I-95 Drive Home Mystery Artist [VIDEO]

Tonight’s mystery artist was signed to a record label and had a hit in Canada with a tune he wrote. However, the song never made it out of Canada. In fact the most likely reason the song got air play to begin with was due to the fact that during the 70's in Canada radio stations were required to play a certain percentage of Canadian music.  Then in the 80's another Canadian band did a remake of the song which is still considered a Rock favorite in the US today.  Can you guess the artist, band or song??

Back in the 70’s the Canadian Content laws stated that 25% of all music Canadian radio played must originate from Canada. Today, the percentage is 35%. Needless to say, this created numerous opportunities for Canadian artists to be signed to record labels and to have their music played…in Canada. Unfortunately, many artists who were signed to Canadian labels never had the opportunity to break through internationally – so their music may be unknown elsewhere. And so it was for Lorence Hud who back in 1972 was signed to a two album deal with A&M Canada. On his debut album Hud actually played on all the of instruments and the opening cut, “Sign of the Gypsy Queen” was released as a single the very next year. The song rose to #16 on the Canadian charts.  It would not be until 1981 that another Canadian band 'April Wine'  covered the song on their “Nature of the Beast” LP that is would become recognizable in the US

Here is tonight's featured song

Here is the original by Lorence