Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Aug 8, 2026

Bruce Guthro

Bruce Guthro was a Canadian singer-songwriter from Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. Guthro recorded as a solo artist, and was lead vocalist for the Scottish Celtic rock band Runrig from 1998, until the group retired in 2018. Guthro received several ECMAs, and hosted and conceptualized the Canadian TV show Songwriters Circle, on which guests included Jim Cuddy, Colin James, and Alan Doyle.

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Bruce Guthro
ONS
Guthro performing in 2010
Guthro performing in 2010
Background information
Born(1961-08-31)August 31, 1961
Sydney Mines, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada
DiedSeptember 5, 2023(2023-09-05) (aged 62)
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Genres
OccupationSinger-songwriter
Years active1994–2023
Labels
Formerly ofRunrig
Websitewww.bruceguthro.com

Bruce Guthro ONS (August 31, 1961 – September 5, 2023) was a Canadian singer-songwriter from Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. Guthro recorded as a solo artist, and was lead vocalist for the Scottish Celtic rock band Runrig from 1998,1 until the group retired in 2018.2 Guthro received several ECMAs (East Coast Music Awards),3 and hosted and conceptualized the Canadian TV show Songwriters Circle, on which guests included Jim Cuddy, Colin James, and Alan Doyle (of the Canadian band Great Big Sea).4

Guthro was also the father of musicians Dylan Guthro and Jodi Guthro.56 He co-produced Dylan's award-winning 2012 debut album All That's True with Dave Gunning and co-wrote five of the album's songs.57

Guthro died from cancer on September 5, 2023, five days after his 62nd birthday.8 On October 4, 2023, he was posthumously appointed a member of the Order of Nova Scotia for contributions to the music industry, Canadian culture and philanthropy.9

Discography

Albums

Title Details Peak positions Certifications
(sales thresholds)
CAN Country DEN
10
Sails to the Wind
  • Release date: 1994
  • Label: MCA
 — —
Of Your Son
  • Release date: 1998
  • Label: EMI
 6 —
Guthro
  • Release date: 2001
  • Label: EMI
 — —
Beautiful Life
  • Release date: 2006
  • Label: RecArt
 — —
No Final Destination
  • Release date: September 7, 2009
  • Label: Ridge
 — 39
Celtic Crossing
  • Release date: October 17, 2011
  • Label: Ridge
 — 8
Bound for Bethlehem
  • Release date: 2012
  • Label: RecArt
 — 18
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions Album
CAN Country CAN AC CAN
1997 "Walk This Road" 1 16 — Of Your Son
1998 "Falling" 15 12 39
"Ivey's Wall" 12 — —
1999 "Two Story House" (with Amy Sky) — 45 —
"Good Love" — 27 —
2001 "Factory Line" — — — Guthro
"Disappear" — — —
"Livin' a Lie" — — —
2007 "Touch" — — — Beautiful Life
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Music videos

Year Video Director
1997 "Fiddle & Bow" (with Natalie MacMaster) Andrew MacNaughtan
"Walk This Road" Pablo Fairhall
1998 "Falling" George Dougherty
2001 "Disappear"
2007 "Holy Road"

Samplers

Year Title Album
1995 "Stan's Tune" Remembering Stan Rogers: An East Coast Tribute
1996 "So Blue" An East Coast Tribute II
2000 "Four Strong Winds" (with Raylene Rankin) Over Canada (Soundtrack)
2010 "Acadie, Sing Me Home" (with Blair Douglas) Celtic Greatest

Guest appearances

Year Title Artist Album
1997 "Fiddle & Bow" Natalie MacMaster No Boundaries
2008 "Acadie, Sing Me Home" Blair Douglas Stay Strong

Awards

Year Award Category
1997 East Coast Music Award Songwriter of the Year (Fiddle and Bow)
1998 Canadian Radio Music Award Solo Artist of the Year
1998 Canadian Country Music Awards Rising Star of the Year
1999 East Coast Music Award Male Artist of the Year
1999 East Coast Music Award Pop/Rock Artist of the Year
1999 East Coast Music Award Single of the Year (Falling)
1999 East Coast Music Award SOCAN Songwriter of the Year (Falling)
1999 East Coast Music Award Album of the Year (Of Your Son)
2002 East Coast Music Award Male Artist of the Year
2002 East Coast Music Award Pop Artist/Group of the Year
2002 East Coast Music Award Album of the Year (Guthro)
References

References

  1. "RUNRIG NAME NEW SINGER: BRUCE GUTHRO JOINS TOP SCOTTISH BAND". prnewswire.co.uk. July 17, 1998.
  2. "The Last Dance: thousands say farewell to Runrig". HeraldScotland. August 20, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  3. "East Coast Music Association - Event History". Archived from the original on February 21, 2009. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
  4. "Billboard". September 15, 2001.
  5. "Dylan Guthro gets the stone rolling". thechronicleherald.ca. Archived from the original on February 12, 2012. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  6. "Songwriter circles 'a jam' for Nova Scotia musician Bruce Guthro | Metro News". www.metronews.ca. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  7. "The Halifax Musicphile: 2012 Music Nova Scotia Awards – List of Winners and Nominnees". Thehalifaxmusicphile.blogspot.com. November 13, 2012.
  8. "Cape Breton singer-songwriter Bruce Guthro dies at 62". cbc.ca. September 6, 2023.
  9. Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia (May 11, 2018). "2023 Order of Nova Scotia Recipients Announced". novascotia.ca. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  10. "Discography Bruce Guthro". Danishcharts.dk. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  11. "Canadian album certifications – Bruce Guthro – Of Your Son". Music Canada.
External links