Canadian artist Ron Sexsmith is a song-writer with friends in high places. He's not a household name but he does have some high-profile fans... like Sheryl Crow, Bono, Steve Earle, and Elvis Costello. And some of the industry's biggest names have covered Ron Sexsmith's songs. But he's not likely to be performing at the MTV awards or guest judging on American Idol any time soon. The World's Andrea Crossan has more.

Ron Sexsmith is an unassuming man. He's in his early 40's, but his boyish round face and thick head of unruly black hair make him look about ten years younger. Sexsmith has a gift for writing breezy, infectious melodies and poetic, earnest lyrics. And other artists seem to like his songs.

Here's Sexsmith singing a song he wrote called Secret Heart...followed by a couple of covers of the song. You may have guessed that the middle version featured the distinct gravelly voice of Rod Stewart. And the final version was by fellow Canadian artist Feist. Secret Heart has been sung by so many artists that people don't always connect it to Sexsmith.

“I've had a few people come up to me and say "Oh, I love that Feist song you played" and that's always a bit of a drag to have to stand up for yourself or correct them but it's nice that she did it too. I think there are songs that have gotten out there, that people maybe have heard that they didn't attach my name to it.”
Sexsmith has gone so far as to collect cover versions of his songs.

“I have a whole box at home - it's called "everyone sings Ron". I just had to label it something. It's filled with CDs and cassettes of people doing my songs.”

There are plenty to choose from. He's put out 10 albums in 15 years. For some of that time he was with a major record label. But Sexsmith wasn't the hit factory the record company had hoped for.

That business relationship ended and it left him questioning whether he was cut out to be a performer.

“I had just been dropped by my label, they weren't going to put my record out and my marriage had fallen apart so I was living with my accountant, crammed into this one room and I was starting to write these songs, trying to lift my spirits a bit, like former glory and things like that and also what I was trying to do I was thinking that I didn't know if I'd ever get signed again because I'd made a bunch of records and none of them had sold so I thought, what I need to do is try to write songs for other people.”
Though he's an artist who's never achieved huge commercial success, Sexsmith has friends in high places. Musicians like Elvis Costello, Steve Earle, and Coldplay's Chris Martin are all fans. Martin joins him on this song. And Sexsmith recently received words of praise from a member of rock royalty - Sir Elton John.

“I had just come back from a US tour and so he'd just heard my album for the first time and there was a message from him on his answering machine when he got home saying that he loves the record and everything and it's amazing that someone as big as Elton John would take the time to call me and or to notice me even.”

Sexsmith has another fan with a Sir in front of his name. Paul McCartney likes Sexsmith's songwriting. The former Beatle went so far as to invite him over to have breakfast with him when Sexsmith was on tour in England. Maybe Sir Paul likes how Sexsmith's voice sounds a little bit like his at times.

Ron Sexsmith has been called the man who everyone admires but no one wants to be. Big time commercial success still eludes him.... but he's undeterred.

“It's weird I think I have a better chance now of having a big hit record than i did when I started. Even when i was younger i didn't sing very well back then, and that was part of the problem with my first bunch of records, that I was still trying to find my voice, you know. i mean thankfully I sang well enough that people who liked it seemed to really like it.

Sexsmith says that his singing has improved over the years. He says that it's in part, due to all the time he spends on the road. Sexsmith has toured as the opening act for some of those more famous artists who admire his work. That's what Sexsmith is doing now.

He begins a tour this week opening for Nick Lowe.

“In the end, ultimately I'm a troubadour, and it's not a job you can do from your living room - you've got to get out there and do it.”

For the World, I'm Andrea Crossan, Toronto, Canada.