Fred Lavery


Fred Lavery is a music producer, singer-songwriter, and co-owner of Lakewind Sound. He was born and raised in Cape Breton. In 1978 he released "Song For Noel". In 1981 the artist's full-length album “First Impressions” was released on Glencoe Records, produced by Paul Mills and engineered by Daniel Lanois. Singles “Little Children”, and “Forty Five Years” charted on national radio.
In the mid 80's, after experiencing voice problems, Lavery was diagnosed with spastic dysphonia, which ended his singing career. He then enrolled in the music programme at St. Francis Xavier University to focus more on musicianship, composition and production. He has written more than 150 songs, many have been recorded by various artists. As freelance producer he has two Music Nova Scotia Producer of the Year Awards, over 50 albums to his production credits and has performed with artists such as John Allan Cameron, The Cape Breton Summertime Revue, Natalie MacMaster, Aselin Debison.Bruce Guthro, and Gordie Sampson.
In 1996 Fred Lavery and fellow musician/writer Gordie Sampson founded Lakewind Sound Studios. The studio has won 9 ECMA’s and 5 MIANS Studio of the Year Awards.
In 2001 Lavery won ECMA SOCAN “Songwriter of the Year” for “Get Me Through December” a song co written with Gordie Sampson recorded by Natalie MacMaster and sung by Alison Krauss. In the Spring of 2007 Alison Krauss included this song on her Rounder Records US release "A Hundred Miles or More".
In April 2016 Fred was presented with the prestigious ECMA Industry Builder Award as well as a Studio of the Year Award, for Lakewind Sound Studios. Fred's current band "The Blues Merchants" released a new CD in 2016, while he still found time to co-ordinate talent and act as musical director for the inspiring Cape Breton fundraiser concert "Givin’ Back to the Mac" which raised over $250,000 for victims of the devastating Alberta wild fires.
Fred continues to write, perform, and produce music for new and established artists and will tour with "Cape Breton Summertime Revue" again in 2017 along with selected dates with the Blues Merchants.
Fred is a recipient "Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal", for significant achievements, service and contribution to his community.
Awards:
ECMA Songwriter of the Year
ECMA Industry Professional
MNS Producer of the Year
MNS Industry Professional
ECMA and MNS Recording Studio of the Year
2016 Honorary ECMA "Industry Builder"
Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
Musical Director on annual fundraisers :
Cape Breton Christmas Daddies Telethon / Terry Fox Concert Fundraiser, / Relay For Life / Cancer Care Patient Care Fund / McKeough Music Scholarship Fund /
Fred is also a founding member of the Cape Breton Music Industry Co-Operative,, which was created to help grow the music industry in Cape Breton.

Production Credits (partial list)