"I enjoy the process of writing to a fault, I love doing the work. By putting forth this melange of poetry, Gord simultaneously fell into the ranks of other great Canadian poets such as Leonard Cohen and Joni Mitchell. Critics describe his poetry as urban, political, romantic, nostalgic and universal. And that can be done by pulling out a well placed rhyme." Battle of the Nudes was released in 2003, his follow up album proved not to be a dissapointment. When asked about the transition from the figure head of a rock group to a poet, he responded " I had to stop hearing the music. The book is divided into four sections which follow the themes of family, private memories and road poems. After reading this book, Gord proves that his talents in the written word are just as swell as his talents in the sung word. This was also the name of poetry which accompanies the CD and is on sale in Indigo and Chapters stores across Canada. He decided to put his works of poetry and collection of lyrics together to produce his first solo album entitled Coke Machine Glow. Despite the bands overwhelming success in 2002, Gord decided it was time for something different. With hits like "38 Years Old", "Bobcaygeon", and "New Orleans is Sinking" - music buffs get more than a bang for their buck. The gripping aspect that arguably defines this all Canadian group is Gord's powerful lyrics that deliver a message to every audience they rock out in front of. In 2005, they were inducted into the Canadian Hall of Fame. Presently, the band has been called the long reigning kings of Canadian rock'n'roll. With their easy going campfire and front porch vibe, they capture a rare sound, and Gord delivers a powerful message through his meaningful lyrics which most would say is distinctive to The Hip. In 2002, the band was given a sidewalk star among the likes of Rush, Neil Young and Joni Mitchell. The Tragically Hip was formed the following year and has been very successful since then bringing home multiple awards - Juno's and Grammy's among them. He now resides in Toronto happily married to a loving wife, and together have children. While at Kingston Collegiate he met Paul Langlois, Rob Baker, Gord Sinclair and Johnny Fray, the four guys that now make up one of Canada's best and most influential rock groups. He was brought up in Amherstview, Ontario and went on to study at Queen's University, however, graduated from Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute in 1982. As a child he always had a keen ear for music and while all the other kids were spending their allowance on baseball trading cards, he was purchasing vinyl in the 45 inch form from the fathers of rock'n'roll. He was born on Feburary 6th, 1964 in Amherstview, Ontario. Although Gordon Downie is recognized mainly for his singer/songwriter capabilities, The Tragically Hip's front man has also ventured into poetry, video directing, and even the occasional cameo on a Canadian sitcom or a movie about a men's curling league.
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