[1] Although he only released a small number of singles and was never widely known outside of Toronto during his lifetime,[2] he has been credited as the catalyst for an early-1980s country music and roots rock revival in Toronto[3] which paved the way for acts such as Blue Rodeo, Prairie Oyster, Skydiggers and Cowboy Junkies to break through to greater fame,[4] and as one of the key figures in the transformation of the city's Queen Street West district into a cultural hotspot.
[7] Initially, Masyk and his brother Jim started a band called The Velours, whose material consisted primarily of Elvis Presley and Velvet Underground covers with some original songs.
[2] He hosted a weekly residency at the Cameron House tavern on Queen Street West,[9] playing there as a headliner and providing a platform for other like-minded artists.
[2] He released a small number of independent singles both as a solo artist and with the Sidewinders,[10] and was a regular organizer of country-themed music events such as the "Handsome Ned Picnic" and "Honky Tonk Heart".
[1] Murray McLauchlan, who had been preparing to produce Masyk's debut album, intended to host a special tribute episode of the Honky Tonk Hardwood Floor Show a few days after his death.