New biography about legendary Canadian songwriter Marc Jordan is also a remarkable tale of resilience.
Now in his 70s, Marc Jordan is one of Canada’s most revered singer-songwriters. But before all the acclaim and success, he had to learn to navigate the world through sound instead of words. Living with profound dyslexia, the son of renowned singer Charles Jordan grew up in Toronto and developed an instinctive, visual relationship with music that—eventually—reshaped how he composed, heard and felt songs.
Rather than limiting him, dyslexia became the engine of Marc’s creativity, allowing him to imagine music spatially and emotionally in ways that defied conventional structure.
In 1978 he was signed to Warner Brothers, which was the biggest deal any Canadian had ever had in America at the time. From there he began writing songs for and with the likes of Rod Stewart, Diana Ross, Chicago, The Manhattan Transfer, Kenny Loggins, Bette Midler, Natalie Cole, Olivia Newton-John, Joe Cocker, Bonnie Raitt and Cher—including the
No. 1 hit Rhythm of My Heart.
Not only is Marc a recent inductee into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, his songs have sold over 35 million units, his hits include Marina Del Rey and Survival and, as a septuagenarian, he remains a sought-after songwriter and performer
Now, his extraordinary journey and success are documented in Rhythm of My Heart: The Authorized Biography of Marc Jordan, a new book that traces how he transformed an early learning challenge into a lifelong artistic advantage. Written by Toronto-based, Emmy-winning composer and author Don Breithaupt, the biography reveals how dyslexia sharpened Jordan’s melodic instincts, shaped his songwriting voice and fueled a body of work that has touched millions.
A deep-dive exploration of a career that has shaped the sound of popular music for over 50 years, this biography is also a guided tour through the high-water marks of pop culture. The book features secondary interviews with an army of famous collaborators, including industry titans like David Foster, and it also details his scribe relationship with Rod Stewart, who has recorded five of Marc’s compositions.
Rhythm of My Heart is not just a story of musical success, though. It’s also one about resilience, adaptation and the quiet power of finding your own language when the traditional one doesn’t fit.
Find Rhythm of My Heart: The Authorized Biography of Marc Jordan at Indigo and on Amazon.
