Category: Column Archives

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Column Archives Music

BMO and Imperial bring great Shows to Saint John

One Woman German Show @ BMO March 11 and 12

First I would like to tell you something that I found on Facebook. Ron Hynes is being inducted into the Canadian Songwriting Hall of Fame. It’s about time. Ron was one amazing songwriter; if you don’t know who he is, look him up, he wrote the international best seller and campfire song favourite, Sonny early in his career.

And next, after a lot of communication a 2017 cultural exchange which started in 2015 has resulted in friendships between two small theatre companies’ thousands of miles away from each other. Saint John’s SJTC production An Enemy of the People traveled to Theatre Konstanz (January 2017), a German production of Medea was presented at the BMO Studio Theatre by Theater Konstanz (April 2018) and an ARC production of Mary’s Wedding toured to Konstanz as well as several other German cities along with Paris, France, Nov 2019. 

Now Theater Konstanz from Konstanz, Germany will present a fully German production of the Neil LaBute one woman show EINE ART LIEBESERKLÄRUNG (All The Ways To Say I Love You) with English sub-titles at The Saint John Theatre Company on March 11 and 12. Tickets are $27.50 and $15 for students. To order visit: www.saintjohntheatrecompany.com or call 506-652-7582 ext. 236. 

 Funding for the SJTC Studio Series has been provided by Canadian Heritage, the Province of New Brunswick and BMO Financial.

Wine, Women & Song Mar 14    

A special treat from BMO Studio Theatre— three local gals, Ladd & Lasses’s Wine Women & Song at 8 pm, Sat. March 14.  They are a three piece chamber folk band, three local talented women from Saint John; Hilary Ladd, singer/songwriter/guitarist; Katie Bestwater, cello and Danielle Girard, violin.  This trio’s press release reads “Prepare to be swept away, chuckle, and maybe even shed a few tears.” This special BMO event also includes wine tasting hosted by our favourite wine expert sommelier, Craig Phinhey. This sounds like a great show to enjoy and taste a few samples of different wines Craig has chosen for the evening. Tickets are $40 can be purchased on line.

Imperial 50s, 60s Legend Show, May 29

I know this is a couple of months ahead, but worth planning for. Remember the 50s and 60s? If they were “your years” then this show is for you— one night only, the “Legends Show” brings you some of the world’s most exciting performers live on stage accompanied by the “Rockin’ Royals Band”, this show will feature incredible Tributes to Music Hits from the 50s and 60s (Pete Paquette), Connie Francis (Amberley Beatty), Roy Orbison (Jesse Aron) and Jerry Lee Lewis (Lance Lipinsky). Friday, May 29 at 7pm. Tickets: $57 A seating, $51 B seating and $46 C seating

The Island Girls @ Imperial In April

You’ll always remember these Cape Breton Girls once you see them on stage full of fun and singing full out toe tapping music. The music and comedy comes to the Imperial from Cape Breton on April 19 at 7:30 pm, Tickets are $53.  This powerhouse foursome, Bette MacDonald, Heather Rankin, Lucy MacNeil (Barra MacNeils), Jenn Sheppard and a rockin’ back-up band—they are all musical treasures with tributes, brilliant comedy and a “trip down memory lane” for all who settle into the Imperial’s comfortable seats April 19. They have a heart warming, hilarious and surprising show.

Blacks Harbour Sunday Jam 

Angela Blackier says that the Blacks Harbour Sunday Jam will be switching back to the usual 2 to 5pm schedule for the rest of daylight savings time which changes March 8.

REMINDER: Apohaqui Breakfast March 7, is at 8 am to 10:30 am at the Apohaqui Community Center in Jones Park. Come try home made beans and biscuits, brown bread, sausage, eggs, pancakes and more. Adults $7, children $5, with entertainment by the Happy Go Lucky fiddlers.  Sponsored by the Apohaqui- Lower Millstream Recreation Council

Hampton Fiddle Doo March 7

 Next Saturday, March 7 a Fiddle Doo and Potluck supper will be held at the Hampton Resource Center.  Kim and George Boone and the Maritime Fiddling Association will host this fun day starting at 2 pm to 6pm. If staying for supper please bring a food item. Donation at the door. A great afternoon of old time fiddle music.  A really popular event it features local fiddlers plus surprises from out of town.

Steve Lyons & Friends March 8

The Kennebecasis Valley Country Music Hoedown, hosted by Steve Lyons & Friends Sunday afternoon, from 2-5 pm at the Fairvale Outing Association (8 River Rd., Rothesay).A supper lineup of guests includes Anna Marie Burke, Bobby Burke, Steven Sears (aka Willie), Carol Perry and the regulars are Steve Lyons, Bob Burgess, Scott Medford, Michael Hanlon and Crystal Jones. Also there are Door Prizes, 50/50 draws, Steak Draws and the Canteen and Bar will be open. These shows also have an open mic segment where audience members can share their talents with you. 

