December 21, 2017
2017 has been an incredible year for the Country Music Association of Ontario and the continued success stories of our members. The Board of Directors would like to thank all of our members for their ongoing support and friendships. It really does feel like a big family. Our membership is at a record high and new members continue to join weekly, and as a gentle reminder, January 2018 is the month that memberships are to be renewed. Please visit our website at www.cmaontario.ca for online renewal. Tickets are going fast for the 2018 Award Show and CMAOntario members can still take advantage of a special members-only price. Promo codes to access the members’ discount will be sent to CMAOntario members via email through the Association. […]
December 21, 2017
Windsor, Ontario native Kelsi Mayne has been honing her musical craft for years, and in 2017, country music fans finally got an official taste of what she has to share with the world. Mayne’s debut single and video were released in October, and have caught the eyes and ears of fans with nearly 30,000 spins on YouTube and Spotify in its first two months. And while Still Not Over You may be her first original single, country fans may be familiar with Kelsi’s voice already from her covers of Sam Hunt’s Body Like A Back Road and Cam’s Burning House. All three songs showcase the talent that Kelsi possesses, and offer a glimpse at what we hope she has to share in the near future. […]
December 21, 2017
Brooklyn, tell us about your main influences and why those artists mean so much to you. My main musical influences are the Dixie Chicks, Pink and Taylor Swift. Each one of them is a very talented writer. They have a great ability to tell a story and make you feel what they are going through in their songs. Pink and Taylor go one step further for me, though. I am all about the show. The creativity these two artists have and how they leave their audiences in awe at their live shows is the kind of artist I strive to be. What have you learned about songwriting since writing your first song? Songwriting is such a journey. It’s amazing how much your writing can evolve […]
December 21, 2017
Born: October 4, 1925 – St. Catharines, Ontario Died: May 18, 1996 – St. Catharines, Ontario (by Larry Delaney) As a youngster, Jack Kingston sang in church choirs in his hometown of St. Catharines, Ontario and by his late teens, was performing on CKTB radio (St. Catharines) and formed the country band The Kingston Brothers with his brother Alex Kingston and friend Alex Dalgleish. After the break-up of the group in the late 1940’s, Jack Kingston joined the Wingham, Ontario-based CKNX “Traveling Barn Dance”, where he was nicknamed “The Yodeling Cowboy”. By the early 1950’s, Jack Kingston became the first Canadian country artist to be signed to Capitol Records (Canada), releasing two singles. Soon afterwards, Jack Kingston became a member of the famed Main Street […]
December 21, 2017
This month, our feature video from Patrice Whiffen at Country Music Junkies profiles Canadian country music artist, Jacqui Verellen! Jacqui Verellen talks about her start in country music, and how a university degree in Opera helped lead her down the path of pursuing a career in country music. Jacqui also shares the story behind her soulful country song, “Home is Home”. For more information about Jacqui Verellen, or to check out her current single, click here: https://www.jacquiverellen.com For more on Country Music Junkies, visit www.CountryMusicJunkies.com. Listen to the exclusive interview with Jacqui Verellen 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 […]
December 21, 2017
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. Cold Creek County on Tour with Old Dominion Cold Creek County is hitting the road in 2018, opening for Old Dominion, alongside The Washboard Union, for the Canadian leg of their Happy Endings World Tour. Tour kicks off February 1 in Regina, Saskatchewan and tickets are on sale now. Check out […]
November 17, 2017
Short message this month folks, but I do want to remind everyone of some important deadlines. “KICK IT WITH KISSEL” CONTEST If you have not already uploaded your video to Twitter, Instagram or Facebook using the hashtag #KickItWithKissel you will be missing a chance to open for Brett on his northern Ontario dates in February. Check out our October newsletter as well as our website for contest rules and available markets and dates. The deadline to upload your video is November 30th. CMAOntario ROADSHOW GOES TO PETERBOROUGH On Saturday, November 25th, the CMAOntario Roadshow will be pulling into Fleming College to host a daylong program of educational seminars. For aspiring music professionals, artists and songwriters, it is a unique opportunity to network with peers and access […]
November 17, 2017
Since their first appearance at Boots & Hearts in 2015 in the Emerging Artist Showcase, Toronto-based Johnson Crook have been showing country music fans in Ontario and beyond what they have to share. Noel Johnson, Jared Craig, and Nathan and Trevor Crook have worked hard on stage and in studio to refine their rootsy country sound, and in 2017, have already released their debut EP and debut full length album. Along with the music, the band filmed and released videos for “Shadows”, “Canada To Heartbreak”, and their lead single, “Minnedosa”. In an effort to earn even more fans, and to share more music, Johnson Crook have also created their Crooked Attic Series on YouTube, sharing covers of songs including Maren Morris’ “My Church”, Sam Cooke’s […]
November 17, 2017
Born: June 5, 1951 – Madoc, Ontario (by Larry Delaney) Donna Moon was born in the Central Ontario town of Madoc, and launched her singing career as a young teenager with performances at the Lakehead Barndance staged in nearby Peterborough. Donna became affectionately dubbed “The Moon Of Madoc”, and after moving to Toronto in the early 1970’s to pursue her career at the professional level, she soon attracted the attention of Jack Hosier who signed Donna to his Marathon Records label. In 1973, Donna Moon released her debut album with the title track single, “Bittersweet”, quickly attracting radio airplay and the single reaching #2 on the RPM Hit Charts. A follow-up single, “Baby And Me”, also charted, peaking at #29. Donna’s second album on Marathon, a self-titled collection, […]