Colin Linden’s Work on Nashville
Blackie and the Rodeo Kings member musical director of hit show
Born in Toronto, Canada, and raised in White Plains, New York, Colin Linden returned to Canada in 1970. He was already a guitar prodigy at 11 years old, and when most kids that age were playing sports, Colin was meeting and being mentored by one of his musical heroes, the great bluesman Howlin’ Wolf, which helped set the youngster on a course to pursue the sounds of his dreams. That encounter helped fuel a career that has featured his work on literally hundreds of albums. At last count, the total of recordings on which he has played approaches 400, while over 100 albums bear the “Produced by Colin Linden” credit.
(One recent notable is Bruce Cockburn’s latest album, Bone on Bone. Cockburn performed songs from that album at The Centre just a couple of weeks ago.)
Although Linden has had his hands in so many pots, he’s perhaps better known for his work on the foot-stompin’ TV show Nashville, which just finished its sixth season and is, according to the show’s Facebook page (August 10th post) signed up for another.
Linden is Nashville’s musical director and has also performed in front of the camera as a guitarist or bandleader. According to the Toronto Star, Linden got the job in part because he had already known the show’s executive producer, T-Bone Burnett, from working with him on Cockburn’s 1994 album, Dart to the Heart, and the movie soundtrack from O Brother Where Art Thou? in 2000.
Linden’s work on Nashville also helped him, Stephen Fearing, and Tom Wilson develop the list of guest artists for both Blackie and the Rodeo Kings albums Kings and Kings (2017) and Kings and Queens (2011). Country music can be a small world.
Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, whose music is often labeled “roots” in Canada and “Americana” in the US, is becoming increasingly renowned. Take a few minutes to sit back and enjoy their cover of “I’m Still Loving You.”

On Friday, October 27, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings will bring their music to our stage. Whether you call it roots, Canadian Americana, or just plain good ol’ music, you won’t want to miss the show. Buy your tickets now.