Biography
He was born to Fred Lays Sr. and Cheryl Lays in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia.
George Canyon has held many jobs: he spent time working as a law enforcement officer, a slaughterhouse beef inspector, and the owner/operator of his own recording studio. He always dreamed of becoming a professional musician.
Canyon is the father of two children. His wife, Jennifer, worked three jobs during the day so that he could sing at night. In 2004, George Canyon competed in Nashville Star 2. He was the runner-up in the competition, but became very well known in Canada and garnered much support, being the only Canadian to make the cut for the competition. After the competition ended, he received many accolades from fans and the industry alike. These include the top 5 hit "My Name", a Juno Award for Best Country Recording of the Year (for his album One Good Friend), and, four Canadian Country Music Awards Nominations (CCMAs) including Male Vocalist of the Year and the Fan Choice Award.
On September 22, 2007, Canyon performed at China-Canada: Hand in Hand; a joint concert held in Vancouver between CCTV (China Central Television) and CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) to commemorate the one-year countdown of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. One of the songs performed by Canyon was "What a Fine Jasmine Blossom". Sung entirely in Mandarin, Canyon performed the duet with Mandarin singer Tang Can.
On 9 January 2008, Canadian defence minister Peter MacKay appointed the Nova Scotia–born Canyon to the position of honorary colonel at 14 Wing Greenwood, the largest air base on the east coast. After this appointment expired in December 2011, Canyon was appointed colonel commandant of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets.
Canyon was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 14 and has given talks to children about diabetes.
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“A great biography should, like the close of a great drama, leave behind it a feeling of serenity. We collect into a small bunch the flowers, the few flowers, which brought sweetness into a life, and present it as an offering to an accomplished destiny. It is the dying refrain of a completed song, the final verse of a finished poem.”
—André Maurois (1885–1967)