An Arthur area woman who sings with the The Joys, a London rock act, has a gold record from the Canadian Recording Industry Association.
The certification was accredited to the group’s three song single that includes Storm, Soul On Your Sleeve and Keep Trying to Try.
Lead singer for The Joys, Sarah Smith, said, “Receiving a gold record was a childhood dream come true. It’s a moment that I’ll always cherish, but I hope it’s just the first of many gold records that will line my walls.
“It’s a wonderful injection of motivation at a time when we’re about to head back out on the road for an extended period of time."
Smith said in an email exchange, “I grew up on a farm on the outskirts of Arthur. My parents, Alex and Wendy Smith, still reside in Arthur, on the same farm that I was raised on.”
She added, “I have a great attachment to my childhood and the way I was raised. I love the small-town life – I always felt at home in Arthur. I went to ADHS and have fond memories of my friends, my classes (and of course, the parties.)
Smith moved to London, at 21, after a year’s stint in the Canadian Army.
“Shortly after I arrived in London, I decided to pursue music as my main profession. I have been making my living playing and singing in bands for eight years now.”
The Joys are an unsigned recording act, that has independently sold over 19,000 CDs at their two hundred plus perfor-mances per year.
The band has been the recipient of several industry awards including Best Female Fronted Rock Act at the Toronto Independent Music Awards, and Favorite Pop or Rock Act at the 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 London Music Awards. and the Best Live Act at the Toronto Independent Music Awards.
The band has played shows with: Robert Plant, Matthew Good, K-OS, Finger Eleven, The Miniatures, The Trews, Honeymoon Suite, Loverboy, Sloan, Edwin, and David Wilcox.
The Joys also have songs appearing in a new television series, Chris and John To The Rescue, on OUTtv and have licenced a song to the feature film Cake starring Heather Graham, Taye Diggs, and Cheryl Hines, from Curb Your Enthusiasm.
PlayStation 2 is also using a Joys’ song in a commercial playing at the Air Canada Centre during sporting events.
Smith concluded of her career to date, “What a dream come true.”