UKES 4 U Irish Concert March 17

 If you happen to be in the area and the weather co-operates,  join them at Lancaster Mall, S.J. West, Tuesday, Mar. 17 from 2-3pm for an Irish Sing-Along.  Ukes 4 U  is a senior’s ukulele group of about 25 members, led by retired music teacher Kay MacLean, assisted by Ann Brown.  They practice weekly at the West Side Library, Lancaster Mall and already have six Spring Concerts booked thru April up until May14th. Stay tuned.

 Nick Apollonio at Camden Opera House March 27

Looking for something different to do with a free weekend? If you love folk music and gorgeous hand made instruments, this is for you. Nick grew up listening to a wide range of folk influences, from Burl Ives to Ewan MacColl’s sea songs. This program of songs, stories, poems takes place at the Camden, Maine Opera House’s Blue Cafe (3rd floor) which is a really nice small venue. He will feature his beautifully hand made instruments, like the funkyfiddle and the a new harp-guittern for accompaniment. He has a great variety of songs and music from Celtic to Spanish, by contribution, it has a March 27, 7:30 pm start.
 

Categories
Column Archives Music

Katey Day Reick Wins National Karoke Singing Championship

I want to personally congratulate Saint John’s Katey Day, now known to many as Katey Day Reick, who is now based in Shediac, on her winning the Canadian finals representing Eastern Canada. Katey will go next to Japan for the world karaoke finals.

Katey Day at Acadia Broadcasting

She told me “Over the years I’ve truly enjoyed hanging out with friends and singing karaoke, having fun, etc.; and of course as you know for more than three decades I’ve been playing music in bars, festivals, and with bands, musicians, as a soloist and duet, special guesting, running events, staging my rock musical Deception; it’s been an amazing time and continues to blow my mind every single day.

“When I moved to Moncton, I hooked up with Kathy and Alex LeGood who run the most popular Karaoke business in NB, Alley Katz Karaoke….what a lot of people don’t know is that I was in a foster home when I was 11 and 12 that was run by Kathy’s Mother so hooking up after 30 years was quite something! Kathy and Alex have been huge supporters of mine, my original compositions and my music in general since I’ve been here and it just so happens that the Karaoke World Competition’s National Director Sharon Quinn contacted them asking “if there was any talent in the Maritimes who may be interested in entering the competition?”

“Kathy and Alex suggested contacting me and a few others. So that was beginning. Next I received a phone call and had to be approved by the National Karoke Board. Then, friends who own A-1 Lumpers (they offload freight at a warehouse or sites in Moncton, Halifax and NFLD) donated a ticket for me and also one for Katie, my wife to attend the competition and our friends and fans helped us with the rest of the expenses and of course Karaoke World Championships helped as well.’

Since this is modern times the Board used technology to select the representatives to sing in Calgary for the semi-finals. Katey needed four songs to perform and choose, Piece of My Heart- Janis Joplin; Make You Feel My Love- Adele; the Moulin Rouge version of Your Song by Elton John and as the fourth song, Elton John’s I Would Do Anything For Love.

“Once we all arrived they split all of us into groups A, B and C and they also had a Duet category which they divided them the same way. I just kept forging forward, sang to the best of my abilities and won 1st place in Canada,—soooo, at the end of November, I will represent Canada in Tokyo, Japan along with two other wonderful artists who will represent Duets. Their names are Kate Dion and Candace Miles – truly awesome singers…..but to me they were ALL awesome and brought so much to the table that it’s hard for me to believe I received the ‘number one’ spot…but I’m glad and honored of course.”

And that’s Katey’s story. The prequel started in Saint John. Since I’ve known her for many years I will always think of her as a teen, wearing a beret and singing Irish folksongs. She started broadcasting at CHSJ in Saint John as a news assistant and writing commercials when she was 18. Besides always singing when she had the chance she was also a DJ in Halifax, worked with 9.9 HalFM, lite 92.9 and the Maritime News Network among other jobs connected to music including writing her own musical, Deception.

The best example of her always singing her best was at a concert Barry and Valerie MacDonald organized in Hampton some years ago. Katey was the guest and although she had sung Danny Boy a hundred times or more, I will always remember her rendition that night. The way she sang it was very moving and memorable. She is a woman of many talents and I think New Brunswick should be very proud of her and her incredible win. We wish her all the best in Japan.

She has now embarked on a new career, selling real estate for Quality Remax in Moncton and has made her first sale, no doubt she sang them into buying.

