Connors hailed as the unofficial Canadian poet laureate, is credited with writing more than 300 songs with total sales of over 4 million copies. With his homespun and fiercely patriotic brand of music, Connors’ rich musical legacy includes Canadian country chart-topping hits “Bud the Spud”, “Luke’s Guitar”, “The Bridge Came Tumbling Down”, “Sudbury Saturday Night”, “Big Joe Mufferaw”, “Ketchup Song” and Canadian anthem “The Hockey Song”.
Connor’s accolades include Juno Awards for Best Male Country Singer (1971-75) and Country Album of the Year (1978). In 1978, however, he returned the awards in protest of Junos given to expatriate Canadians. Connor’s other accolades include the East Coast Music Awards Lifetime Achievement Award, SoCan National Achievement Award (1999), SoCan Lifetime Achievement Award (2009), the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award (2000), Toronto Musicians’ Union Lifetime Achievement Award (2011), and was the subject of a postage stamp issued in Canada Post’s recording artist series.
