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WFUV Pop Quiz: Ron Sexsmith

by Laura Fedele

Canadian singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith started his own band when he was just 14 years old. His first recordings were in 1985 and today he has 11 albums. The most recent, Long Player Late Bloomer, in early 2011. In 2005 he won the coveted Juno Award (Canada's prestigious music awards) as Songwriter of the Year. His inspirations include Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello, Ray Davies and John Hiatt. On a visit to WFUV he agreed to take the WFUV Pop Quiz.

Aside from gear, instruments or your band, what don't you go on the road without?

Gordon Lightfoot music.

What song do you wish you've written?

"Every Time We Say Goodbye" by Cole Porter. I think it's such a perfect song.


Bing Crosby, Buddy Holly, Dusty Springfield, Karen Carpenter, Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris. There's also a new artist out there from England named Rumer. She really has a special voice.


Probably something by Deep Purple..."Fireball" [sings]

What's the first album you bought?

The very first record I bought with my own money was Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy by Elton John.

What's your favorite Bob Dylan Song?

"To Ramona or "Ring Them Bells"

What job would you have if you weren't a musician?

A detective.

Do you have any hidden talents?

I'm good at making breakfast.

What's your signature dish?

I like eggs and toast. I can make pretty good poached eggs.


I think I got painted early on as being kind of melancholy. My band and I we're laughing our heads off most of the time. There might have been a couple of sad albums early on in my career, but that's just because of whatever was going on in my life at the moment. For the most part I've written really hopeful songs and tried to be a full fledged human being. I'm not just a master of one emotion. That's the thing that dogs me all the time, sad writer. It makes me think they haven't listened to my records.


Walk the Appalachian Trail.