And one last thing, Katey Day Reick says that in 2020 the World Karaoke will be held in the Maritimes in March. It will be interesting times for local singers.

Music at Dr. Snow Center Sept. 13
There’s a grand opening of “The Garden Room” at the Dr. Snow Center in Hampton, a new greenhouse that the patients and visitors can enjoy. The entertainment features Margie Stackhouse who has been in the music business since childhood and Greg Stevens. He plays keyboard, lead & bass guitar, banjo and sings– for this special opening at the Dr. Snow Center, Friday, Sept. 13, 2pm, 45 DeMille Court Hampton.
Margie lives in Hampton, sang with the Maritime Farmers on CHSJ TV and the S.J. EX in the 50’s, was part of the Springhill, NS 1958 Mine Disaster Benefit show, performed on radio shows as a teenager and years later Margie performed with Nashville star, Jean Shepard. When in Florida she performs weekly at the Orange Blossom Opry in Wiersdale, FL. and when home holds a monthly Country/Gospel show at Bradley Lake.


Breeze & Wilson at BMO Theatre Sept. 7
Stan Carew discovered them on a trip to England and invited them over to be on his CBC Saturday morning radio show. I saw them at Main St. Anglican Church, I think it the last time Stan appeared with them. It was a great concert. This time they have chosen the popular uptown Saint John BMO Theatre on Princess St. for their NB stop on their Maritime Tour, Sept 7, 7:30pm. Tickets $20 at door, call 652-7582 or visit www.ticketpro.ca
Eddy Poirier’s Grassline in Norton, Sept 8
A reminder that a great night of bluegrass with Eddy Poirier, Jim Collette, Laurie Chevarie, and Edgar Bastrashe will be at Norton Catholic hall, Sept 8. Doors open at 1 pm. Tickets $12 at door. For more info call Eddie at 384-8655 or email eddyfiddle@gmail.com

Brenda Best Plays New York
Speaking of country and also rock and roll, New Brunswick’s 2015 NBCMHF inductee, Brenda Best is still busy playing oldies for local fans in and around Nashville and is always branching out, happy spreading her brand of New Brunswick happiness in the oldest rock and roll club in New York– The Bitter End, established in 1961. It’s a club that legends have played, from Ramblin Jack Elliot to the Everely Brothers, from Joan Baez to Odetta. We’re proud of Brenda for being able to add her name to that distinguished list. http://www.bitterend.com/legends/ The Bitter End is located in the heart of Greenwich Village in the western end of Manhattan and you never know who or what you’ll hear next, but we do know Brenda Best played there August 26.

Categories
Column Archives Folk Music

Stompin’ Tom

Stompin' Tom 1936-2013
Stompin' Tom 1936-2013

from Gerry’s 2009 when Stompin’ Tom was last here.

STOMPIN TOM’S NEW CD A MILESTONE IN HIS NEVER ENDING STORY

Stompin' Tom 1936-2013
Stompin’ Tom 1936-2013

A perception once rooted is hard to disinter.

On page seven of Tom Connors’ own biography Stompin’ Tom Before The Fame he writes: I had been born Charles Thomas Connors at the stroke of midnight on February 9, 1936, in the General Hospital in Saint John, New Brunswick. My birth certificate shows my mother’s name as Isabel Connors.
Tom was in high school at Saint John Vocational (now Harbour View High) in 1950 when I was in the commercial art course there. He posed for several of the murals painted by Fred Ross that distinguished the corridors of that institution of learning for many decades. And long time RCA fiddling legend Ned Landry is Tom’s cousin on the Sullivan side of their families.

Yet even such an authority on the unique personalities that embroider the pages of Canadian history as Wayne Rostad was amazed a couple of months ago to learn that Tom hadn’t been born on our Garden of the Gulf. And a favourite recording artist of mine Stew Clayton begins his Tribute To Stompin’ Tom with “From Skinner’s Pond in PEI”.

Part of the myth, of course, derives from Tom himself who for many years opened every concert and TV telecast with “Hello, I’m Stompin Tom from PEI” and, of course, his was the voice of PEI’s TV commercials in those years, as well. Tom in a letter to me, 15 years ago, explained the paradox this way:
“When interviewers ask what they believe to be a simple question they don’t want you to go into a long speech about your entire historical background. I therefore use the following rule of thumb.

“When asked “Where were you born?”, I say Saint John, NB, because that is where I first saw the light of day. When asked “Where are you from”, I say Skinner’s Pond, PEI because that is the first place I could ever call home. When asked where is your home? I presume the question means right now, so I say, just outside Georgetown, Ontario.”

I was amazed a couple of years ago, giving a talk on New Brunswick songs at the Saint John Art Centre, how few of the audience realized Tom was from this city or that he had written songs about the province and Saint John.

