Editing Reg Vermue

{{short description|Canadian musician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox musical artist
|name = Gentleman Reg
|background = solo_singer
|image = Gentleman_Reg.jpg
|caption = Gentleman Reg, August 2008
|image_size =
|birth_name = Reginald Vermue<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/890394284 |title=COASTLINE |website=ASCAP |publisher=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers |access-date=November 10, 2023}}</ref>
|origin = [[Trenton, Ontario]], Canada
|genre = [[Indie rock]], [[folk rock]], [[lo-fi music|lo-fi]]
|occupation =
|years_active = 2000–present
|instrument = Guitar <br /> vocals <br /> piano
|label = [[Three Gut Records]] <br /> [[Arts & Crafts (record label)|Arts & Crafts]]
|associated_acts = [[The Hidden Cameras]]<br />[[Broken Social Scene]]<br />[[Owen Pallett]]<br />[[Royal City (band)|Royal City]]<br />[[Constantines]]
|website = [http://www.gentlemanreg.com/ Gentleman Reg]
}}

'''Reginald Vermue''' is a Canadian [[indie rock]] singer from [[Guelph]], Ontario. Born in [[Trenton, Ontario]], he has recorded music under the stage names '''Gentleman Reg''' and '''Regina Gently'''. His musical style has been compared to [[Elliott Smith]], [[Aimee Mann]], [[The Smiths]] and [[Cat Power]]. He had a cameo role in the 2006 film ''[[Shortbus]]''.

Most recently he began performing with a new band called '''Light Fires''' with James Bunton from the band [[Ohbijou]], debuting songs in October 2010 at [[Pop Montreal]].<ref>[http://www.spinner.ca/2010/10/03/gentleman-reg-ohbijou-light-fires-pop-montreal/ Gentleman Reg, Ohbijou Debut New Band Light Fires at Pop Montreal] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706204129/http://www.spinner.ca/2010/10/03/gentleman-reg-ohbijou-light-fires-pop-montreal/ |date=6 July 2011 }}. ''Spinner Canada'', 3 October 2010.</ref> In Light Fires, Vermue performs in [[drag (clothing)|drag]], adopting the alternate persona Regina Gently.<ref>[http://www.thegridto.com/culture/music/gentleman-reg-gets-fired-up/ "Gentleman Reg gets Fired up"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120518201253/http://www.thegridto.com/culture/music/gentleman-reg-gets-fired-up/ |date=18 May 2012 }}. ''[[The Grid (newspaper)|The Grid]]'', 22 July 2011.</ref>

==Career==
His first album, ''The Theoretical Girl'', was released in 2000 on [[Three Gut Records]]. He released two more albums, ''Make Me Pretty'' in 2002 and ''[[Darby & Joan (album)|Darby & Joan]]'' in 2004, on Three Gut before the label dissolved in 2005.<ref>Khanna, Vish. [http://exclaim.ca/articles/multiarticlesub.aspx?csid1=130&csid2=4&fid1=36726 "Ever the Gentleman Reg"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429195134/http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/multiarticlesub.aspx?csid1=130&csid2=4&fid1=36726 |date=29 April 2009 }}, ''[[Exclaim!]]'', March 2009.</ref>

He subsequently signed to [[Arts & Crafts (record label)|Arts & Crafts]] in 2008.<ref name=artsandcrafts>{{cite web |title=Gentleman Reg Inks Deal with Arts and Crafts |url=http://radio3.cbc.ca/blogs/2008/7/Gentleman-Reg-Inks-Deal-with-Arts-and-Crafts |date=15 July 2008 |accessdate=15 July 2008 |work=CBC Radio 3 }}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> His first release for that label, ''[[Little Buildings]]'' in 2008, was a compilation of tracks from his Three Gut albums. The album was created for release in the United States, where his earlier albums had never secured wide distribution. At the same time, he also released "You Can't Get it Back", an advance single from his first album of new material for Arts & Crafts, ''[[Jet Black (album)|Jet Black]]'', which was released in full on 24 February 2009.<ref name=chartattack>{{cite web |title=Gentleman Reg Wraps Record With Help From Friends |url=http://www.chartattack.com/news/43534/gentleman-reg-wraps-record-with-help-from-friends |date=4 May 2007 |accessdate=20 March 2009 |work=Chart Attack |first=Jason |last=MacNeil |url-status=usurped |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417005944/http://www.chartattack.com/news/43534/gentleman-reg-wraps-record-with-help-from-friends |archivedate=17 April 2009 }}</ref> ''Jet Black '' was the first proper studio album that he released in the United States.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20120710104123/http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/G/Gentleman_Reg/2009/02/25/8523766-sun.html Gentleman Reg back in Jet Black]}}. [[canoe.ca]], 25 February 2009.</ref>

