Roots Artist or Group of the Year Nominated [14]
2011 Roots Artist or Group of the Year Nominated [15]
2012 Roots Artist or Group of the Year Nominated

References

  1. ^ "ARLINGTON". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  2. ^ "Greased lightning", Chilliwack Progress, February 18, 2005.
  3. ^ Patrick Langston, "'Hick-hop' worth hearing". Ottawa Citizen, July 16, 2005.
  4. ^ Mike Devlin, "Great Big Sea rises despite turbulence". Victoria Times-Colonist, July 22, 2004.
  5. ^ Mike Youds, "Roberts' power has Store rocking". Kamloops Daily News, September 4, 2004.
  6. ^ a b Robert Everett-Green, "Blam: Ridley Bent". The Globe and Mail, May 13, 2005.
  7. ^ "An earful of Bent 'Hick-Hop'". The Golden Star, October 26, 2005.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ Melissa Martin, "Move here in January? Must be love". Winnipeg Free Press, January 24, 2009.
  10. ^ Greg Vandermeulen, "Ridley Bent & The Killer Tumbleweeds". Morden Times, August 22, 2019.
  11. ^ Ladan, Bruce (5 April 2014). "Ridley Bent releases fourth album Wildcard in Winnipeg". CBC News. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  12. ^ "CCMA list of nominees". Windsor Star, September 8, 2008.
  13. ^ François Marchand, "And the winners could be ...". Regina Leader-Post, September 10, 2009.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ Jane Stevenson, "CCMA nominees announced". Grande Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune, July 28, 2011.