Newsletter
June 21, 2022
// by Larry Delaney // (Born: Sackville, NB – Home: Oshawa, Ontario) (#64 in the Ontario Pioneers Series) Shirley Eikhard is blessed with musical blueblood. Her mother is famed fiddle player June Eikhard; her father, the late Cecil Eikhard, was also a gifted musician. Shirley has further blossomed as a singer/songwriter/musician, with career credits the envy of many. Born in Sackville, NB, the family relocated to Oshawa, Ontario, when Shirley was in her pre-teen years. She quickly followed in her parents’ musical footsteps as a singer, a guitarist, and above all, a songwriter. Shirley, as a 12-year-old, performed at various fiddle contests where her mother was a headline attraction, and at a songwriters’ venue at the famed Mariposa Folk Festival, which led to TV […]
June 21, 2022
Ontario’s Mike Whiteside calls a Kenny Chesney concert in 2018 a defining moment in his life & music career. It was then that he decided he wanted to pursue a country music career. Believe it or not, the first time he ever performed on stage was at the Emerging Artists Showcase at the Boots & Hearts Festival just a few years ago. His debut single “3 AM” was written by Robyn Ottolini. Mike’s latest single is called “My Kind Of Paradise”.
June 21, 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”. […]
May 10, 2022
Owen Riegling has been picking away at a guitar since he was eleven years old. Growing up on a 100-acre farm outside of Mildmay, Ontario, Owen’s childhood consisted of playing hockey, riding dirt bikes, and a life written about in country songs. Country music didn’t really cross his radar until it hit the mainstream. He was more into rock music, and the Best of Steve Miller Band. It was Eric Church and Tyler Childers that captured Owen’s attention and drew his creative mind to the country genre. It was from artists like these that he learned he could bring together the elements of both rock and outlaw country that he loved and give them a modern spin that would resonate with listeners today. […]
May 10, 2022
// by Larry Delaney // (Born: Toronto, ON) (#63 in the Ontario Pioneers Series) Albert Pink was born in Toronto. As an aspiring singer/songwriter he honed his talents under the guidance of Fred Roden – owner of The Record Corral, a popular record store outlet and music venue in Toronto – presenting live entertainment during the 1950s and 60s by visiting country music legends Ernest Tubb, Carl Smith, Wilf Carter, etc. Albert Pink wanted to pursue a career similar to the “stars” he was meeting. The first step on his trip to stardom was a name change and Albert Pink became “Clint Curtiss”. Clint Curtiss was soon touring country music venues with his band, The Clintsmen, and in the recording studio cutting his first album, […]
May 10, 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”. […]
April 12, 2022
(English version follows) Avril étant le mois de sensibilisation à l’Autisme, il était impensable de ne pas parler de Vincent Bishop. Ce jeune auteur-compositeur-interprète trace son chemin dans l’industrie musicale loin des sentiers battus. Ses paroles sensibles et intelligentes, sa pédale « loop » qui ne chôme pas et son charisme qui sourit à travers chaque composition lui créent un style autant envoutant qu’accrocheur. Multi-instrumentiste, Vincent fait souvent appel à de rythmes entraînants et des mélodies légères pour transmettre des messages importants sur la différence et la discrimination dans ses chansons, ayant lui-même été diagnostiqué comme atteint du syndrome d’Asperger, un trouble du spectre autistique (TSA). Il est également très impliqué dans les écoles, où il offre des ateliers et des conférences pour sensibiliser les jeunes. Son […]
April 12, 2022
// by Larry Delaney // (Born: Bowmanville, ON) (#62 in the Ontario Pioneers Series) Tim Taylor is one of those guys who has done it all… and he’s still doing it!! Singer, songwriter, recording artist, touring act, award winner – Tim Taylor can answer to all of that. Born in Bowmanville, Ontario, Tim Taylor spent his high school years in a variety of rock bands, playing school dances and social events. He eventually “graduated” to perform professionally with the country band, Buckshot. By the late 1970s, he had teamed up with vocalist Anita Perras, both on-stage and eventually, as a married couple. They quickly honed their talents and recorded a debut album, “Bought And Paid For”. Several hit single releases followed – separately and as a […]