July 6, 2021

In The News (July 2021)

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”. […]
June 8, 2021

Artist of the Month: Elyse Saunders

Elyse Saunders is a Peterborough, ON native and a 2-time 2021 Country Music Association of Ontario Awards nominee. This talented singer-songwriter has spent the last few years working hard to share her music with country music fans in Canada and beyond. The 2021 Rising Star and Female Artist of the Year nominee’s most recent release, Sunshine State Of Mind (May 14, 2021), is timed perfectly, as we head into the summer months – still searching for our way back to comfort and togetherness and a sense of normalcy. It’s a smooth track, designed for Saunders to show off her vocal skills, groove through the lyrics and take you to another place while you listen. In a social media post a week after the single release, […]
June 8, 2021

Ontario’s Country Music Pioneers: Wendell Ferguson

// by Larry Delaney // (Born: February 28, 1954 – Streetsville, Ontario) (#50 in the Ontario Pioneers Series)   Wendell Ferguson is the “Mr. Do-It-All” of Canadian country music. A guitar player, a singer, a songwriter, a producer, a band leader, a comedian, an industry executive… and probably a whole lot more. Born and still residing in Streetsville (Mississauga), Ontario, Wendell became fixated on being a guitar player after hearing Chet Atkins play the instrument. Although he took several years of formal guitar lessons, Wendell was off-and-running as a guitar player, fueled more by listening to and emulating the recordings of some of his guitar idols: Chet Atkins, Les Paul, The Ventures and other guitar gods. In 1987, after years of practice and dues-paying, Wendell […]
June 8, 2021

In The Country with Dave Woods: One On One With Meghan Patrick

CCMA, Juno & CMAOntario winner Meghan Patrick visits the show to chat about her new album Heart On My Glass – available June 25th – featuring “My First Car”, “Never Giving Up On You” & “Mama Prayed For”. Meghan also talks about her debut album Grace & Grit released 5 years ago, her vow to always be an authentic artist, winning a Juno (for Album of the Year) during a pandemic, the story behind her #1 song “Walls Come Down”, working on a US music career, what whiskey she prefers and so much more! This year, Meghan has 5 CMAOntario nominations heading into the September 5th Drive In Awards show at the Ancaster Fairgrounds. You can pre-save/pre-add the upcoming album here: MeghanPatrick.lnk.to/HeartOnMyGlass Get the latest […]
June 8, 2021

Patrice’s Pick: Dustin Bird

This month, our feature video from Patrice Whiffen at Country Music Junkies profiles Canadian country music artist, Dustin Bird! Dustin fills us in on his new record deal with Open Road Recordings, and his brand new album, Unscripted. He talks about his journey as an artist, and how this new record is raw and authentically, ‘him.’ For more information about Country Music Junkies, visit www.countrymusicjunkies.com.  
June 8, 2021

In The News (June 2021)

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 12, 2021

Artist of the Month: Les Rats d’Swompe

Winners of the Country Music Association of Ontario’s 2020 Francophone Artist or Group of the Year award and nominees again in 2021, Les Rats d’Swompe continue to grow, both as a band and within the music community. From folk and traditionally inspired tracks to uptempo bangers that will make you want to dance in your kitchen (and have fantastic Great Big Sea type vibes) Les Rats are versatile in their sounds, and ready to capture your attention, even if you don’t consider yourself fluent in French. The sound is full, fun, and all the pieces fit together like they were meant to be there. There is no language barrier in that – the music is its own language. The Ottawa-based band has released albums (La […]
May 12, 2021

Ontario’s Country Music Pioneers: George Fox

// by Larry Delaney // (Born: March 23,1960 — Calgary, AB [Raised in Cochrane, AB]) Home: Ancaster, Ontario (#49 in the Ontario Pioneers Series) George Fox was a farm boy with a dream. Living on his parents’ farm in Cochrane, Alberta, George spent much of his younger life working the farm, baling hay and milking cows… all the while dreaming about becoming the next Elvis Presley or Buddy Holly – two of his early music idols. After spending time in Sweden on a “farm exchange” program, George’s musical interests turned to more traditional country artists, and he began writing songs himself. By the mid-1980s, and after playing the local community events scene in and around Cochrane, George began recording several demo sessions of his music, […]
May 12, 2021

In The Country with Dave Woods: One On One With Owen Barney

 Dave chats with CMAOntario nominee Owen Barney (Song Of The Year “Thank Her For That”, Songwriter Of The Year along with his co-writers for “Thank Her For That”) about his music career & his new EP Tough Times featuring the lead single “You Make Me Wanna (Brown Eyed Girl)”.  

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