Newsletter – Page 13 – Country Music Association of Ontario

March 11, 2022

In The Country with Dave Woods: One On One With Charissa

Charissa joins me on this edition of In The Country. She’s a storyteller – and the best stories are ones that don’t shy away from honesty. The Burlington, Ontario singer has been honing her thoughtful, meditative approach to songwriting since she was a kid, combining lush, flowing arrangements with earthy Americana and laidback soul to create a sound that is uniquely her own. Music was a constant in her home growing up, and after singing along to hits by Queen, Allison Krauss, Whitney Houston, Stevie Nicks, and Blue Rodeo before she hit age 10, her parents decided to sign her up for vocal lessons where she further developed her passion for music and later started to learn to play the guitar. Charissa has found a […]

March 11, 2022

In The News (March 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”. […]

February 7, 2022

Artist of the Month: Jason Blaine

Jason Blaine may sing about being “Born to Love”, but he really was born to entertain and has a track record to prove it. Growing up in Pembroke, Ontario, Jason and his family moved to Nashville in 2006, where he got to work as a songwriter. His single “Rock In My Boot” would be released just one year later and would thrust him into the spotlight as his first number one song. It’s also one of 25 Billboard charting tracks for Jason to date. His love for country music has solidified his role in the industry as a top songwriter, artist and entertainer. Countless CCMA, SOCAN, and CMAOntario awards, over 10 million streams across DSPs, and seven albums (soon to be eight) round out Jason’s […]

February 7, 2022

Ontario’s Country Music Pioneers: Sneezy Waters

// by Larry Delaney // (Born: March 1, 1945 – Ottawa, Ontario) (#60 in the Ontario Pioneers Series) Peter Hodgson may not be a name that strikes familiarity among country music fans… but mention the name “Sneezy Waters”, and immediately many more know who you are speaking of. “Sneezy Waters” – aka Peter Hodgson – has been recognized in the music world for more than half a century, most notably in the leading role portraying the immortal Hank Williams in the stage play and movie “Hank Williams: The Show He Never Gave”. The Ottawa-born performer first attracted attention in the duo “Nev & Pete” with long-time friend and fellow entertainer Neville Wells. As a “folk” duo, they worked major stages and venues in Ottawa and […]

February 7, 2022

In The Country with Dave Woods: One On One With Rosewood Ave

Northern Ontario’s Rosewood Ave – married duo Sabrina & Dave – pivoted to live streams when the pandemic began. And those live streams really took off and built a huge audience of viewers, listeners & supporters. In early 2021, the duo released their debut single “Fool For Love” produced by famed producer Garth Fundis who has produced for the likes of Alabama, Sugarland and Trisha Yearwood. Though not written by the duo, the song summed up their own love story and their belief in taking chances without fear. They followed that release up with the rootsy single “Broke” written by Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne. Tune in to hear Sabrina & Dave chat with Dave Woods about their music career (influences, songwriting […]

February 7, 2022

Canadian Country Artist Discovery: Tyler Joe Miller (BC)

Signed to MDM Recordings Inc. in 2019, Surrey, BC’s Tyler Joe Miller has swiftly begun to make a name for himself in Canadian country music. After releasing his gold-certified debut single, ‘Pillow Talkin’’ at the end of 2019, the catchy tune quickly earned him the title of iHeartRadio Future Star at the beginning of 2020, and became his first #1 single at Canadian country radio. What followed was an unprecedented and record breaking climb with follow-up single ‘I Would Be Over Me Too’, also gold-certified, which steadily rose on the charts and earned Miller the title of the first independent Canadian country artist to reach #1 at radio with his first two singles. Ending 2020 on a high, Miller was nominated for the CCMA ‘Rising Star’ Award, and […]

February 7, 2022

In The News (February 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”. […]

January 12, 2022

Artist of the Month: Genevieve Fisher

Anyone who follows Genevieve Fisher would probably notice that she doesn’t use the brakes much. Nope. Her foot’s on that long skinny pedal most of the time, taking some corners on two wheels. If you’re counting, you will notice that Genevieve has charted 9 top 50 singles, with “Take It On Home” and “You Me We” climbing into Canada’s Top 20 and Top 30 respectively. She even invaded the Top 40 with two singles simultaneously: her duet with David James, “Then There’s You” and her solo release, “Playing Favourites”. London-born and raised, her Indigenous heritage qualified her to register three number one hits on the North American Indigenous Music Countdown chart. Genevieve has carefully built a creative team around her, writing with some of country […]

January 12, 2022

Ontario’s Country Music Pioneers: Jimmy Phair

// by Larry Delaney // (Born: February 26, 1941 – Froomfield [Sarnia], Ontario) (Died: December 31, 2020 – Sarnia, Ontario) (#59 in the Ontario Pioneers Series) Jimmy Phair was born February 26, 1941, in Froomfield (near Sarnia, Ontario). He received his first guitar – made from a cigar box – at age four and has never looked back. By the time he was 14, he was guesting on his first radio show, aired out of Marine City, Michigan. Soon afterwards, he was appearing regularly on his hometown radio station CHOK, which led to the hosting of his own radio show on the station. In 1962, Phair took his live show on the road, touring extensively in Ontario, Quebec and into the USA. He often shared […]