Newsletter – Country Music Association of Ontario

June 24, 2025

Ontario’s Country Music Pioneers (June):

ONTARIO’S COUNTRY PIONEERS: MEL AUCOIN (#95 in the Ontario’s Pioneers series) by Larry Delaney MEL AUCOIN is a Canadian musician, who like many, has impressive credentials, but remains relatively ‘behind-the-scenes” when it comes to proper recognition for his talents. Melvin Francis Aucoin was born December 3, 1940, in New Victoria, Nova Scotia. After developing his musical skills in his home province, he relocated to Toronto in the early 1960s. It wasn’t long before he became immersed in the “Big City” music pool, initially as a member of The Caribou Showband, which later evolved as the Johnny Burke and Eastwind band, appearing on several of the group’s early album releases. He was also a member of a band headed up by Gary Hooper, and more […]

June 24, 2025

Artist of the Month: Alexa Goldie / Artiste du mois: Alexa Goldie

Artist of the month : Alexa Goldie In a genre rooted in storytelling and soul, few voices carry the authenticity and commands attention like Alexa Goldie. Born and raised in Kingston, Ontario, Alexa brings a fresh, fearless energy to country music—a genre she’s redefining one heartfelt lyric at a time. Now splitting her time between Ontario and the vibrant heart of country music in Nashville, Alexa is an emerging artist with big dreams and a whole lot of talent. Alexa’s journey thus far has been a rather unique one. At 12 years old, she was scouted at talent competition in the GTA. She went to Los Angeles to record and ended up staying there for a few years to lean more into songwriting. In […]

June 24, 2025

In The News (June 2025)

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 submitted online here: https://cmaontario.ca/submit/ The deadline for submissions is the 20th of each month. ** […]

May 23, 2025

In The News (May 2025)

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 submitted online here: https://cmaontario.ca/submit/ The deadline for submissions is the 20th of each month. ** […]

May 23, 2025

In the Country with Dave Woods (May):

IN THE COUNTRY WITH DAVE WOODS – SPOTLIGHT ON HALEY MCNEIL Teeswater, Ontario’s Haley McNeil is a rising star on the Canadian country music scene. With her rich nostalgic blend of Contemporary Country & Classic Southern Rock – influences from Miley Cyrus to Stevie Nicks, Lainey Wilson to Lynyrd Skynyrd, Zach Bryan to Janis Joplin – Haley’s sound resonates with audiences of all ages and music genre preferences. She debuted her first original song “Guardian Angel” live onstage, at the age of 13, and released her first original single “Dear Future Self” on Spotify in March 2020. The latter was named Song Of The Day by Front Porch Music within a few short weeks of its release. In the Spring of 2024, Haley completed her […]

May 23, 2025

Ontario’s Country Music Pioneers (May):

ONTARIO’S COUNTRY PIONEERS: MOLLY-ANN LEIKIN (#94 in the Ontario’s Pioneers series) by Larry Delaney Canada has produced many songwriters who have gone on to international fame with their songwriting credits. Most at that level have received widespread recognition and publicity in Canada… a few of them have remained in relative obscurity on the Canadian home-front. A songwriter who falls into the later category is Ottawa, Ontario-born MOLLY-ANN LEIKIN. After graduating from Fisher Park High School in Ottawa in 1961, Molly-Ann began to pursue her songwriting skills. After a decade of failing to get much family and peer support for her efforts, Molly-Ann decided a trip to the Los Angeles music scene might provide better opportunities. Soon after arriving in California in 1970, Molly-Ann found […]

May 23, 2025

Artist of the Month: Jessica Sevier / Artiste du mois: Jessica Sevier

Artist of the month : Jessica Sevier Jessica Sevier is literally checking in – with her new single, “Motel”, released March 14 th. Co-written with Andrew Allen (multi-platinum singer-songwriter) and Ron Lopata (Jully Black, Scott Helman, Matt Dusk),“Motel” is the mission plan for turning the tables on a toxic and abusive partner. “Your right hand left a hole in the wall and now you’re calling out for me to stay. The old me mighta played that game, but it’s changing, oh I’m changing”. It’s obvious that Jessica had a vision for her path – as a child, she took piano and classical voice lessons, leading to classical voice studies at Western University in London, ON. Hungry to learn more about the recording process, […]

April 24, 2025

In the Country with Dave Woods (April):

IN THE COUNTRY WITH DAVE WOODS – SPOTLIGHT ON JESSIE T Growing up in Kingston, Ontario, Jessie found her love for performing competing at local country fair singing competitions. Since moving to Kitchener in 2012, she has been headlining venues and festivals across Ontario including Meadows Music Fest, Harrow Fair, Manitoulin Country Fest, JUNO Host City Music Exchange, Indie Week, Folk Music Ontario Conference, Canadian Music Week, and the Country Music Association of Ontario Awards. Jessie has played alongside some of the best in Canadian country music, including Dallas Smith, James Barker Band, Michelle Wright, Dan Davidson, Adam Gregory, Steve Wilkinson, and Beverley Mahood. Growing her resume as a background vocalist, Jessie is also a fixture in other recording artist’s band including Jason Blaine and […]

April 22, 2025

Ontario’s Country Music Pioneers (April):

ONTARIO’S COUNTRY PIONEERS: MAC BEATTIE (#93 in the Ontario’s Pioneers series) by Larry Delaney The late John McNab (Mac) Beattie was born December 21, 1916, in Arnprior, Ontario. Like many young Canucks, he spent his early years playing hockey, which took him to the west coast, where he was the goaltender for the Nanaimo Clippers. In the early 1930s, after returning to his Ontario homestead, Mac Beattie turned his talents to music, forming the first edition of “The Melodiers” with Gaetan Fairfield, Horace Blanchette, Mervyn Leitch and Harold Mosley; with Mac leading the group vocally and with his soon-to-be signature “washboard” music. Thanks to a weekly radio show initially aired out of Pembroke, Ontario, their music was being heard throughout the Ottawa Valley […]