CREDIT: LLIAM BUCKLEY
Fanshawe's Music Industry Arts students were treated to a special class with guest lecturer, Juno Award winner, Tom Wilson (pictured on the right). Wilson shared his musical journey and inspired students to keep chasing their dreams.

Students of Fanshawe's Music Industry Arts (MIA) program were thrilled to have a visit by surprise guest lecturer Tom Wilson last month. Wilson is a Canadian, Juno winning, songwriter and musician who came to share his vast knowledge, from years of experience in the industry, with the students of the MIA program.

Wilson opened his lecture by expressing how important it is for one to be driven and passionate if they hope to pursue a career in the music industry.

“If you don't have to do this, don't” Wilson stated, saying that if one does not have “a burning desire to wake up every day and create something, you're wasting your time”. This passion has clearly been evident throughout Wilson's life, aiding him in acquiring a number of unique experiences.

One such event was in the early years of Wilson's career. After meeting renowned engineer/producer Daniel Lanois, Wilson was invited by Lanois to come visit him at his recording studio in New Orleans. It was here that Wilson got to sit in on recording sessions by great musicians such as Bob Dylan. Lanois gained a tremendous level of respect for Wilson inviting him to work with him on projects of his following this.

This connection with Lanois gave Wilson a head start when he returned to Canada to pursue his own musical career. After being signed to a label by Fanshawe professor Mike Roth, Wilson formed a band known as Junkhouse, which had great success in Canada, as well as many hits in Europe and Australia.

Later in his career, Wilson formed the band Blackie and the Rodeo Kings which has become a staple of the Canadian rock and blues scene. Being a man with a strong mind for business, Wilson takes care of a majority of the management responsibilities for the band and this is a large reason why the band has been so successful. A highlight of their career has been selling out Toronto's Massey Hall not once, but twice under the leadership of Wilson.

Wilson's strong knowledge in business and passion for the arts is not limited to the Canadian music scene however, having a number of careers on the side. Wilson encouraged students to follow his example and find other passions in one's life to support their main goal. He stated that he doesn't believe in the stigma that artists must starve, “it's just hard work” he said.

Wilson is no stranger to working hard and, in true “jack of all trades” fashion, has travelled as a public speaker, worked as a voice actor (for companies as notable as McDonald's and Pontiac), as well as formed a strong name for himself as a visual artist. Last year Wilson was honoured to have a painting of his inducted into the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, Ontario.

His most recent endeavour has been writing a book titled Beautiful Scars which documents the trials Wilson has faced in his life and how he worked to overcome them. Hitting the shelves on Nov. 21, Beautiful Scars will no doubt be an inspiring read.

Despite his notoriety in the industry, Wilson has an extremely down to earth personality. He ended his lecture by performing a song with his son Thompson and following this stuck around for another 30 minutes to meet students and answer any follow up questions they had.

The students were left feeling inspired and excited to take on any obstacles that the industry may throw their way, with the same drive that Wilson has demonstrated throughout his career.

Much of Wilson's music can be found under “LeE HARVeY OsMOND” a current folk project of his, available at leeharveyosmond. com. Info and music on Blackie and The Rodeo Kings is available at blackieandtherodeokings.com. Many of his musical projects are also available on major streaming platforms such as Spotify or Apple Music.

You can find out more about Wilson, along with his music at the following channels.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/leeharveyosmond

Facbook: https://www.facebook.com/lhosmond

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSG7BZbNQkVKKmG-FiDN5AQ

Website: http://leeharveyosmond.com or http://www.blackieandtherodeokings.com