Newsletter – Page 24 – Country Music Association of Ontario

June 30, 2020

Artist of the Month: Sarah Wickett

The small-town-girl turned big-city-singer-songwriter story sounds like a song itself, or maybe a lifetime movie, but for Sarah Wickett, it’s just real life. The Beaverton, ON, native made the move to Toronto in her teens as a college freshman and that’s when she took her music from hobby-at-home to country music releases. Sarah’s love for music started young, with inspiration from artists like Shania Twain, Carrie Underwood and Christina Aguilera helping to craft her own sound. And with her small-town roots at the heart of her songwriting, she’s got country music flowing through her art. Sarah Wickett’s 2020 has been a lot like everyone else’s in the music world – disrupted. But that hasn’t stopped her from releasing new music to the world. In February, […]

June 30, 2020

Ontario’s Country Music Pioneers: Larry Coad

(born: December 20, 1946 – Espanola, ON) (died: November 21, 2012 – Burlington, ON) (by Larry Delaney) Larry Garnet Coad was born December 20, 1946, in Espanola, Ontario. His love for the Ontario Northlands region and his Metis heritage was frequently found in his songs, such as, Espanola (recorded by Terry Roberts); Manitoulin (recorded by Marjorie Freeborn); and Sudbury (recorded by Colin Butler); the latter winning Song of the Year in the 2005 Sudbury’s Homecoming event. During the 1980s, Larry Coad was one of the hottest songwriters on the Canadian country music scene, scoring many national chart hits for top artists, most notably, Harold MacIntyre and the group South Mountain. The Larry Coad and Harold MacIntyre (and the Area Code 705 band) combination was particularly […]

June 30, 2020

In The Country with Dave Woods: One On One With Victoria Banks

Victoria Banks – artist & hit songwriter – visits with Dave to chat about her new album, Uncovered, featuring the lead single “Want”. She recently appeared on NBC’s Songland to ‘pitch’ a song of hers to Florida Georgia Line. Victoria has been nominated for 11 Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Awards and was named CCMA Female Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year in 2010. She wrote Sara Evans’ Top 20 single, “Saints & Angels”, released in 2001. In 2009, Victoria – along with Johnny Reid and Tia Sellers – wrote Johnny’s hugely successful single, “Dance With Me”. In addition, she has had cuts by over 100 artists including Carly Pearce, Lauren Alaina, Terri Clark & Cassadee Pope. Victoria chats with Dave about […]

June 30, 2020

In The News (June 2020)

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 31, 2020

Artist of the Month: Emily Clair

Ajax, Ontario, native Emily Clair has been in love with music since she was singing herself to sleep as a toddler. And after years of lessons and love, she’s now making her mark on the Canadian country music scene. In 2019, Emily released two singles: Me Or The Whiskey and The Sobering Truth. Me Or The Whiskey made its way to SiriusXM’s CBC Country channel, and The Sobering Truth climbed into the Top 40 at SiriusXM radio shortly after it was released. Since then, Emily has told fans that she’s working on an EP and even shared a clip of the demo version of a song called Forget About Me that she hopes to include on it. She’s also said that the plan for the […]

May 31, 2020

Ontario’s Country Music Pioneers: Al Bruno

Born: January 22, 1937 – Sudbury, Ontario Died: August 21, 2015 – Pensacola, Florida (by Larry Delaney) Some of Canada’s very best musicians and entertainers often fly just below the radar… and achieve international stardom without receiving much recognition back home in Canada for their efforts. Al Bruno certainly fits the description. The Sudbury, Ontario-born super guitarist toured with Conway Twitty, worked numerous major sessions in the USA (Merle Haggard and Buck Owens recordings among them), and was named the Academy Of Country Music’s (ACM’s) Guitar Player Of The Year ten times – he has even served several terms as a Director of the Academy Of Country Music. Born Al Bruneau, January 22, 1937, in Sudbury, Al worked his first gig when he was five […]

May 31, 2020

In The Country with Dave Woods: One On One With Kelsi Mayne

Dave chats with Windsor’s Kelsi Mayne about her just released debut album As I Go, produced by Doug Romanow and featuring the title track as the current single. In The Country Radio Show · Interview With Kelsi Mayne (April 2020) 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 31, 2020

Patrice’s Pick: Alexis Taylor

This month, our feature video from Patrice Whiffen at Country Music Junkies profiles Canadian country music artist, Alexis Taylor! She shares the story behind her songwriting, her unique sound and her move to Nashville! For more information about Country Music Junkies, visit www.countrymusicjunkies.com. Listen to the exclusive interview here and 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 with radio stations across Ontario to bring listeners the newest of new country music. You can find out more about Patrice and check out her great country music website at www.countrymusicjunkies.com

May 31, 2020

In The News (May 2020)

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”. […]