Kevin Hearn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kevin Hearn
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Kevin Hearn in 2005
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Kevin Neil Hearn |
| Born | July 3, 1969 Grimsby, Ontario, Canada |
| Origin | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Genres | Alternative rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Keyboards, vocals, guitar, accordion, mandolin |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Associated acts | Barenaked Ladies, Lou Reed, Kevin Hearn and Thin Buckle, Look People, Rheostatics, The Cousins |
Kevin Neil Hearn (born July 3, 1969) is a Canadian musician. He is a member of the popular band Barenaked Ladies. Kevin also leads his own group, Kevin Hearn and Thin Buckle. He mainly plays keyboards and guitars. He is also part of the band Rheostatics.
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Kevin Hearn grew up in Grimsby, Ontario, Canada. He lived in a small home with his family. He loved music from a young age. His first favorite albums were Magical Mystery Tour by the Beatles and a Beach Boys greatest hits album. These records made him want to play music.
He also found inspiration from the electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD). The folk-punk group Violent Femmes also influenced him. Kevin has a background in classical piano. He attended Inglenook Community High School and St. Michael's Choir School.
Kevin's Musical Journey
Kevin Hearn began his music career in 1988. He joined a band called Look People. He played with them until they broke up in 1993.
Joining Barenaked Ladies
In 1995, Kevin joined the band Barenaked Ladies. He took over from their previous keyboard player, Andy Creeggan. Kevin had to learn all of the band's songs very quickly. He didn't even own any of their albums!
His first tour with the band was recorded for their live album Rock Spectacle. On this album, he mostly played keyboards and some accordion. His first music video with the band was "Shoe Box". This was followed by the video for "The Old Apartment". After joining Barenaked Ladies, Kevin released his first solo album. It was called Mothball Mint.
First Studio Album with BNL
After touring a lot, the band recorded their fourth studio album, Stunt. This was Kevin's first studio album with Barenaked Ladies. He brought a new sound to the band. He was skilled with electronic keyboards, synthesizers, and samplers. You can hear his unique contributions on Stunt. Kevin also played some lead electric guitar on the album. His guitar style was different from the other band members.
Facing Illness and Creating Music
Soon after recording Stunt, Kevin faced a serious illness. He was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia. He started treatment while the band was filming the video for "One Week". Because of his treatment, he doesn't appear in many parts of the video.
He was in the hospital in Toronto while the band continued their tour. Other musicians helped fill in for him. Kevin received bone marrow transplants from his brother. His health improved, and he rejoined the band in 1999. He also released another solo album called H-Wing. This album was named after the hospital wing where he wrote many of the songs. It was about his experience with the illness. This album was with his band, Kevin Hearn & Thin Buckle.
New Songs and Instruments
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Barenaked Ladies' next album was Maroon. It included one of Kevin's songs, "Hidden Sun," as a secret track. Later, for the album Everything to Everyone, Kevin started bringing song ideas to the band. The whole band would then work together to finish them. This album was the first time Kevin had writing credits on a regular BNL album.
For this album, he learned to play the mandolin. The mandolin has since become an instrument he often plays on tour. Kevin also released his third solo album, Night Light, in 2003 with Thin Buckle. His fourth solo album, The Miracle Mile, came out in 2006.
Working with Rheostatics
Kevin has also worked a lot with the band Rheostatics. For their album Music Inspired by the Group of Seven, he helped write music. He played keyboards and sang a song called "Yellow Days Under a Lemon Sun." For their 1999 album, The Story of Harmelodia, Kevin was listed as a band member. He wrote two songs for this album: "Wingophone" and "Monkey Bird."
Kevin also performed live with Rheostatics many times. He is even in their official photo at Zunior Records' Independent Music Hall of Fame.
Touring with Lou Reed
From 2007, Kevin was part of Lou Reed's live band. He played piano and keyboards. They even toured Europe in 2011. Kevin and Lou Reed became friends in 2001. Lou Reed called Kevin to wish him well when Kevin was battling leukemia.
Kevin's Life Outside Music
Kevin Hearn lives in downtown Toronto, Ontario. He also enjoys spending time at a cottage he bought in the early 2000s. This quiet cottage is on a lake where he used to spend time as a child. Kevin has a daughter named Havana Winter Hearn, born in December 2003.
Kevin's cousin is the actor and comedian Harland Williams. They spent a lot of time together growing up. They even released two albums together as a duo called The Cousins. Kevin has remained friends with Steven Page, even after Steven left Barenaked Ladies.
Discography
Look People
- More Songs About Hats and Chickens (1989)
- Small Fish, Big Pond (1990)
- Boogazm (1991)
- Crazy Eggs (1993)
Corky and the Juice Pigs
- Pants (1994)
Rheostatics
- Music Inspired by the Group of Seven (1995)
- The Story of Harmelodia (1999)
- The Whale Music Concert, 1992 (2005)
- Calling Out the Chords, Vol. 1 (2005)
- Green Sprouts Music Week 1993 (2012)
Barenaked Ladies
See Barenaked Ladies' discography; Kevin has contributed to their releases from 1996 until today.
Solo Albums
- Mothball Mint (1997)
- Cloud Maintenance (2011)
- Days in Frames (2014)
- Calm and Cents (2019)
Kevin Hearn & Thin Buckle
- H-Wing (2001)
- Night Light (2004)
- The Miracle Mile (2006)
- Havana Winter (2009)
The Cousins
- The Love Song Years (2004)
- Rattlesnake Love (2017)
