June 2022 – Country Music Association of Ontario

June 21, 2022

Artist of the Month: Graham Scott Fleming

2022 CMAOntario Rising Star nominee, Graham Scott Fleming, has been making waves with his current single, “Better Man”. Written by Fleming, “Better Man” has been featured as a Stingray Radio Trending Track, a Rogers Radio “One To Watch”, and as of writing this, is sitting at #36 on the Mediabase Canadian Country chart. Fleming is no stranger to the stage and performing. The Elmvale, Ontario, native has been honing his performance skills for the past nine years, working as a theatre and film actor in Toronto and on Broadway in New York City. It wasn’t until midway through high school that Graham learned he could actually sing. In 2011, he took first place in the North of Nashville Star Competition hosted by KICX 106 Pure […]

June 21, 2022

Ontario’s Country Music Pioneers: Shirley Eikhard

// by Larry Delaney // (Born: Sackville, NB – Home: Oshawa, Ontario) (#64 in the Ontario Pioneers Series) Shirley Eikhard is blessed with musical blueblood. Her mother is famed fiddle player June Eikhard; her father, the late Cecil Eikhard, was also a gifted musician. Shirley has further blossomed as a singer/songwriter/musician, with career credits the envy of many. Born in Sackville, NB, the family relocated to Oshawa, Ontario, when Shirley was in her pre-teen years. She quickly followed in her parents’ musical footsteps as a singer, a guitarist, and above all, a songwriter. Shirley, as a 12-year-old, performed at various fiddle contests where her mother was a headline attraction, and at a songwriters’ venue at the famed Mariposa Folk Festival, which led to TV […]

June 21, 2022

In The Country with Dave Woods: One On One With Mike Whiteside

Ontario’s Mike Whiteside calls a Kenny Chesney concert in 2018 a defining moment in his life & music career. It was then that he decided he wanted to pursue a country music career. Believe it or not, the first time he ever performed on stage was at the Emerging Artists Showcase at the Boots & Hearts Festival just a few years ago. His debut single “3 AM” was written by Robyn Ottolini. Mike’s latest single is called “My Kind Of Paradise”.

June 21, 2022

In The News (June 2022)

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”. […]

June 6, 2022

10th Annual CMAOntario Awards Winners Announced

The Country Music Association of Ontario Announces Winners of the 10th Annual CMAOntario Awards June 5, 2022 (LONDON, ON) The Country Music Association of Ontario (CMAOntario) tonight celebrated the 10th Anniversary of the CMAOntario Awards, presented by Slaight Music, with 20 award presentations at Centennial Hall. Meghan Patrick led with three wins for Album of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, and the Compass Award. Hosted by Jason McCoy and Robyn Ottolini, the CMAOntario Awards included performances by Tebey, Robyn Ottolini, Genevieve Fisher, Sacha, Jason Blaine, Kristine St-Pierre, Nate Haller, River Town Saints, The Western Swing Authority and special guest Aaron Goodvin. Cory Marks and Tim Hicks teamed up for “Blame It On The Double”, and in a tribute to Impact Award recipient Carroll Baker, the CMAOntario […]