Newsletter – Page 9 – Country Music Association of Ontario

February 8, 2023

In The Spotlight with Dave Woods: Nicole Rayy

Over 40K social media followers can’t be wrong! They know that Nicole Rayy has been delivering solid singles & captivating music videos since her introduction on the Canadian Country Music scene in 2012. Her biggest singles include “All Woman”, “Broken Boys”, “Feels Like Yesterday”, “House Of Cards” & “Graveyard”. The numbers don’t lie – over 3 million catalogue streams to date, with her single “Feels Like Yesterday” garnering over 600K streams alone. A four-time CMAOntario nominee, Nicole has received praise from country music outlets like The Boot, Complete Country and Top Country while finding her music added to popular playlists like Spotify’s New Music Nashville, Women in Country, Live Country and Best Country Songs of 2021 as well as Amazon Music’s Breakthrough Country and Fresh […]

February 8, 2023

In The News (February 2023)

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”. […]

January 17, 2023

Artist of the Month: Dayna Reid

Dayna Reid made her grand entrance to the country music scene at CCMA’s Country Music Week 2022. This was followed by the release of her debut EP, “Back To The Trailer”, later that month. Calling Elmvale, Ontario, home, Dayna grew up absolutely passionate about music. Her first performance for a crowd was the school talent show in grade two, where she performed Smash Mouth’s “All Star”. And look at her now: “Hey Dayna, you’re a rockstar.” Feeling like a career in music was out of reach, she turned to her second passion for a career – a deep love for helping others. Studying Autism Behavioural Studies, she worked with children and adults with autism. Dayna holds her work close to her heart, as her younger […]

January 17, 2023

Ontario’s Country Music Pioneers: Ron McLeod

// by Larry Delaney // (#70 in the Ontario Country Music Pioneers Series) Ronald (Ron) James Harry McLeod was born in Hamilton in 1933. Music always played a large part in his life. At age 15, he won a Gold Award playing the accordion at the Waterloo Music Festival. He was first discovered by Canadian dance band leader Slim Gordon, who hired Ron as an accordion player for his band. After honing his skills with the band, he joined up with Johnny Davidson and added Square Dance calling to his talent list. He also called for The Brady Square Dancers. Ron McLeod’s early career fame was likely best achieved when he became a regular on the Main Street Jamboree. In 1958, he spread his […]

January 17, 2023

In The Spotlight with Dave Woods: Aj Astle of Roadhouse Productions

Several years ago, I began noticing that some of the best music videos for independent country artists in Ontario were being made by Roadhouse Productions. It’s certainly not a well kept secret. Their work is quite simply amazing and is extensive – and I wanted to know more about the company and about one of its owners Aj Astle. So it’s time to put Aj & Roadhouse Productions in the spotlight! Along with his music video career, Aj works with several artists playing bass. You can find him playing with artists Mackenzie Leigh Meyer, Elyse Saunders, Greg Williams, Brian John Harwood and a host of others. In 2022, Aj received his first nomination for CMAOntario Music Industry Person of the Year. I asked Aj how […]

January 17, 2023

In The News (January 2023)

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”. […]

December 21, 2022

Artist of the Month: Josh Ross

How many artists can claim that their musical career was kickstarted by two surgeries? Josh Ross can actually say that. While attending Western University on a football scholarship, Josh sustained enough bangs and crunches to land him in the OR. That tossed his dream of playing in the CFL out the window and while recovering, he found himself immersed deeper and deeper into music, including a lot of Steve Earle. His initial foray was the band “Silver Lining”, which he formed with another Western U football player. Apparently, there wasn’t enough silver from that lining to keep his fridge full, so Ross took a job in construction management while plotting his path as a solo artist. Ross refined some solo skills by entering music competitions […]

December 21, 2022

Ontario’s Country Music Pioneers: Jack Scott

// by Larry Delaney // (#69 in the Ontario Country Music Pioneers Series) If you had the good fortune to be a radio listener in the late 1950s and through the 60s, you would have been treated to a steady stream of hit songs by rockabilly singer JACK SCOTT. Hit tunes like “Leroy”, “The Way I Walk”, “Goodbye Baby”, “Midgie”, “My True Love”, “Geraldine”, “Save My Soul”, “With Your Love”, “What In The World’s Come Over You” and many more, helped make Jack Scott one of Canada’s most recognizable voices with music fans around the world. What made that hit list even more impressive was that Jack wrote all those songs. Jack Scott was born Giovanni Domenico Scafone, January 24, 1936, in Windsor, Ontario. At […]

December 21, 2022

In The Country with Dave Woods: One On One With Dustin Bird

Dave chats with Ontario’s Dustin Bird about his partnership earlier this year with award-winning Canadian film The Long Rider for the official music video of his single “Cowboy Stay”. On working with Dustin on this music video, The Long Rider director Sean Cisterna says: “Dustin Bird’s Cowboy Stay is the perfect musical companion to The Long Rider. Not only does his music fit the style and tone of our documentary, but the themes in his song are emotionally resonant to what Filipe experienced on his epic journey across the Americas.” Continuing to push boundaries within the country genre, the video follows Dustin’s powerful anthem for equality, “Hating On Love.” The track completes the trilogy story that Dustin has been unveiling with his recent releases. […]