Author M.D. Dunn sings the praises of one of Canada’s most beloved and respected singer-songwriters in his sixth book You Get Bigger As You Go: Bruce Cockburn’s Influence and Evolution.
Cockburn has enthralled audiences with his insightful lyrics and innovative guitar playing for over half a century. But hit songs like Wondering Where the Lions Are, If I Had a Rocket Launcher and Lovers In A Dangerous Time are just part of the story. In You Get Bigger as You Go: Bruce Cockburn’s Influence and Evolution, Sault Ste. Marie musician, teacher and author Dunn takes the reader on a humorous and obsessive quest to track Cockburn’s significant cultural footprint. Interviews with producers, musicians, activists and fans — as well as Bruce’s career-long manager Bernie Finkelstein and the enigmatic artist himself — form the core of this critical assessment and appreciation. In these conversations, Cockburn and friends celebrate a life of music and social engagement.
You Get Bigger As You Go: Bruce Cockburn’s Influence and Evolution is the perfect beginner’s guide to the music and the artist, and a fun addition to any fan’s library. Photographs from archivist Daniel Keebler span decades and show Cockburn in his natural habitat, on stage and in studio.
Dunn’s personal journey with Cockburn began when he was just fourteen and happened upon a cassette copy of Cockburn’s sixth album Joy Will Find A Way. Though the cassette contained few clues regarding its origin or creator, Dunn emphatically states that absorbing that album as a young guitarist changed his life. “The mysterious, wise voice of the singer” he recalls, “landed like a message from the universe.”
Dunn first interviewed Cockburn for a magazine in 2014. “It seemed to have went well,” he recalls, “because further opportunities to interview Bruce for print followed.” By 2016 he had amassed a number of short pieces reflecting on the meaning and significance of Cockburn’s legendary catalog. This creative inspiration led Dunn to embark on a reconsideration of Cockburn’s holistic life and legacy, which are even more vast than he had previously known.
“The driving question behind this book is: How does music affect us?” says Dunn. “Music has the power to change people. What influence does music have in our daily lives? I applied these questions to Bruce Cockburn’s music and cultural presence to produce what I see as a beginner’s guide and critical appreciation.”
Dunn has performed original music for over 30 years and released nine albums. His poems and articles have been widely published. You Get Bigger As You Go: Bruce Cockburn’s Influence and Evolution is his first work of nonfiction. His previous poetry titles include Ghost Music (2010), Fancy Clapping (2012), and Even the Weapons (2014). Find him online HERE.
The Sault Ste. Marie Museum will host a book launch and listening party for the project on Feb. 11 at 2:30 p.m. Get more information HERE.