In fact the first song he wrote, My Reversing Falls Darling was composed when he was attending Vocational. He, also, wrote and recorded Saint John Blues, The Don Messer Story, Tribute To Wilf Carter (with the line ‘Til the wood camps of New Brunswick hired Wilf for a better wage) and a great radio air-play hit New Brunswick and Mary.

And, now, on his new Ballad of Stompin Tom CD, there’s a very haunting song Rose of Silver Falls, perhaps inspired by a gypsy caravan he saw during his two years at the St. Patrick’s Orphanage near the Falls.The most hilarious song on it is an NB inspired one too, (Working In The) Bush of Bouctouche (because of a gal in Tatamagouche). And the title song Ballad of Stompin’ Tom affirms in its opening line the place of his birth, “I was born in Saint John, New Brunswick, by the sea.”

I think this is Tom’s most impressive and enjoyable album since his release of Fiddle & Song in 1988, an LP/cassette that included such powerful folk ballads as Return Of The Sea Queen, Entry Island Home, Wreck of the Tammy Anne, I Am The Wind and Lady k. d. Lang.
This new CD album of his resonates with the same powerful folk feel! He even includes a real Irish folk song, of IRA origin, Kevin Barry and Wilf Carter’s six decade old Take Me Back To Old Alberta.

Others with a definite folk gene include Birth of The Texas Gulf Mine, My British Columbia Home, Lady Slipper and Ottawa Lures.
And only Tom could take a bawdy song popular during the Second World War, Chase Me Charlie, change the lyrics, but keep its lilting racy rhythm, while transforming it into such a beautiful country love song, one you’ll be humming for days after hearing it. It’s omething he did with a song of similar origin The North Atlantic Squadron 33 years ago.

Another selection so hilarious it should have you laughing from beginning to end (it did me) on this new CD is Chickee Pooh (curly eyes and laughing toes, and where did you get those?). And there is a variant of an English folk song that Hank Snow gave new life to in the 1940’s The Cowboy’s Broken Ring. Tom’s mother Isabel died last year, that her favourite song. And there’s another beautiful new song from Tom’s pen, the Bride And Groom Waltz.
The others are updated re-recordings of three of Tom’s greatest hits, The Olympic Song (with a verse about the 2009 Games in BC added), The Hockey Song and the Hockey Mom Tribute.

In his early recording years before details of Tom’s troubled childhood surfaced I wondered why neither he nor Donald Sutherland, who even then had appeared in an amazing number of Hollywood feature movies never mentioned Saint John, their birthplace, in interviews. Unhappy childhoods or, in Donald’s case, I understand, school years, aside, it seemed to me an apathy exist toward entertainers in NB giving Cape Breton and PEI a decided edge. Various international music authorities, in conversations over the years have accessed our province as having more gifted musicians and singers than either of those, The difference, they felt, was we just don’t merchandise tour talent nearly as well.

I had one dismaying example of that myself! When Tom came out of his 1980s decade long hiatus from entertaining and was planning an 80 concert 1990 Ontario to British Columbia and back across to the Atlantic tour his road manager Brian Edwards asked me to inquire if should their first Atlantic provinces concert be in Saint John would his birth city acknowledge the fact with some fanfare?

I took the proposal to the city’s much beloved mayor, a lady I had known since we were children. She thought it was a great idea and that she would present it to council..A week later I had a phone call from a city hall secretary saying council had turned it down..Summerside and Charlottetown, however, grabbed it up quickly, staging a parade, elaborate publicity and banner draped streets.

The new Ballad Of Stompin’ Tom CD should be available at music stores everywhere, or you can visit visit www.StompinTom.com

Categories
Album Release Column Archives Country and Western Folk Memories Music

Stompin’ Tom’s Never Ending Story

Stompin' Tom Connors and Ned Landry
Stompin' Tom Connors and Ned Landry

Stompin’ Tom’s New CD – a Milestone in His Never Ending Story

Stompin' Tom 1936-2013
Stompin’ Tom 1936-2013

A perception once rooted is hard to disinter.

On page seven of Tom Connors own biography Stompin’ Tom Before The Fame he writes: I had been born Charles Thomas Connors at the stroke of midnight on February 9, 1936, in the General Hospital in Saint John, New Brunswick. My birth certificate shows my mother’s name as Isabel Connors.

Tom was in high school at Saint John Vocational (now Harbour View High) in 1950 when I was in the commercial art course there. He posed for several of the murals painted by Fred Ross that distinguished the corridors of that institution of learning for many decades. And long time RCA fiddling legend Ned Landry is Tom’s cousin on the Sullivan side of their families.

