Folk legend David Wiffen, Ottawa's songwriting soul, dies at 84
Singer-songwriter David Wiffen, a fixture of Ottawa's folk scene since the late 1960s, has passed away. His songs became standards for artists like Anne Murray and The Cowboy Junkies.
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Ottawa has lost an iconic member of its folk music scene. David Wiffen, a singer-songwriter celebrated as one of Canada's finest voices in contemporary folk, died April 5 at May Court Hospice following a short illness. He was 84.
Wiffen built a reputation for his rich baritone, instrumental mastery — guitar and piano — and songwriting that wove folk and blues with themes of love and loss. Though he recorded fewer than 50 songs and released only about six albums, his work became standard cover material: "Driving Wheel" and "It Happens More Often than Not" are now recorded by countless musicians.
Born in Redhill, Surrey, England, Wiffen came to Canada at 16 with his family. He lived in Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver before settling in Ottawa in the late 1960s. He met his wife Joanne here and was part of the folk-rock group 3's A Crowd from 1967 to 1969, performing at Expo 67 and recording an album with the band.
In the 1970s, Wiffen released two solo albums: "David Wiffen" and "Coast to Coast Fever," the latter nominated for a Juno Award. His compositions — including "Skybound Station," "Coast to Coast Fever," and "Climb the Stairs" — were recorded by Anne Murray, Harry Belafonte, The Byrds, Ian & Sylvia, Jerry Jeff Walker, Eric Andersen, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Tom Rush, and The Cowboy Junkies.
Wiffen faced personal struggles including alcoholism alongside career disappointments, but eventually overcame those challenges. His decades in Ottawa made him a quiet fixture of the city's musical life, respected by fellow musicians and beloved by fans worldwide.