Newsletter – Page 50 – Country Music Association of Ontario

December 7, 2016

Artist of the Month: Kelly Prescott

Country from the cradle, Kelly Prescott was born to sing country music. As a third generation singer/songwriter, music is genuinely in her blood. With the release of her 2016 EP, Hillbilly Jewels, the Ottawa Valley songstress has allowed the country music community to get a closer look at what makes her tick. And after listening to the five song collection, it becomes quite clear that Prescott has made the right decision in following her musical path. With previous albums and recognition, including writing, producing and recording Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s official 2015 campaign song with her brother Kaylen, Kelly Prescott isn’t new to performing – but she also isn’t at the point where she’s ready to kick back and relax. A busy stretch on the […]

December 6, 2016

Ontario’s Country Music Pioneers: Diane Leigh

// by Larry Delaney // Toronto-born singer Diane Leigh can be credited with opening the doors for female singers in Canadian country music. She was the first Canadian female artist to be featured as a regular performer on a country TV series and the first female to be recognized with major awards for her recordings, earning her the distinction of being dubbed “The First Lady Of Canadian Country Music.” Diane Leigh began her music career performing with the Pop band The Sapphires, influenced heavily by the recordings of American Pop stars Joni James, Peggy Lee and Julie London. In the early 1960’s, Diane was ‘discovered’ by Vic Siebert of the famed country & western group Sons Of The Saddle and for a short time, she […]

November 9, 2016

Ontario’s Country Music Pioneers: Terry Carisse

// by Larry Delaney // Born: July 11, 1942 – Ottawa, Ontario Died: May 22, 2005 – Ottawa, Ontario Terry Carisse is among Canada’s most decorated Country singer/songwriters, with numerous Male Artist of the Year, Song and Album of the Year awards presented to him by the Canadian Country Music Association during the height of his career in the early-to-mid 1980’s. As a recording artist, Terry Carisse released six albums and over 30 charted singles on Canadian country hit charts, including ten Top 10 hits; highlighted by such Canadian classics as the #1 hit “Sparkle In Her Eyes”, “All Her Letters”, “We Could Make Beautiful Music Together”, “Windship”, and many more. In addition to his solo recordings, Terry also enjoyed chart success with the 1987 […]

October 5, 2016

Ontario’s Country Music Pioneers: Myrna Lorrie

// by Larry Delaney // Born: (Myrna Lorraine Petrunka), August 6, 1940 – Cloud Bay (Fort William), ONTARIO At age 15, Myrna Lorrie became only the second Canadian (after Hank Snow) and second Canadian-born female (after Betty Cody) to chart a hit on the Billboard Charts in the USA with her 1955 hit “Are You Mine”, recorded as a duet with Buddy DeVal (a/k/a Jim Amadeo). The song, co/written by Myrna Lorrie with Jim Amadeo and Don Grashey, reached #6 on the Billboard charts and was also a hit in 1955 for Ginny Wright & Tom Tall (#2), and Red Sovine & Goldie Hill (#14). The chart hit breakthrough earned Myrna Lorrie a Most Promising Female Artist award from the US-based Jamboree magazine. The “Are […]

August 29, 2016

Ontario’s Country Music Pioneers: Joe Firth

// by Larry Delaney // Born: March 30, 1941 – Shelburne, Ontario Joe Firth was born in Shelburne, Ontario, and raised on his parent’s farm in Keldon. He began his music career in late 1960s, fronting the group Joe Firth & The Rockabillys, which also included his cousins Gord Henry and Grant Middaugh. The group soon underwent a name change to Joe Firth & The Country Gentlemen, and quickly became a mainstay on the Toronto country club circuit, working show dates at such notable venues as The Edison, The Horseshoe Tavern and The 300 Club. By the early 1970s, he formed the country band Joe Firth & The Promised Land, a group that would tour extensively in Ontario and across Canada, often sharing the stage with […]

July 5, 2016

Ontario’s Country Music Pioneers: Honey West

// by Larry Delaney // Born : Merla Arlene West September 5, 1939 – Grafton (Cobourg), Ontario While working as a ticket agent (1961-67) for Air Canada at Toronto International Airport, and later for American Airlines, Merla West was also pursuing her love of singing country music, working the Toronto area country club scene with a variety of pick-up bands and adopting the stage name Honey West. The name was inspired by a successful Hollywood TV series in the late 1960s featuring the private-eye detective character, “Honey West”. By the late 1960s Honey West launched her recording career, cutting a series of albums for the Paragon Record label: “Meet Honey West”, “A Touch Of Honey” and “Sweet Dreams”. Her fourth album for the label, […]

May 10, 2016

Ontario’s Country Music Pioneers: Smiley Bates

// by Larry Delaney // Born: Harvey E. Bates – October 16, 1937 – Kirkland Lake, ONTARIO Died: January 8, 1997 – Ullswater (Bent River), ONTARIO Harvey “Smiley” Bates was one of Canada’s most popular country balladeers, yet one who has been least recognized by the Canadian country music industry at large. A diehard country traditionalist, Smiley Bates was influenced by the music of Hank Snow; and in fact, promoted his music career much in the same fashion as his idol by travelling to his shows hauling a trailer filled with his albums and cassettes – a hot commodity with his many fans. Smiley Bates came from a musical family, with his father and mother (Sidney and Pearl Bates), seven brothers and three sisters all […]