In The Country with Dave Woods

Born in Hamilton, Ontario and raised in B.C., Todd Richard gained exposure on the Country music scene in 2008 when he took part in CMT Canada's Karaoke Star. He made it to the finals which led to an opportunity to perform at the CCMA Kick Off party in B.C. It was there he met popular Canadian Country artist Rick Tippe. They began writing together and 7 of their songs appear on Todd's just-released...

  Keith Burns is a founding member of the Grammy-nominated Country act Trick Pony - winner of an American Music Award and an Academy of Country Music Award. He has also penned songs recorded by Joe Diffie, Sammy Kershaw & Anita Cochran. Michelle Poe, formerly a Dreamworks recording artist, has been an integral part of national touring bands, singing backup and playing bass for the likes of Han...

  Singer-songwriter Alee is an all-or-nothing kinda girl, as she sings in her song Dream Come True. Her love and respect for all styles of music can be credited back to her diverse musical background and experience along with her traditional family upbringing and Saskatchewan roots. Words such as engaging, passionate, gracious and authentic have been used to describe her performances. Her natural...

Tune in for this NSAI Toronto Chapter Songwriters Special featuring three talented singer-songwriters. My featured guests are Shaun Devlin, Les Holmes and Paul Malysa. They'll each talk about their approach to songwriting and share one of their songs. This is the first in a series of these specials. Whether you're a songwriter wanting to learn more about the craft or a music fan who enjoys hearing...

DON MURDOCK first starting playing guitar as a young teen and played a lot in his twenties, mostly performing the old favourites. Ten years ago, he helped form a band and together they played many charity gigs and fundrasiers. All the time though, Don wanted to write songs and create his own unique sound. One of the first he wrote was Highway of Heroes.  He wrote it to honour the memory of his mot...

  In September 2011, Ontario Country artist MARSHALL DANE was one of only 8 artists to be selected from a national list of applicants to perform at the Canadian Country Music Awards New Artist Showcase. He's riding high on the success of his energetic stage shows and his album Running Stop Signs produced by Brian Allen. The CD includes the songs Love and Alcohol, Bad Choices, and About Last Light....

Ontario Country artist Tonya Kennedy - originally from St. John's, Newfoundland - has just released a brand new single Fallin' For You to radio from her forthcoming 2nd CD. It's the follow-up to her debut album Lucky I Lost You. Both projects have been produced by J. Richard Hutt at Cedartree Recording Studio in Kitchener, Ontario. Earlier in 2011, Tonya was nominated for two East Coast Music Awar...

Eddie Money was born Edward Joseph Mahoney in Brooklyn, New York. Although he dreamed of being a musician, after he finished high school, Eddie decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a police officer. In 1968, after serving as a New York City Police Officer for two years, Money (he changed his surname in 1976) put his law enforcement career on hold to pursue music. Fans immediately...

Country artist Wendy Lynn Snider was born & raised in the beautiful surroundings of Temagami, Ontario. She grew up in a musical family listening to Christian and classic Country performed by artists like Waylon Jennings, Johnny & June Carter Cash, and Patsy Cline. As she grew up, through all the twists and turns life brings, she kept singing and songwriting and sharing her gift. In 2010, s...

Toronto-based singer/songwriter Kirsten Jones received a 2011 CCMA nomination for Roots Artist of the Year. She's riding high on the success of her sophomore album The Mad Mile produced by Jayhawks front man Gary Louris. "I knew I wanted to try getting in touch with Gary before even trying to think of anyone else, so I looked up his management online and just sent them a package." A few months lat...

At the age of 19, Genevieve Fisher has already achieved more in her career than most artists could ever hope for. Since her first award-winning performance at the Ilderton Fair in Ontario, she has continued her climb to national recognition as one of Canada’s new breed of Country singers. At the age of 13, Genevieve took top honours for her age group at the 30th annual Canadian Open Country Singin...

Calgary, Alberta Country artist Shannon Smith has been singing and performing since the age of six, creating her own style while also influenced by artists like Lorrie Morgan, Shania Twain and Sheryl Crow. Since 2007, Shannon has graced the stage of several top-notch venues and events throughout Alberta, including the Big Valley Jamboree, Airdrie Pro Rodeo and Flames Central in Calgary. She has op...

