Liona Boyd shares the L.O.V.E. with Gracias, the latest single and video from her 29th studio album — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
With a storied, 45-year-plus career filled with success and accolades, Canada’s “First Lady of the Guitar” has certainly earned that title. But there’s no resting on laurels going on here; just a lot of gratitude, love and new music to share with the world. “The L.O.V.E. album songs are really about maintaining a sense of joy during this trying time,” explains Boyd, who once again partnered with longtime producer Peter Bond to record at Toronto’s Rose Room.
Fittingly, the latest single Gracias is a smooth, smile-inducing thank-you letter graced by Boyd’s bright, signature guitar work and sweet, clear vocals repeating “Thank you. Thank you. Gracias.” No matter the language, the gratitude Boyd shares for a lifetime of living and creating the music she loves is palpable in this captivating track.
For her part, Boyd has long been captivated by the joy, romance and irresistible grooves of Latin music. “Since living in Mexico as a teenager, and performing in South and Central America, I’ve always felt a strong attraction to the catchy, sensual rhythms of Latin music,” she shares.
The past 12 months have put that attraction in the spotlight. L.O.V.E.’s lead single, Popcorn Remix, a re-imagined and very dance-worthy version of the classic instrumental, arrived with a colourful and playful video filmed in Toronto and Palm Beach. Following that, Boyd released L.O.V.E.’s title track, featuring Latin vocalist, friend and fellow Torontonian Amanda Martinez. Third single Ayudame Papa (Help Me, Father), is dedicated to the artist’s late father John H. Boyd and features his sculptures.
A recipient of both the Officer of the Order of Canada and Order of Ontario honours, Boyd is the winner of five Junos, five Guitar Player Magazine’s Classical Guitar Musician of the Year awards, the Vanier Award, the Women Who Make a Difference award, the Prix d’Esprit du Ciècle and numerous honourary degrees. She has received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the U.S. National Guitar Museum — joining peers such as B.B. King, Glen Campbell and Bonnie Raitt — as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award from the JoAnn Falletta International Guitar Competition, and been inducted into Guitar Player Magazine’s Gallery of Greats.
Since the beginning of her career in 1974, Boyd has appeared in countless venues around the world, and collaborated with the likes of Sir Andrew Davis, Yo Yo Ma, Eric Clapton, David Gilmour, Gordon Lightfoot, Tracy Chapman, Ronnie Hawkins and Olivia Newton-John, to name a few. The author of two autobiographies — No Remedy For Love and In My Own Key — as well as an upcoming children’s book, Boyd is also a dedicated philanthropist and activist for a lengthy selection of charities close to her heart.
Watch Gracias above, sample more music from Liona Boyd below, and say thanks at her website, Facebook and Twitter.
