Kevin Fox

Halifax native Kevin Fox is a revered multi-instrumentalist, sought-after arranger/composer and recording artist, and has been dubbed ‘Canada’s most ubiquitous side-man’.  Now, three years after the release of his debut album COME ALIVE, Kevin returns to his exceptional talents as a singer-songwriter with the much-anticipated release of SONGS FOR CELLO AND VOICE.  Kevin combines his signature instrument, which he skillfully bows, plucks, taps and loops, with his charismatic voice, to create a tuneful and captivating musical tapestry of cello-driven folk/pop.  From his distinctive originals like ‘Signs’ and ‘In the Eyes of You’, to innovative covers of Kate Bush’s ‘Army Dreamers’ and Eurythmics’ ‘Sweet Dreams’, SONGS FOR CELLO AND VOICE showcases Kevin’s unique talent and reinforces his astonishing artistic scope. 

After spending the past few years composing arrangements for the likes of Dolores O'Riordan (The Cranberries) and Kathleen Edwards , recording with artists as diverse as Raine Maida and Celine Dion , and touring and performing with musicians ranging from Chantal Kreviazuk to Tom Cochrane, Kevin Fox is ready to step from side-stage back into the spotlight.

Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Kevin quickly became absorbed with and excelled in the arts. By the time he attended McGill University in Montreal to study composition, Kevin had already written songs for eight years, composed orchestral pieces for four, toured with orchestras and choirs, started a band and performed his own songs and orchestral pieces on local stages.

After university, Kevin moved to Toronto where he picked up an electric guitar for the first time and auditioned to join a band led by MCA recording artist Andrew Cash. Thus began his career as a side musician. With his abilities to play numerous instruments including the cello, acoustic, electric, and bass guitar, as well as sing, Kevin has since worked in the studio and on stage with a variety of artists from Sarah Harmer to Tom Cochrane to Celine Dion.

Kevin’s talents in composition have made him a highly respected orchestral arranger. Arranging is a means through which Kevin’s abilities to intertwine his influences and enrich the beauty of a song is evident. It allows him to step beyond the singular voice of his cello and offer the same beauty and intensity with which he plays, through the voice of an ensemble. As a composer/arranger, Kevin has to date composed music for film as well as arrangements for such artists as Damhnait Doyle, Lennie Gallant, Shaye and Dolores O’Riordan of The Cranberries.

Kevin also has a wealth of experience writing orchestral arrangements for well-known Canadian popular songs. For CBC Radio’s GO! program featuring Brent Banbury, Kevin has written orchestral arrangements for chamber ensembles and performed with the ensembles accompanying Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo, and most recently, Chris Murphy of Sloan. He has also worked with 30-piece orchestras, such as the Niagara Symphony and Symphony Nova Scotia, performing the music of Shaye.

Kevin’s experience and enthusiasm for pop/classical fusion is contagious. Whether it is a 50-year old woman playing The Other Man on her French horn along with Chris Murphy or a 15-year old boy playing Try on his violin along with Jim Cuddy, both leave the experience with huge grins on their faces. Kevin is teaching artists and audiences alike that the classical world isn’t just about ‘serious music’ – it can also be tremendous fun.

Awareness of his talents as a singer/songwriter quickly spread with the release of COME ALIVE, and Kevin has already established a growing fan base. Whether due to his continued work as a freelance musician and composer or his emerging career as a solo artist, the music of Kevin Fox will in the future be hard to miss.