A gifted singer and songwriter whose songs are by turns earnest and playful, Ron Sexsmith won acclaim not only from critics but from fellow performers like Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello, and John Hiatt. He has a talent for catchy but graceful melodies that's matched by his skills as a lyricist, drawing compact sketches of love and the trials of everyday life that are heartfelt and compassionate even when he's being witty. Early albums like 1995's Ron Sexsmith and 1997's Other Songs were the work of a promising composer and novice vocalist. That began to change on 2001's Blue Boy (co-produced by Steve Earle), while 2002's Cobblestone Runway found him dabbling in electronics (and duetting with Chris Martin of Coldplay on one track). 2020's Hermitage and 2023's The Vivian Line were fresh, optimistic sets of songs that emerged after he moved from his longtime home in Toronto.