Members of [[Royal City (band)|Royal City]] and [[The Constantines]] have regularly appeared as Vermue's band, live and on recordings, as well as long-time drummer Greg Millson, who now performs with [[Great Lake Swimmers]]. Vermue was also a member of [[The Hidden Cameras]] for several years and has performed with [[Broken Social Scene]], sung backup for [[Sufjan Stevens]], and often guests with [[Owen Pallett]]. He also appeared on a tribute CD for [[The Breeders]], ''Hellbound'', performing the song "Doe".

Songs by Gentleman Reg have appeared in such films as ''[[Shortbus]]'', ''[[Wilby Wonderful]]'', ''[[Twist (2003 film)|Twist]]'', ''[[The End of Silence]]'', ''[[Late Fragment]]'', and on the television show ''[[Queer as Folk (North American TV series)|Queer as Folk]]''.

Vermue, who is openly gay,<ref name=eyeweekly>{{cite web|url=http://www.eyeweekly.com/eye/issue/issue_06.27.02/music/reg.php |title=Gentleman Reg plays the confidence game |author=Michael Barclay |date=27 February 2006 |accessdate=18 July 2007 |work=[[Eye Weekly]] |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927001134/http://www.eyeweekly.com/eye/issue/issue_06.27.02/music/reg.php |archivedate=27 September 2007 }}</ref> appears in a cameo role in the 2006 [[John Cameron Mitchell]] film ''[[Shortbus]]''. In it, his character claims to be an [[albino]] — although Vermue is fair-skinned and has very light blond hair, he is not in fact an albino.<ref name=shortbus>''[[Shortbus]]'' DVD director and cast commentary.</ref> Songs by Gentleman Reg are featured on the soundtrack of the film.

In 2019 Vermue released "Good People", the first single to be credited to Regina Gently as a solo act.<ref>Sarah Murphy, [http://exclaim.ca/music/article/gentleman_reg_makes_debut_as_regina_gently_on_good_people "Gentleman Reg Makes Debut as Regina Gently on 'Good People'"]. ''[[Exclaim!]]'', April 18, 2019.</ref> The following year he released ''Don't Wait to Love Me'', the first full-length Regina Gently album.<ref>Vish Khanna, [https://exclaim.ca/music/article/regina_gently_gentleman_reg_dont_wait_to_love_me_album_review "Regina Gently Channels the Joy of 'Electric Circus' on 'Don't Wait to Love Me'"]. ''[[Exclaim!]]'', September 23, 2020.</ref>

==Discography==

===Albums===
* ''The Theoretical Girl'' (2000)
* ''Make Me Pretty'' (2002)
* ''[[Darby & Joan (album)|Darby & Joan]]'' (2004)
* ''[[Little Buildings]]'' (2008) (U.S. only release)
* ''[[Jet Black (album)|Jet Black]]'' (2009)
* ''[[Heavy Head]]'' (2009) (Digital only release)
* ''[[Leisure Life]]'' (2012)
* ''Light Fires'' (2013)
* ''Don't Wait to Love Me'' (2020)
* ''Songs I Already Sang'' (2024)

