New stamp pays tribute to the legendary Blue Rodeo

Canada Post’s newest commemorative stamp celebrates one of the country’s most beloved bands, Blue Rodeo.

Since its formation in 1984, the band’s unique blend of country, folk and rock has helped shape the country’s music identity – and 40 years on it continues to resonate deeply with loyal fans.

The stamp features a collage of studio portraits of the seven current members of Blue Rodeo. Pictured from left to right are (front row) Mike Boguski, Jimmy Bowskill, Jim Cuddy, Greg Keelor and (top row) Colin Cripps, Bazil Donovan and Glenn Milchem.

The iconic group is led by the soaring harmonies and endearing melodies of principal singer-songwriters Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor, who first met in high school and went on to form the Toronto band Hi-Fi’s in 1978.

After spending 1981 to 1984 in New York with their next band Fly to France, they returned to Toronto. Adding Bob Wiseman on keyboard, Cleave Anderson on drums and Bazil Donovan on bass, Cuddy and Keelor created Blue Rodeo.

The group performed their first live gig in February 1985. Known for their rootsy eclecticism and superb musicianship, they quickly became a fixture in Toronto’s epic Queen Street West music scene. They were then catapulted into the national limelight in 1987 with the release of their debut album Outskirts.

The album’s first single “Try” was an instant hit. It helped take the record certified double platinum in 1988 and was the driving force behind Blue Rodeo’s five 1989 JUNO Award nominations – the band won Group of the Year, while “Try” won Single of the Year as well as Best Video.

Building on their initial success, Blue Rodeo went on to release more than a dozen albums including numerous songs that became Canadian classics.

• The group’s second record Diamond Mine (1989) gave fans the hit singles “Diamond Mine” and “How Long.” The album went triple platinum in Canada and, in 1990, Blue Rodeo was again awarded Group of the Year at the JUNOS.
• The 1990 album Casino propelled Blue Rodeo to its third straight Group of the Year JUNO. The record went double platinum in Canada.
• The band released the country and rock focused record Lost Together in 1992, before releasing what would become their signature album the following year.
• Five Days in July (1993) was recorded at Keelor’s farm and became the band’s most commercially successful album. It included top 10 hits “5 Days in May” and “Hasn’t Hit Me Yet,” which helped take the record six times platinum.
• In 1995, the band released its sixth album, Nowhere to Here. It went double platinum and included the hits “Side of the Road” and “Better Off As We Are.” At the 1996 JUNOS, Blue Rodeo landed its fourth Group of the Year award.
• In 1997 and 1999, the group released Tremolo and the live album Just Like a Vacation, both of which went platinum. In 2000, their record The Days in Between went gold-certified.
• While over the years some members of Blue Rodeo had left and been replaced, the original members reunited in 2004 for a concert to mark their 20^th The concert was featured in the DVD Blue Rodeo: In Stereovision (2004), which went triple platinum and won the JUNO for Music DVD of the Year.
• The band released their eleventh studio album, Small Miracles in 2007. It earned them three more JUNOS – Adult Alternative Album of the Year, Video of the Year for the single “C’mon” and their fifth Group of the Year.
• In 2008, the band released the DVD Blue Road, a documentary that included live concert footage and which earned them their second Music DVD of the Year JUNO (2009).
• The double album The Things We Left Behind, released in 2009, cemented the band’s status as Canadian music legends.
• In 2025, the band released a documentary entitled Blue Rodeo: Lost Together – which aired in theatres across Canada before finding its home on CBC Gem.

Over their four decades, Blue Rodeo has earned countless accolades in recognition of their success.

They have been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, received a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame and earned a Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement. In 2013, Cuddy and Keelor were made Officers of the Order of Canada, while in 2024, they were inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.

The band has sold more than four million albums and played over 2,500 live shows, including more concerts at Toronto’s venerated Massey Hall than any other rock band. They continue to record music and tour across Canada.