Newsletter – Country Music Association of Ontario

December 23, 2024

In The Country with Dave Woods-December

IN THE SPOTLIGHT WITH DAVE WOODS: DANI My guest for this month’s column is DANI! DANI is a Toronto-based singer-songwriter whose music is deeply rooted in her rich cultural heritage. She was born in Bucaramanga, Colombia, and raised in Mississauga. Music has been a central part of her life from an early age – starting with guitar lessons in church as a teenager and later performing with her high school a cappella group. Their success, winning first place at the Dufferin Peel Annual Music Week and advancing to regional competition finals, helped her develop an early passion for performance and songwriting. DANI’s musical journey took a pivotal turn while studying at the University of Edinburgh, where she rediscovered her love for storytelling through song. In […]

December 23, 2024

In The News (December 2024)

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”. […]

December 23, 2024

Artist of the Month: Cory Marks (December) / Artiste du mois: Cory Marks

Artist of the Month: Cory Marks By Alexa @alexascountryparty If you’re in North Bay and see a Cessna 150L or Yak-52 flying above… it might be country/rocker Cory Marks! When he’s not putting his private pilot license to use, or making music, you can catch him on the ice playing hockey. Fun fact: Marks (legally Marquardt) is the also younger brother of professional hockey player Matt! Unlike many artists, Marks hasn’t dreamt of a music career his whole life. It wasn’t until he was at a bar during his college years where friends encouraged him to sing for the first time publicly. Since then, he’s had the opportunity to tour with Toby Keith, Five Finger Death Punch, ZZ Top, Travis Tritt, and Brantley […]

December 23, 2024

Ontario’s Country Music Pioneers(December):

ONTARIO’S COUNTRY PIONEERS: EARL HEYWOOD (#89 in the Ontario’s Pioneers series) by Larry Delaney The late Earl Heywood (1917-2006) was dubbed “Canada’s No. 1 Singing Cowboy”. He is remembered as a true “pioneer” in Canadian Country music – a songwriter and recording artist and a radio and television personality with the CKNX Barn Dance in Wingham, Ontario. Earl Carlyle Heywood was born March 12, 1917 on a farm near Exeter, Ontario. He joined CKNX in 1942 and remained with that station (and its later TV and radio affiliates) as a singer and an announcer for more than 40 years; performing for almost 20 years on the weekly CKNX Barn Dance, and serving during 1946-1953 as host of the “Serenade Ranch” program. During the […]

December 4, 2024

Ontario’s Country Music Pioneers(November):

ONTARIO’S COUNTRY PIONEERS: THE POST FAMILY (#88 in the Ontario’s Pioneers series) by Larry Delaney They were billed as “The Singing Post Family”; an accurate description for the foursome based out of Carrying Place, a small community off the eastern shores of Lake Ontario, near Belleville. The “Family” consisted of patriarch Norm Post, his daughters Joanne and Debra (Debbie), and son Kenny… all of whom thrived in the family package show, performing Country and Gospel music and later, pursuing separate musical careers. The late Norm Post (1932-2019) was a gifted musician, singer and songwriter. Many of his songs graced their series of albums released during the 1970s, including such notable tunes as “My Prince Edward County Home”, “That Tragic Day”, “Just Me And […]

December 4, 2024

In The Country with Dave Woods-November

IN THE SPOTLIGHT WITH DAVE WOODS: Paige Rutledge My guest for this month’s column is Paige Rutledge! From her first single “Take Me Back To Tiki” in 2020 to the recent release of her debut EP Break Up Rules, Paige Rutledge has steadily made a name for herself on the country music scene in Ontario and beyond. Whether it’s playing full band shows at venues like the Stampede Ranch in Guelph and Big Texas in Niagara Falls – or country music festivals – or songwriter rounds, Paige shines with a genuine star quality and a love for what she’s doing. And in case you didn’t know, her sparkly guitar – which she designed herself – is named Dolly. One of Paige’s favourite songs to […]

December 4, 2024

In The News (November 2024)

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”. […]

November 28, 2024

Artist of the Month: Michel Lalonde (November) / Artiste du mois: Michel Lalonde

CMAOntario Artiste du mois: Michel Lalonde Originaire de l’Est ontarien, Michel Lalonde est bien plus qu’un musicien : il est une figure incontournable de la musique franco-canadienne. Que ce soit à travers son groupe légendaire Garolou ou ses projets en solo, Michel a marqué la scène musicale avec sa voix chaleureuse et ses textes profondément humains. Dans son nouveau spectacle, “De Glen à Garolou”, Michel déroule, tel un conteur, le fil de ses souvenirs, nous invitant à revivre les étapes marquantes de son parcours. Ce voyage musical mêle souvenirs, anecdotes et chansons emblématiques, de ses débuts modestes avec Glen aux succès retentissants de Garolou. À travers ce spectacle, Michel incarne la mémoire vivante d’une culture, un lien entre le passé et le présent, où chaque […]

October 16, 2024

Artist of the Month: James Downham (October) / Artiste du mois: James Downham

CMAOntario Artist of the Month: James Downham Contributing Writer: Matt Ersnaught For a guy named Downham, there’s a lot of “Up” in his life lately. James has not one… not two… but three Ontario hometowns: Pembroke, Picton and now, Stratford. James was the winner of Season 2 of The Shot – a web-based talent search show – and was selected from thousands of applicants as one of only 14 artists to participate in The Shot: Canada vs. USA. James also spent over a decade performing in a Tim McGraw tribute act before turning his attention back to original music. In April of 2023, Downham released his “The Long Way Home” album, from which the singles “One Mile at a Time”, “Raised On”, “Wine & Whiskey” […]