Yet even such an authority on the unique personalities that embroider the pages of Canadian history as Wayne Ronstad was amazed a couple of months ago to learn that Tom hadn’t been born on our Garden of the Gulf. And a favourite recording artist of mine Stew Clayton begins his Tribute To Stompin’ Tom with “From Skinner’s Pond in PEI”.

Part of the myth, of course, derives from Tom himself who for many years opened every concert and TV telecast with “Hello, I’m Stompin Tom from PEI” and, of course, his was the voice of PEI’s TV commercials in those years, as well. Tom in a letter to me, 15 years ago, explained the paradox this way:

“When interviewers ask what they believe to be a simple question they don’t want you to go into a long speech about your entire historical background. I therefor use the following rule of thumb.

Stompin' Tom Connors and Ned Landry
Stompin’ Tom Connors and Ned Landry

“When asked “Where were you born?”, I say Saint John, NB, because that is where I first saw the light of day. When asked “Where are you from”, I say Skinner’s Pond, PEI because that is the first place I could ever call home. When asked where is your home? I presume the question means right now, so I say, just outside Georgetown, Ontario.”

I was amazed a couple of years ago, giving a talk on New Brunswick songs at the Saint John Art Centre, how few of the audience realized Tom was from this city or that he had written songs about the province and Saint John.

In fact the first song he wrote, My Reversing Falls Darling was composed when he was attending Vocational. He, also, wrote and recorded Saint John Blues, The Don Messer Story, Tribute To Wilf Carter (with the line ‘Til the wood camps of New Brunswick hired Wilf for a better wage) and a great radio air-play hit New Brunswick and Mary.

And, now, on his new Ballad of Stompin Tom CD, there’s a very haunting song Rose of Silver Falls, perhaps inspired by a gypsy caravan he saw during his two years at the St. Patrick’s Orphanage near the Falls.The most hilarious song on it is an NB inspired one too, (Working In The) Bush of Bouctouche (because of a gal in Tatamagouche). And the title song Ballad of Stompin’ Tom affirms in its opening line the place of his birth, “I was born in Saint John, New Brunswick, by the sea.”
I think this is Tom’s most impressive and enjoyable album since his release of Fiddle & Song in 1988, an LP/cassette that included such powerful folk ballads as Return Of The Sea Queen, Entry Island Home, Wreck of the Tammy Anne, I Am The Wind and Lady k. d. Lang.

This new CD album of his resonates with the same powerful folk feel! He even includes a real Irish folk song, of IRA origin, Kevin Barry and Wilf Carter’s six decade old Take Me Back To Old Alberta.

Others with a definite folk gene include Birth of The Texas Gulf Mine, My British Columbia Home, Lady Slipper and Ottawa Lures.

And only Tom could take a bawdy song popular during the Second World War, Chase Me Charlie, change the lyrics, but keep its lilting racy rhythm, while transforming it into such a beautiful country love song, one you’ll be humming for days after hearing it. It’s something he did with a song of similar origin The North Atlantic Squadron 33 years ago.

Another selection so hilarious it should have you laughing from beginning to end (it did me) on this new CD is Chickee Pooh (curly eyes and laughing toes, and where did you get those?). And there is a variant of an English folk song that Hank Snow gave new life to in the 1940’s The Cowboy’s Broken Ring. Tom’s mother Isabel died last year, that her favourite song. And there’s another beautiful new song from Tom’s pen, the Bride And Groom Waltz.

The others are updated re-recordings of three of Tom’s greatest hits, The Olympic Song (with a verse about the 2009 Games in BC added), The Hockey Song and the Hockey Mom Tribute.

In his early recording years before details of Tom’s troubled childhood surfaced I wondered why neither he nor Donald Sutherland, who even then had appeared in an amazing number of Hollywood feature movies never mentioned Saint John, their birthplace, in interviews. Unhappy childhoods or, in Donald’s case, I understand, school years, aside, it seemed to me an apathy exist toward entertainers in NB giving Cape Breton and PEI a decided edge. Various international music authorities, in conversations over the years have accessed our province as having more gifted musicians and singers than either of those, The difference, they felt, was we just don’t merchandise tour talent nearly as well.

I had one dismaying example of that myself! When Tom came out of his 1980s decade long hiatus from entertaining and was planning an 80 concert 1990 Ontario to British Columbia and back across to the Atlantic tour his road manager Brian Edwards asked me to inquire if should their first Atlantic provinces concert be in Saint John would his birth city acknowledge the fact with some fanfare?

I took the proposal to the city’s much beloved mayor, a lady I had known since we were children. She thought it was a great idea and that she would present it to council..A week later I had a phone call from a city hall secretary saying council had turned it down. Summerside and Charlottetown, however, grabbed it up quickly, staging a parade, elaborate publicity and banner draped streets.

