Gowan

Lawrence Gowan is a multi-talented musician and performer, known for his electrifying live shows and soaring vocals, who transitioned from a successful solo career to become the lead keyboardist and vocalist for the band Styx. After earning an ARCT in classical piano performance from The Royal Conservatory of Music at the age of 19, Lawrence Gowan embarked on a dynamic musical career. He first achieved local success with the band Rheingold from 1976 to 1981 before launching his solo career with the debut album, ‘Gowan’ in 1982. His commercial breakthrough came with the 1985 album, ‘Strange Animal,’ which produced hit singles ‘A Criminal Mind,’ ‘(You’re a) Strange Animal,’ and ‘Cosmetics.’ The music video for ‘A Criminal Mind’ earned a Juno Award for ‘Best Video’ in 1985, the same year he won a Juno for ‘Best Album Graphics’ for ‘Strange Animal’ and a CASBY Award for ‘Most Promising Male Artist.’ Gowan continued his prolific solo output with the 1987 album, ‘Great Dirty World,’ featuring the hit single ‘Moonlight Desires’ with Jon Anderson of Yes on backing vocals.

His lasting legacy was further cemented with a star on the Scarborough Walk of Fame in 2011, and he re-issued a remastered ‘Great Dirty World’ in 2012. In 2018, ‘A Criminal Mind’ achieved Platinum Single certification in Canada. Gowan continues to tour and record extensively with Styx, while also actively maintaining his solo career with plans for new original material and ongoing remastered re-issues of his classic albums.