Jay Semko is known worldwide as the co-founder of multi-platinum Canadian rock icons, “The Northern Pikes” and as an award-winning music composer for numerous film and TV productions, including Canada’s highly successful internationally syndicated series, “Due South.” A member of ACTRA, he is also an accomplished voiceover actor and narrator, voicing numerous national and international radio and TV ads, PSAs, documentaries, and dramas. Jay has also instructed songwriting at the University of Saskatchewan, hosted the SOCAN Songwriters Series at Canadian Country Music Week, and participated in many panels and workshops in conjunction with the Songwriters Association of Canada, SOCAN, and Breakout West.
Jay has received five Juno Award nominations as a member of “The Northern Pikes,” two Gemini Award nominations for Best Original Music Score in a Dramatic Series, and a 2013 Canadian Screen Award (formerly Gemini Awards) nomination for Best Original Music for a Non-Fiction Program or Series. Jay has written and recorded with many well-known songwriters and musicians in Canada and the USA. He received the 2012 SCMA Roots Album of the Year Award for “Force of Horses” and in 2015 for “Flora Vista.” Jay was nominated for Best Gospel Song in the 2012 Independent Music Awards and his album “Sending Love” was nominated in the 2012 Western Canadian Music Awards for Roots Solo Recording of the Year (the same year the Pikes were inducted into the Western Canadian Music Hall of Fame). More recently, Jay was nominated for Spiritual Artist of the Year in the 2020 Western Canadian Music Awards in regards to his latest release, “Never Sent.” Jay’s songs, music scores and legendary live concerts continue to garner him recognition as one of Canada’s most prolific and versatile music, film, and television talents.
Nominated for:
Griffin Trust for Excellence in Poetry
Saskatchewan Book Award
Gerald Lampert Memorial Award
High Plains Book Award