The singer-songwriter Tom Wilson talks about his new memoir Beautiful Scars: Steeltown Secrets, Mohawk Skywalkers and the Road Home (Doubleday, 2017), with Joseph Planta.

Beautiful Scars: Steeltown Secrets, Mohawk Skywalkers and the Road Home by Tom Wilson (Doubleday, 2017). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Beautiful Scars

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, at TheCommentary.ca.

One of the more beautiful books of the year is Beautiful Scars: Steeltown Secrets, Mohawk Skywalkers and the Road Home. Its author is the singer-songwriter Tom Wilson. It’s a remarkable book about Mr. Wilson’s upbringing in Hamilton. There isn’t something quite right. George and Bunny Wilson seem too old to be his parents; and even though they’re Irish-Quebecois, Tom gets called Indian at school. Bunny’s niece Janie, whose father is Mohawk, bears a resemblance. There are moving moments in the book, like Bunny taking records for young Tom. Her supporting his love of music. We follow Tom’s career into music, and Tom having kids of his own. Then at the age of 53 he learns of his true identity. It’s all so terribly moving, and just a loving portrayal of a life and the people around him. Tom Wilson is a three-time Juno Award winning musician, who has written for and recorded songs with, among many others Sarah McLachlan, City and Colour, Colin James, Lucinda Williams, Mavis Staples, The Rankin Family, and many more. His band Junkhouse scored eleven top-ten hits. Other groups include Blackie and the Rodeo, and Lee Harvey Osmond. He is also an artist, showcasing his art in New York, Toronto, Ottawa, and here in Vancouver. This book is published by Doubleday. There is an event, Monday, 04 December 2017 at the Vancouver Public Library’s Central Branch. Our friend Hal Wake will be in conversation with Tom starting at 7.30pm. The event is free. Visit www.writersfest.bc.ca for more information. Tom Wilson lives in Hamilton, but joined me from Toronto last week. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Tom Wilson; Mr. Wilson, good morning.

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