The new Ballad Of Stompin’ Tom CD should be available at music stores everywhere, or you can visit visit www.StompinTom.com

Categories
Album Release Column Archives Concert Event Folk Music

Gordon Bok’s New Release

Other Eyes Released by Timberhead Music

The hook-up of our local folk music community with that of central Maine began with a wild drive from Saint John to Wolfville, N.S. one cool, clear October night in the late 1970’s.

The tale of that trip is still told now and then at the twice yearly gatherings of performers from those areas 32 years later. That trip became an all night odyssey. I was the driver.

Our Saint John folk Club had its first sing-around in September 1975. Its founder, the late John Murphy, whose death last September is still painfully lamented, Bob Wallace, our then club president and Moncton folk authority and performer Bernie Houlahan were among those who went with me.

Gordon Bok was appearing in Wolfville at Acadia University that night. We hoped to hire Gordon to perform a Saint John concert for our club. And despite a late start and holdups we got there for the concert’s entirety, talk to him afterwards and he put us on his spring tour schedule.

 That event at the New Brunswick Museum began a cross border coalition. Since then Gordon has returned many times for the gatherings, to perform a Bi-Capital fundraising concert (Bi-Imperial by its end) and take part in Jim Stewart’s Marco Polo Suite in 2002 at the Imperial.

 

Gordon Bok "Peter Kagan And The Wind"
Gordon Bok “Peter Kagan And The Wind”

I first encountered the name Gordon Bok on a Verve Folkway LP in the 1960’s. That CD became a much played favourite at our house, especially the song Fundy (our Fundy Bay) about those who navigate its thick fogs and treacherous tides. Then in 1972 I discovered Connecticut’s Folk Legacy label just after they’d released their first Gordon Bok record, Seal Djiril’s Hymn ‘sang and told with Ann Mayo Muir,’ another extraordinary talent.

In the next three decades, Gordon would gain international fame as a star on Folk-Legacy, accounting for a major part of the label’s revenues. He released numerous LP’s as a solo artist and as the pivot of a beloved trio he formed with Ann Mayo Muir and Ed Trickett as well as with other collaborations.

Some years ago, however, with the label’s founder Sandy Patton’s health failing, his wife Caroline suffering vision loss and their partner Lee Haggerty dying, Gordon acquired his masters back. So they are now all available, more impressive sounding than ever on pristine re-mastered Timberhead label CD discs.

A small Camden, Maine publishing company, Timberhead Music is centered around the preservation, promotion and proliferation of Gordon Bok’s written and recorded music. But they do publish work by other lyric poets and musicians as well, Jim Stewart’s Marco Polo Suite included in those. Gordon, himself, as he says “now unbelievably 70′ continues to record, his voice still virtually as rich a bass baritone as when I first heard him and he has the same uniquely sensitive interpretative instrumental skills that combined have made him the definitive voice of the US east coast. In April of this year Gordon released a new album of 15 very focused songs Other Eyes, in some cases poems like The Beaches of Lukannon, by Rudyard Kipling (an intimate of Gordon’s grandfather, Edward Bok) set to music. All are songs that view man with conceivable believability through non-human eyes. The eyes of animals like Bold Reynolds, a fox who outruns hunters and hounds into old age, the eyes of feathered observers as in The Bird Rock,Heron Croon, Gulls of Morning, and those whodwell in waters both deep and shallow:The Seals and even the fishes from The Net.

 

With Jim Stewart of Saint John NB of Marco Polo Suite Fame
With Jim Stewart of Saint John NB of Marco Polo Suite Fame

A long time mutual acquaintance, Scott Alarik, a performer and folk music reviewer for The Boston Globe wrote of this CD that: ‘Gordon Bok has a special genius for showing us the world through other eyes. In this beautifully conceived album he explores how the natural world sees us…offering visions at once earthly and ethereal, stunningly fresh and as old as tradition. Among the finest folk ballad singers this country has produced, Bok’s glorious bass voice has softened and warmed with age, like a fine old cello, drawing us closer into the spells he casts.’

Other selections on this CD include Captive Water, Sarabande’s Story, The Maiden Hind, Spell To bring Lost Creatures Home, Ocean Station Bravo, The Brandy Tree, The Shepherd’s Call and Sherry’s Song.

His most recent release before Other Eyes was a terrific, Gordon Bok In Concert, his only live album except for the trio’s, Minneapolis Concert in 1987. This solo CD will open your eyes, however, through your ears to Gordon’s warmer, more humorous side. Also to the deep connection he shares with his audiences. I was amazed a few years ago by the reaction of a couple of friends we took to a Bok Muir Trickett concert at Payne Hall on the Harvard University campus. Not even aware of traditional balladry as it turned out, they were incredulous at such a large capacity audience singing along unhesitatingly with the trio on songs they had never heard of let alone heard. Not commercial radio or even CBC fare now!

