Newsletter
June 17, 2019
The Country Music Association of Ontario (CMAOntario) tonight celebrated the talent and achievements of Ontario’s country music industry across 19 categories at the 7th Annual CMAOntario Awards in Southam Hall at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. Meghan Patrick from Bowmanville, Ontario lead with five wins, followed by Tim Hicks and The Reklaws with two wins each. Hosted by Jason McCoy, the CMAOntario Awards included performances by Cold Creek County, Gabrielle Goulet, Jade Eagleson, Jason Blaine, Kira Isabella, Meghan Patrick, Ryan Langdon, Tebey, The Abrams, The Reklaws, The Washboard Union, The Western Swing Authority and Tim Hicks. Multi-award winning country vocal group The Good Brothers were also honoured with the Impact Award for their enduring and indelibly positive footprint on the landscape of country music […]
May 20, 2019
Alli Walker made Toronto her home when she was 19 years old and ready to chase her dream. And now, she’s starting to see more and more evidence of that dream coming true. The release of songs from her upcoming debut album, The Basement Sessions: What I’ve Learned So Far, has taken her to country radio, media outlets all over the landscape, and all signs point to more of the same coming in the near future. None of this happened overnight, of course. Like so many artists before her, Alli’s career is already hundreds of shows and songs deep, as she has worked to hone her craft and find her voice as an artist. The result of that work and exploration is what Alli Walker […]
May 20, 2019
Born: July 18, 1935 – Jansen, SK Hometown: Hamilton, Ontario (by Larry Delaney) Dallas Leon Harms was born July 18, 1935, in Jansen, Saskatchewan, and moved to Hamilton, Ontario as a two-year old with his family. He began playing the local music scene in the mid-1950’s and was a frequent guest performer on the popular radio/TV series Main Street Jamboree. While working The Flamingo Club in Hamilton in 1957, Dallas met and performed with then-rising-star Conway Twitty, and helped introduce Ronnie “The Hawk” Hawkins to the local club scene. His friendship with Hawkins would later result in Dallas Harms paying tribute to the rocker with the song “Rockin’ The Hammer”; “The Hammer” referring to the steel-town of Hamilton. As a touring act, Dallas Harms […]
May 20, 2019
Dave Woods chats with Matt Teed about his new single “Going Home Alone” written & recorded with fellow country artist Elyse Saunders. Dave Woods is a monthly columnist for the CMAOntario Newsletter and has been hosting the popular online radio show In The Country with Dave Woods since 2009! To hear episodes, please visit www.inthecountryinterviews.com, www.soundcloud.com/dave-woods-3 and iTunes.
May 20, 2019
This month, our feature video from Patrice Whiffen at Country Music Junkies profiles Canadian country music artist, Danielle Bourjeaurd! Danielle talks about her recent experience touring with Gord Bamford and Jojo Mason. She also talks about her writing, AND her upcoming trip to Ottawa as a featured artist at the CMA Ontario Awards weekend in June! For more information about Danielle Bourjeaurd, click here: http://daniellebourjeaurd.com/. For more on Country Music Junkies, visit www.CountryMusicJunkies.com. Listen to the exclusive interview with Danielle Bourjeaurd below: About Patrice: To Patrice Whiffen, country music is a lifestyle. As the appropriately deemed, “Country Music Junkie,” she strives to share her passion for country music with the world. As a radio broadcaster with an inside view of the world of country music, Patrice currently works […]
May 20, 2019
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”. […]
May 16, 2019
Intimate Performances, Industry Conference and FREE Concerts! With Performances by Tim Hicks, Meghan Patrick, The Reklaws, Tebey, Cold Creek County, The Abrams, Ryan Langdon, Gabrielle Goulet, Jade Eagleson, Western Swing Authority, The Washboard Union, Andrew Hyatt, Danielle Bourjeaurd, and more! The Country Music Association of Ontario (CMAOntario) is excited to announce the complete programming for the CMAOntario Festival & Awards Weekend in Ottawa June 14 – 16, 2019 leading up to the 7th Annual CMAOntario Awards. Presented by Slaight Music, with support from Ontario Creates, the CMAOntario Festival & Awards Weekend will kick off Friday, June 14 with Songs & Stories: Songwriters in the Round at Fourth Stage at the National Arts Centre. Hosted by Wendell Ferguson, Songs & Stories will see Andrew Hyatt, Chris […]
April 11, 2019
The Abrams (brothers John and James) have been playing music together for nearly their entire lives. It’s not only second nature to them at this point, it’s in their blood. As fourth-generation musicians, the burgeoning career of these country/bluegrass brothers feels like it’s meant to be. In their young career, The Abrams have already put together an impressive list of achievements, awards, and accolades. They became the youngest Canadian duo to play on the hallowed Opry stage, they took home the 2017 CMAOntario award for Roots Group of the Year. After releasing their Bob Dylan/Arlo Guthrie tribute album in 2009, Guthrie himself was quoted as saying that these boys are “way too young to be playing that good. I know I will be hearing from […]
April 11, 2019
Born: January 16, 1937 – Jacquet River, NB Home – Ottawa, Ontario (by Larry Delaney) Ted Daigle has enjoyed a career as a recording artist and performer, as well as being one of Canadian country music’s premier radio DJs and radio station managers. Ted Daigle launched his radio career in 1956 as a DJ at CKBC in Bathurst, NB, where he hosted the station’s Hillbilly Hayride Show, while he also emceed shows headlined by major touring acts of the day. He continued to hone his craft in radio, moving on to stations in Thunder Bay, Ontario (CJLX) where he was mentored by radio Hall of Famer Johnny Murphy; and CFGM in Toronto. In the late 1960s, Ted moved to CKOY in Ottawa, and in […]