August 2021 – Country Music Association of Ontario

August 5, 2021

Artist of the Month: Smoke & Ashes

Sometimes things come together really fast and you can’t stop them once they start rolling, and that’s the story of Smoke & Ashes in a nutshell. The new Canadian country music duo describes their coming together as a match thrown on gasoline, ever since their first songwriting session in April 2021. Now, just a few months later, the pair have released their first single, High On Sunday, and are preparing to release their debut EP later this year. Smoke & Ashes is the partnership of industry veteran (musician, singer, writer, producer, and more) Pete Lesperance and the 2020 Country Music Association of Ontario Awards’ Rising Star winner, singer-songwriter Aaron Allen. If High On Sunday is a taste of what we’re going to get on the […]

August 5, 2021

Ontario’s Country Music Pioneers: JK Gulley

// by Larry Delaney // (Born: John Ken Gulley – October 11, 1955 – Toronto, Ontario) (#52 in the Ontario Pioneers Series) A guitar whiz since early childhood, JK Gulley first performed professionally in support of Canadian artist Alfie Fromager, then became a founding member of the country group Dusty Road (with Les Childs and Brian Callan). The trio released a self-titled LP (Thunderbird Records) which featured five songs written by Gulley. JK Gulley next joined the Ontario-based group Whiskey River, and by the late 1970s, was playing lead guitar in Billie Jo Spear’s Nashville touring band, with his first show date with the band taking place at the 1979 Wembley Festival in England. Following a near three-year stint with Spears, JK moved on […]

August 5, 2021

In The Country with Dave Woods: One On One With Carson Janik

Tecumseh, Ontario’s Carson Janik comes from a long line of diverse musical family members including accredited guitar, piano, drum, brass, and string players, as well as seasoned recording artists, vocal, stage, choir, and opera performers that span just about every genre. Carson is the first in his family to pursue Country music. Carson started showing musical talent at the age of 3, when he proved that he couldn’t keep quiet and needed to constantly sing along with the radio. Initially drawn to pop music and playing the piano/singing along to the likes of Shawn Mendes and Bruno Mars, Carson had little interest in the guitar or a different genre – that is until he heard his first Luke Combs song. Tune in to hear my […]

August 5, 2021

Patrice’s Pick: Lemon Cash

This month, our feature video from Patrice Whiffen at Country Music Junkies profiles Canadian country music duo, Lemon Cash! Ottawa born brothers, Jeff and Cory Papineau talk about growing up playing music together, and the story behind their single, “Wine Tonight,” and MORE! For more information about Country Music Junkies, visit www.countrymusicjunkies.com.

August 5, 2021

Canadian Country Artist Discovery: Gizelle de Guzman (NS)

Gizelle de Guzman’s tenacious sincerity and show-stopping voice has affirmed her place as a modern Country vanguard for the East Coast of Canada. Born in the Philippines, raised in Cremona Alberta and now native to Halifax Nova Scotia, this singer-songwriter has embraced these transitions to help her create her signature sound. Gizelle has been garnered the 2019 Bronze Winner for The Coast “Best New Artist/Band” and one of the top 14 finalists of The Shot: Remastered 2020. Her talent carries forward country-folk conventions of storytelling spiked with a fresh spirit of empowerment. Gizelle continues to work to develop her radiant Country style which threads the needle between traditional heart and modern energy on an emotional bed of transparency. It’s clear to see that where Gizelle […]

August 5, 2021

In The News (August 2021)

This section of the newsletter is comprised of news stories, press releases and links to Internet articles that are sent in by our members who believe they will be of general interest to the membership. We include them as a courtesy to our members but do not verify or edit their content. Their inclusion does not constitute an endorsement by the CMAOntario nor do their contents reflect the views or opinions of the CMAOntario. If you would like to have something included in the newsletter, please send us a short synopsis, a photo or graphic and the hotlink that can be included in the news listing. Submissions can be sent to verle@cmaontario.ca. Please make sure the Subject Line reads “For inclusion in the CMAOntario Newsletter”. […]