The introduction to the comedic Irish ballad Queer Bungo Rye for instance, a salute to Nova Scotia’s Canso Strait, The Angellus, the nostalgic Where The Cane Fires Burn, and an inspired rendering of Let The Lower Lights Be Burninjg, the rare Oystershell Road and boisterous Scottish Hie Awa with it’s introduction make this a music experience you’ll want to relive often, all 16 songs interspersed with humour and stories.

There is also the Bok Trio’s 1994 Language Of The Heart CD,its incredibly beautiful title song written by Rothesay’s Jim Stewart and Moncton’s Bernie Houlahan. Jim’s Marco Polo song is included as well and such beauties as Blue Mountain, Stephen Foster, Merlin’s Waltz and Ballinderry. The 15 tracks on it are all so beautiful.

 

Bok Trio Minneapolis Concert
Bok Trio Minneapolis Concert

And 15 also on Harbours Of Home by Gordon, Ed and Ann, including such exquisite jems as Australian Henry Lawson’s The Outside Track, Scotsman Dave Goulder’s Pigs Can See The Wind, TheGreat Valley’s Harvest, a lyrical treasure Jim Stewart and Gordon joined talents to write We Built This Old Ship, John Austin Martin’s entrancing Dancing At Whitsum, J.B. Goodenough’s Turning Of The Year and the title song by another favoured singer songwriter Joan Sprung.

Also in the Timberhead catalogue is the trio’s Turning Toward The Morning which includes two masterpieces of Gordon’s own, Isle Au Haut Lullaby and the title song plus such stirring emotional gems as Three Score And Ten, I Drew My Ship, Gentle Annie,How Can I Keep From Singing and six others.

These and many more of this world’s most thrilling folk CDs are available for only $16 US…some cassettes for only $5…by visiting www.timberheadmusic.com/

ST. ANDREWS TONIGHT, SUSSEX SATURDAY

St. Andrews area singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Adam Olmstead made quite a stir in the media three years ago with his first CD, A. G. Olmstead. Media icons heard in that album of original songs glimmers of the songwriting talents of the Mississippi blue yodeller Jimmie Rodgers and the late 40’s Hank Williams. Local CBCs and even Saturday Mornings’ Stan Carew interviewed and sang his praises.

But, although Adam has slipped out of sight of the media since then he has continued to perform regularly at the Red Herring Pub in St. Andrews. In fact, he is playing there tonight 6 to 9 p.m. And through the summer he’ll be playing there weekly at that time slot, singing old favourites, songs he’s written accompanying himself on any of the ten instruments he plays, often joined by Al Brisley, a gifted local musician. He also has a new CD recorded, ready to be mastered for release in late summer.

This Saturday night at 7 p.m. Adam will also be the featured entertainer at Sussex’s popular Broadway Cafe, performing old timey favourites, bluegrass and classic country, along with many of his own songs.

GARY BURGESS BENEFIT CONCERT

Gary Burgess’ many fans will be saddened to learn he has been diagnosed with cancer and is to begin treatments. Gary has hosted many fundraisers for others in the years he has headed Sussex Corner Jamborees. Now the Friends of Gary Burgess are hosting one for him on June 27 at the Canadian Legion Branch #20, Sussex on June 27. It will feature Art Boyd, Tom Burgess, Mike McQuarrie, Raymond Thebeau and guests. Mike Whalen will emcee. Dave Stewart and Jim McDermott are handling sound. Admission is a donation at the door.

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Ray Price in New Brunswick June 2010

Ray Price Recalls His Days with Hank Williams and Elvis

I recently had the pleasure of a half hour talk with legendary country star Ray Price, a very real pleasure as it turned out!

Sean Eyre of Rocklands Entertainment, Ray’s tour management, had told me the 84 year old country music giant for 60 of his years had ‘just stepped out of the shower’ when he patched me through.

So we were a few minutes into the interview when I realized, hearing voices behind him, he wasn’t at home.

“You’re on a bus!” I exclaimed, “not in Texas?”

“And Dorothy’s not in Kansas either,” I almost added but caught myself: it was my first conversation with Ray Price after all. Had I known he had such a warm ready sense of humour I would have added it, however.”

“No,” he replied laughing, “we’re just a couple of hours out of Nashville. The Cherokee Cowboys and I are due at Warner Brothers by noon to film our part in a TV super special.”

