Jonathan Roy

Jonathan Piuze-Roy (born March 15, 1989) is a Canadian pop singer and songwriter. Son of Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy, he initially pursued hockey in junior leagues, but abandoned that path in favour of music while still a teenager. Having previously released three albums, his major-label debut, Mr. Optimist Blues, was released in 2017, and includes several songs written by 1980s pop star Corey Hart.

Jonathan Roy
Background information
Born (1989-03-15) March 15, 1989
Pointe-Claire, Quebec, Canada
GenresPop
Occupation(s)Musician
Years active2009–present
LabelsSiena
Websitejonathanroyofficial.com

Early life

Roy's father is famed Montreal Canadiens goaltender Patrick Roy. He moved with his family from Montreal to Colorado when he was six years old, due to his father being traded.[1] Roy was influenced by his mother's frequent piano playing for the family as he was growing up.[2] He wrote poetry from the age of 13 or 14, and began putting his poems to music around age 16.[3] At age 17, Roy played hockey for the Quebec Remparts, with his father coaching the team at the time.[2] Although he enjoyed goaltending, he dreamed of a music career, and was listening to the Backstreet Boys, John Mayer, and Ray LaMontagne.[4] At 18, when his father told him that his future would not be in hockey and that he needed to plan an education, Roy told his father that he wanted to be a musician and songwriter.[2] In 2009 Roy was charged with assault following an incident during a hockey brawl where he skated the length of the ice and attacked the opposing goaltender, punching him several times.[5]

Music career

Roy's album What I've Become came out in 2009.[3] His second album, Found My Way, came out in 2010.[6] He released his French-language debut album, La route, in 2011.[7] The title track, a duet with Natasha St-Pier, received the most attention.

Roy had a critically acclaimed role in the 2012 revival of the musical Don Juan.[8]

In 2012, his father helped him set up a meeting with 1980s pop singer Corey Hart, who runs Siena Records, an affiliate of Warner Music. Hart offered to sign him to his label after Roy performed a Teddy Thompson song for him at Hart's home in Nassau, Bahamas. Roy and Hart had a hit holiday release in 2016 when they duetted on the Chris Rea song "Driving Home for Christmas".[2]

In 2017, Roy released the album Mr. Optimist Blues on Siena Records, Corey Hart's music label. Hart executive-produced the album, and wrote three of the album's songs. The Montreal Gazette's music critic characterizes the style as "easygoing 21st-century pop with a little light reggae thrown in for good measure. Think Ed Sheeran meets Paolo Nutini and then slap on Bob Marley’s greatest hits."[2] Roy is based in Toronto.

He frequently collaborates with Kim Richardson as a duet or backing vocalist.[9]

In 2023, he participated in an all-star recording of Serena Ryder's single "What I Wouldn't Do", which was released as a charity single to benefit Kids Help Phone's Feel Out Loud campaign for youth mental health.[10]

Discography

Albums
  • What I've Become (2009) – No. 18 Canada[11]
  • Found My Way (2010)
  • La route (2011)
  • Mr. Optimist Blues (2017) – No. 3 Canada[11]
  • My Lullaby (2021) – No. 99 Canada[11]
  • Life Distortions (2023)

References
  1. Saxberg, Lynn (October 4, 2015). "Jonathan Roy shifts from fighter to lover". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  2. Kelly, Brendan (January 18, 2017). "Jonathan Roy: Out of the nets, onto the stage". The Gazette. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  3. Dixon, Guy (June 10, 2009). "Jonathan Roy: a lover, not a fighter". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  4. Fox, Luke (December 7, 2015). "Jonathan Roy Q&A: The fight, the father, the hit song". Sportsnet. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  5. "Jonathan Roy charged with assault". Sportsnet. September 14, 2009. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  6. Roy, Jonathan; Roy, Patrick (May 4, 2010). "Patrick Roy's son embarks on music career". Canada AM (Interview). Interviewed by Beverly Thomson. Toronto: CTV.
  7. Usinger, Mike (February 15, 2017). "Perfection about the only option for optimistic Jonathan Roy". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  8. Williams, John (December 1, 2015). "Jonathan Roy trades goalie stick for guitar", Toronto Sun. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  9. Stéphanie Nolin, "Tournage idyllique pour Jonathan Roy et Kim Richardson". Showbizz, April 13, 2023.
  10. Brent Furdyk, "Feel Out Loud: Alessia Cara, Serena Ryder & More Canadian Artists Collaborate On New Single Promoting Youth Mental Health Initiative". Entertainment Tonight Canada, March 2, 2023.
  11. "Jonathan Roy Chart History: Canadian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
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