Sun Records Studio, Memphis: Where it all came together for Elvis.
We are attending the most amazing gathering of folkies in North America, who have gathered to indulge a love of Americana roots music. It is so awesome to be surrounded by die-hard music lovers, agents, musicians, songwriters, dj’s and fans. Plus, the music vibe in Memphis is unheralded. Looking forward to visiting Rev. Al Green’s church, Graceland, and Sun Records Studio.
Next up: tasting cornmeal blackened catfish.
Who says folk music is dead? A quick browse of various folk music organizations shows a vast listing of active musicians on tour, writing new material, teaching, and getting radio play. It’s no co-incidence that this is the sound that nine million Canadian baby boomers came of age listening to, and this includes Canada’s Prime-Minister, Stephen Harper (or as we like to call him, “The Music Man”).
Thanks to Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore for the grant of $100,000 big ones to the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals from Canada Arts Presentation Fund. A big step toward supporting Can-Con.
Way to go, Dude!
Hon. James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage
We’re writing this blog during the middle two weeks of January. So where’s the snow? In a northern country like Canada, this would normally be a time of deep white landscapes throughout most of the land. Our elders speak of childhood memories, recalling winter activities of sledding, ice skating, trudging through deep banks to school. Even we recall the deep snow of our youth, playing hockey on out-door rinks, freezing our toes off in poorly fitting skates. That is the genesis of our song January, coming out of our own Canadian experience when those middle two weeks really were the coldest ones. Now we’re dealing with climate change, global warming, those annoying Nino effects, the whole inconvenient truth right in our face. We just wanna play in the snow. In the meantime, listen/free download here: January
When not busy song-writing, we commit our thoughts to paper. Sometimes they even get published in print journals. What do you think about the word “Americana”? We’re still trying to figure it out: http://issuu.com/bcmusicianmagazine/docs/bcmusician_89/21
Willy Blizzard front man John Hough worked with David Rea in the nineties, when David played guitar on John’s original song The Dark Side. His versatility and sensitivity were much in demand by the folk artists. David was also scheduled to work on another original song, but was unable to complete the project. Why? It was back in the day of cassette players, and David was also in the midst of raising his three children. One day, David phoned up to B.C. to tell John the bad news: “Sorry John, my daughter just dumped the cassette in the fish tank!” Still laughing.
Rest in peace, David.
TORONTO — David Rea, a versatile folk guitarist who played with such Canadian legends as Gordon Lightfoot, Ian & Sylvia and Joni Mitchell, has died. He was 65.
The news was announced on Rea’s personal website, noting that he died on Oct. 27, one day after his birthday.
Born in Ohio, Rea moved to Toronto at the age of 17 to participate in the city’s burgeoning folk scene.
He played on Lightfoot’s 1966 debut album “Lightfoot!” and performed alongside the iconic Canadian songwriter in his early years, before eventually playing with the diverse likes of Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Roosevelt Sykes, Richie Havens, Mississippi John Hurt, Tom Rush and Reverend Gary Davis.
Rea also contributed his distinctive guitar style to several Ian & Sylvia records including “Nashville,” “Lovin’ Sound,” “Full Circle” and “So Much For Dreaming.” The folk duo would go on to record several songs written by Rea, including “Pilgrimage to Paradise,” “The Minstrel” and “Ninety Degrees by Ninety Degrees.”
Rea would continue writing and recording his own material, even co-penning Mountain’s enduring 1970 hit “Mississippi Queen,” which has since been covered by Ozzy Osbourne and featured in a bevy of films.
He continued releasing solo material over the ensuing decades — though he took time off in the ’80s to raise his three children — with his most recent album, “X7,” being issued in 2000.
The cover of that record, a sketch of Rea, was actually created by Mitchell herself, who’s also said to have written “Play Little David” about her longtime friend.