Country artist Drew Gregory was born & raised in the small farming town of Standard, Alberta - about an hour outside of Calgary. Growing up, he was known for showing up to every high school party with his guitar ready to play. He eventually obtained a degree in Geomatics but soon realized that his heart was still in music. As a Christmas gift, he and his sister, Natalie, recorded an acoustic a...

She grew up on her family's farm in Manitoba with a love of singing from an early age. Her musical influences include Dolly and Reba. Now, Lori Kole is living in Alberta and pursuing her dream of singing & writing Country music. In late 2009, she released the singleHappyto radio - a song she co-wrote with hitmaker Adam Wheeler. That song can be found on her debut EP Barefeet And Butterflies pr...

With the release of Northern Redemptionearlier this year, The Abrams Brothers – John, James and cousin Elijah – make a transition from the music of their roots to their own distinct sound. It’s a combination of bluegrass, country and folk-rock. The band's members are fourth-generation musicians with musical roots reaching back to their great-grandparents. They’ve been touring together for almost a...

Thunder Bay, Ontario Country artist Scott Skirving has never given up his dream of music. Through all the twists and turns in life, his new CD proudly states Here I Am. The project is produced by Kenny Sitter - his good friend and the lead guitarist for Canadian Country band Jo Hikk. Scott's Country voice sounds right at home on the CD's songs written by hitmakers George Canyon, Dean Brody, Willie...

There's no slowing down The Oak Ridge Boys. The legendary, hit-making group was recently inducted as members of the Grand Ole Opry. They just released a new album It's Only Natural available exclusively through Cracker Barrel (in stores & online). The project features 7 past hits and 5 brand new songs. A re-recording of Elvira is featured. That song was released in 1981 and went on to win a Gr...

The best way to describe the sound of The River Junction Band is progressive, aggressive, rockin' Country. Listeners will hear solid four part male and female harmonies from this band whose influences are as diverse as Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, AC/DC & The Rolling Stones. Coming off their win for Best Country Act at the 2010 Toronto Independent Music Awards, RJB continues to be in demand to b...

Abbotsford, BC Country artist Stacey McKitrick was singing from the start. At the age of nine months, she would often be heard around the house singing along to her favourite artist, Reba McEntire. By the time she was 10, she was spending every free moment singing and making stage shows for friends and family. Along with singing, she embraced songwriting early on: "I've been writing my own songs s...

Langley, B.C. Country duo Robyn and Ryleigh Gillespie are part of the wave of young Country performers coming from the West Coast of Canada. Their debut EP entitledLove, Alwaysis available on iTunes. Like many of their contemporaries, they take modern, youthful pop influences and blend them with traditional country elements of acoustic instruments, meaningful lyrics, and sibling harmonies. Their o...

Collingwood-born and raised - now living in Toronto - Donna Ferra released her debut album Waited Long Enough in 2003. The title track - released as a single which got attention for Donna - featured the late great Jeff Healey. Based on that success - and subsequent well-received singles - she toured festivals in Ontario opening for artists like Jason McCoy, Doc Walker, and Aaron Lines.  Along the...

Kate Taylor's passion for music began when she was a little girl in toe shoes as an aspiring ballerina. Growing up, her mother enrolled her in piano, violin and dance classes. Her parents knew she was gifted but there weren't a lot of opportunities in their home town of Remus, Michigan. Kate pursued voice in college at Cornerstone University and hit the road for Nashville soon after achieving her...

Born and raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia - and now living in Nashville - RyLee Madison showcases her beautiful voice and her ability to tell stories with her songs on her fourth album Where Does The Time Go. Listeners will be moved by the messages inThe Beauty of Forgiveness and Be Yourself. An end of a relationship is sung about in December Leave Me Alone and new beginnings are celebrated in Feels...

Country artist Deborah Allen returns to the music scene with her new album Hear Me Now featuring the current radio single Anything Other Than Love. She co-wrote that song with hitmaker Gary Burr. In fact, Deborah wrote or co-wrote every song on the album - and is a producer on it. But songwriting - and success with it - are nothing new for this Grammy-nominated artist. She's had her songs recorded...

Country artist Jake Mathews - born and raised in Sudbury, Ontario and now calling Calgary, Alberta home - began pursuing his musical path at the age of 14 when he started singing & playing guitar. Fast forward to 2002: Jake released his self-titled debut album which generated several top 20 singles and videos resulting in a Rising Star nomination at the CCMAs. In 2011, Jake released his his th...