===Compilations===
* "Doe" on ''[[Hellbound: A Tribute to The Breeders]]'' (2001)
* "05.07.02" on ''Recordings From CKLN's Wired for Sound: 2001–2002'' – a live recording of "Give Me a Chance"
* "Over My Head (4 track)" on ''[[Friends in Bellwoods]]'' (2007)
* "For Trust" on ''[[Friends in Bellwoods II]]'' (2009)
* "Happens All the Time" ([[Eric's Trip]] cover) on ''Have Not Been the Same, Vol. 1: Too Cool to Live, Too Smart to Die'' (2011, as Light Fires)

===Soundtracks===
* ''[[Wilby Wonderful]]'' by [[Daniel MacIvor]], 2004
* ''[[Shortbus]]'' by [[John Cameron Mitchell]], 2006

===Guest vocal appearances===
* "Communication" from ''[[Morning Noon Night]]'' by [[Jim Guthrie (singer-songwriter)|Jim Guthrie]] (2002)
* "Library" from ''[[Has a Good Home]]'' by [[Final Fantasy (band)|Final Fantasy]] (2004)
* "Bring My Father a Gift" and "Take Me Down to Yonder River" from  ''[[Little Heart's Ease (album)|Little Heart's Ease]]'' by [[Royal City (band)|Royal City]] (2004)
* "Reward and Respite" from ''Attic Salt'' by [[Kepler (band)|Kepler]] (2004)
* "Hotline Operator" from ''[[Tournament of Hearts]]'' by [[Constantines]] (2005)
* "Blizzards" from ''[[Swift Feet for Troubling Times]]'' by [[Ohbijou]] (2007)
* "In the Beginning" b/w "Stars" from ''Unreleased'' by [[Isis Salam]] (2010)<ref>[https://archive.today/20120731121724/http://www.aux.tv/newmusic/music-news/listen-to-a-new-song-from-thunderheists-isis-salam/ Listen to a new song from Thunderheist's Isis Salam]. [[Aux (TV channel)|aux.tv]], 10 December 2010.</ref>
* "Smalltown Boy" from ''Cenotaph''<ref>[http://exclaim.ca/News/buck_65_celebrates_i20_odd_years_i_with_collaborations_with_gord_downie_nick_thorburn_hannah_georgas Buck 65 Celebrates 20 Odd Years with Collaborations with Gord Downie, Nick Thorburn, Hannah Georgas]. ''[[Exclaim!]]'', 9 December 2010.</ref> by [[Buck 65]] (2010)<ref>[http://exclaim.ca/News/buck_65_talks_i20_odd_years_i_ep_series_gets_gentleman_reg_to_help_cover_bronski_beat_on_next_instalment Buck 65 Talks 20 Odd Years EP Series, Gets Gentleman Reg to Help Cover Bronski Beat on Next Instalment]. ''[[Exclaim!]]'', 13 September 2010.</ref>
* "Wait & See" from ''[[Special Affections]]'' by [[Diamond Rings (musician)|Diamond Rings]] (2010)
* "Flare Gun" from ''[[Heartland (Owen Pallett album)|Heartland]]'' by [[Owen Pallett]] (2010)

===As a member of The Hidden Cameras===
Reg appeared on several of their albums and singles in different capacities.
* ''[[The Smell of Our Own]]'' (2003)
* ''[[The Hidden Cameras Play the CBC Sessions]]'' (2003)
* ''[[Mississauga Goddam]]'' (2004)
* ''I Believe in the Good of Life'' CD single (2004)
* ''[[Awoo]]'' (2006)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.gentlemanreg.com/ Gentleman Reg]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vermue, Reg}}
[[Category:21st-century Canadian LGBTQ people]]
[[Category:21st-century Canadian male singers]]
[[Category:21st-century Canadian singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:Canadian folk singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:Canadian gay musicians]]
[[Category:Canadian indie pop musicians]]
[[Category:Canadian indie rock musicians]]
[[Category:Canadian LGBTQ singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:Canadian male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:Canadian pop singers]]
[[Category:Gay singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Quinte West]]
[[Category:Singers from Ontario]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]