August 2022 – Country Music Association of Ontario

August 4, 2022

Artist of the Month: Kelly Prescott

What makes outstanding talent – nature or nurture? Kelly Prescott is an example for considering a balance of both as the optimum recipe. Kelly’s parents, Tracey Brown and Randall Prescott, are highly respected Canadian country royalty, so Kelly has had quality music in her life since before birth. Kelly and brother Kaylen inevitably teamed up to form the duo “Prescott”, and even though Kelly went on to forge her own career with the 2016 solo EP “Hillbilly Jewels”, Kaylen teamed up with Kelly again to produce her “Love Wins” release – a six song collection with co-writes from venerable songwriters Donovan Woods and Patricia Conroy. “Love Wins” also featured guest vocals from Shawn Austin and Jessica Mitchell, but one listen to Kelly’s rich voice will […]

August 4, 2022

Ontario’s Country Music Pioneers: Gilles Godard

// by Larry Delaney // (Born: Cornwall, Ontario) (#65 in the Ontario Pioneers Series) Cornwall, Ontario-born singer/songwriter/producer GILLES GODARD is one of Canadian country music’s best all-around success stories. He began as a musician (steel guitar), was a prolific songwriter, an in-demand record producer, and completed the picture by forming his own record label, Book Shop Records, which became a home to many Canadian recording artists. By the mid-1980s, he was making Nashville his base of operations, where he not only became a hit songwriter but also a music publishing executive. To better grasp Gilles Godard’s massive career, one must review his accomplishments somewhat chronologically. After graduating from the Royal Conservatory of Music as a master steel guitar musician, still in his teens, Gilles formed […]

August 4, 2022

In The Country with Dave Woods: One On One With Michelle Wright

Michelle Wright has just released not one, but two new singles recently: “Small Town” & “Heartbreak Song”. Both singles will be featured on her upcoming album Milestone which will feature an updated version of “Take It Like A Man” – her huge, signature hit released in the early 90s. Of the song “Small Town”, Michelle says: “It’s a song that I co-wrote with Rick Ferrell and up-and-coming Canadian singer/songwriter Danielle Bourjeaurd. It was our first time writing together, and as we were tossing around ideas, Danielle began to ask me questions about my career. It was fun to reminisce, and at one point, she said, “That’s what we need to write. We need to write your story.” At first, I wasn’t so sure if I […]

August 4, 2022

In The News (August 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”. […]