Imagine Ray Price at 84, doing media interviews from his bus, facing days of filming and recording in Nashville with a cross-Canada tour looming just weeks away! A tour, in fact, that starts here at Saint John’s Imperial Theatre next Tuesday, 7 p.m.! That June 8 concert will be his first in the Maritimes in 45 years! And, as a special treat, his son Cliff is his opening act! So if you haven’t got tickets yet, get them quick. There’s not many left. Visit the Imperial box office, phone 674-4100, 1-800-323-7469 or go to web-site www.imperialtheatre.ca.

Ray’s at the Playhouse in Fredericton Thursday, June 10, also, but I understand that concert is nearly sold out. To check call 458-8344 or 1-866-884-5800 or visit the Playhouse box office.

Born Ray Noble Price on a farm near Perryville. Texas in 1926, Ray moved to Dallas with his mother when her parents divorced but spent time back on the farm with his dad, during school holidays. After a stint as a US Marine in World War 11, he enrolled in North Texas Agriculture College intending to become a veterinarian. But writing songs and performing at college events led to a steady gig at Roy’s House Cafe near the campus, and other venues.

He made his debut as a radio entertainer in 1948 over KRBC in Abilene, then moved back to Dallas and the Big D Jamboree, a radio show with network connections. A single he released on the Nashville based Bullet label caused ripples in late 1949. His smooth rich voice with it’s deep emotional undertones so impressed Peer-Southern executive Troy Martin that he arranged a contract for Ray with Columbia Records in 1951.

Hank Williams Sr. became interested in him about that time as well. I knew of a ‘leg up’ Hank had given Ray during his early years in Nashville.

“I don’t know how that came about. He just sort of took me under his wing,” Ray said. “Not only did he take me along on the road but he gave me name billing on the shows, even wrote a song with me Weary Blues he gave me to record.”

That song sold well enough for Ray to be invited to join the Grand Ole Opry cast in 1952.

“For a time Hank and I even shared a house, a two story stone duplex, me up, him down. And he even let me use his Drifting Cowboys as my band. His death that New Year’s Eve in 1953 came as an even greater shock to me than to most because of that closeness. He was always telling people I was going to be No.1. I used the Drifting Cowboys as my band after Hank died, hoping to keep his memory alive I guess, not wanting to admit that he was gone. And even after I formed my own band, the Cherokee Cowboys, I kept his steel guitarist Don Helms and fiddler Jerry Rivers with me. We became like brothers. We built houses next to each other and lived in them for 14 years.”

Arguably the world’s greatest country singer, Ray with his magnificent show-stopping voice became a leader himself as the 1950’s progressed and on his way to the top took country music from it’s honky-tonk period through some revolutionary changes.

I reminded him that in 1956 when rock ‘n’ roll threatened to erase country from the charts it was his rendition of Crazy Arms that knocked Elvis Presley off those charts. That song stayed on top for 45 weeks. And it has been credited as the song that got people listening to country again.

“Yes, and that is strange in itself because, as Hank Williams was the one who did it for me, I’d given Elvis his first leg up in turn,” he said.

That was startling news. I hadn’t heard that story before.

“Elvis was born in Tupelo, Mississippi early in 1935,” Ray said “but his family moved to Memphis when he was 13. His parents were very religious: he’d sang with them at revival meetings, gospel concerts and churches.

“In Memphis he started hanging around Oscar Davis’ place where I was appearing Friday nights. I heard him singing along in the audience one night and got him up on stage. It became a regular weekly thing. And it was his first experience singing for a country audience but people loved him. With us he quickly got over any nervousness he’d felt on stage. Soon he was sharing Eddy Arnold’s manager Colonel Tom Parker, appearing on the Louisiana Hayride, touring with Hank Snow and Johnny Cash and releasing hit after hit on the prestigious RCA label.

Like Hank Williams, Ray has always had an ear for new talent. He and his Cherokee Cowboys have nourished incredible talents like Roger Miller, Willie Nelson and Johnny Paycheck among their numbers. Ray himself has immeasurably grown country music’s audience with his ever evolving tempo innovations and image. He realized early that it would have to appeal to a wider population segment to survive commercially.

Accordingly he began to take country to a non-country audience seeking to erase boundaries as Hank Williams had done. He ditched any pretension of a cowboy image, began appearing on stage in dress suits as though every gig were a Carnegie concert. And the subterfuge worked for his ballads while attracting a wider audience still breathed of the Texas soil.

“Even today,” Brian Edwards, Rocklands’ CEO says, “he comes out on stage impeccably dressed, waits for the band’s intro, then opens his mouth and out comes the same magnificent voice he had in his thirties. At 84 he is absolutely incredible.”

That’s the voice you’ll hear Tuesday if you’re lucky enough to get tickets. The rich, unmistakable voice that drove an amazing 108 singles to the top of country and pop charts.