In The Country with Dave Woods

Born and raised in the small coastal village of Cap-Pelé, New Brunswick, Melanie Morgan discovered her passion for music at a young age. As the years went by, Melanie performed at schools, talent shows and local charities. In the spring of 2006, Melanie's dreams of becoming a country music recording artist started to take shape. With the help of fellow New Brunswick country recording artist J.R. V...

'Country Music News' celebrates 30 years of putting Canadian Country Music stars in the spotlight! From cover stories on the biggest & latest names to album reviews, CMN is a must for Country Music fans. Publisher and Editor Larry Delaney joins me on the line from Ottawa to talk about his monthly publication. Tune in for this special episode that takes you behind the scenes of CMN and back to...

Since hitting the country music scene in 2002, Alberta's Craig Moritz has been wowing crowds with his from-the-heart performances that are packed with lively vocals and rockin' beats. Born in Medicine Hat, Craig grew up listening to country music and could often be heard singing along to Don Williams, Randy Travis and George Strait. After moving to Fort McMurray at age 12, Craig explored his passi...

Calgary, Alberta songwriters Troy Kokol and Joni Delaurier co-wrote the hit Country song "Pickup Truck" which appeared on Shane Yellowbird's debut release. The Canadian chart-topper earned the duo a 2007 CCMA nomination for Songwriter(s) of the Year. In 2008 they won a SOCAN award for the song in the Country Music category. Whether writing with other writers or together, they continue to get more...

"George Strait is my hero. I can die happy the say I get to shake his hand", jokes Jessica Ridley. This talented Alberta singer/songwriter also cites Reba, Shania Twain & Loretta Lynn as strong musical influences. Along with a great voice and songwriting skills, Jessica plays piano (she completed her grade eight with the Royal Conservatory of Music) and guitar (self-taught). Her debut album en...

Burlington-born Carly Schnurr entered her first talent competition in 2006 singing Celine Dion’s “When You Look At Me”. She made it to the finals in the Western Fall Fair. But aside from her pop influences (Celine, Whitney Houston & Kelly Clarkson), Carly’s love of country music is what drives her desire for a career in singing. She entered a number of singing competitions in 2007, earning fir...

Calgary, Alberta Country artist Sarah Beth Keeley knows how to write a great song and how to sing it with honesty and heart. For proof of that, just listen to the songs on her current CD 'Reinventing Myself.' She makes a statement about what she wants in a relationship in 'Good Kind Of Love'. She sings about loss and the healing process in 'With Your Goodbye'. And if you've had the chance to see h...

Country artist Ryan Guillet was born and raised in Chetwynd, British Columbia, lived in Grand Prairie, Alberta and now calls Penticton, BC home. Through his teens and early twenties, he entered local talent contests including the Country Rising Competition at Edmonton's Cook County Saloon where he placed 3rd. In February 2009, he released his debut CD "Livin'" with the title-track being released t...

Canadian Country singer/songwriter Rick Stavely entertains his many fans in clubs and honky tonks throughout Western Canada. Rick did well on the charts in 2009 with his single 'Man For The Job'. He co-wrote the song with hitmaker (and recent In The Country guest) Tim Taylor. This month Rick has released his brand new single 'Talk About It' to Canadian Country radio. This is a track from his lates...

Michael-Jay Cresswell is getting set to release his brand new album IT'S TIME on March 29th. The CD - produced by Steve Haggard of Nashville's Wild Oats Records - features 11 tracks written by this talented singer/songwriter. It also features some of the industry's best musicians. A classically trained musician, Michael spent many great years as a DJ on the greek island of Corfu in the resort of K...

(Note: Show starts at 2 minute mark.) Texas-born singer/songwriter Doug Bruce now resides in Bendigo, Australia. Doug’s career in country music has seen him move from behind the drums to front of stage, impressing die-hard country fans and new converts alike with his rich voice and natural affinity for the southern country sound. With the release of his first full album, All I Need, Doug has been...

Kelly Lee is a twenty-four year old Country singer-songwriter from Hatfield in the UK. She has loved country music for as long as she can remember, listening to her parents' tapes of Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Hank Williams, and later on The Judds and Reba McEntire. Kelly started her musical journey when she was fifteen, doing guest spots in various country music clubs and pubs with...

Canada's Tim Taylor has enjoyed a very successful career in country music both as a performer and as a hit songwriter. His performing days resulted in several major awards including four CCMA Duo of the Year awards with Anita Perras, and three JUNO nominations as a male vocalist. His songwriting honors include two CCMA Song of the Year Awards ('One Smokey Rose' and 'Ten Million Teardrops'), CCMA I...

Saskatchewan's Jasmine Paige is a 17 year old country singer on the rise. From karaoke to singing the national anthem, to musical theatre and classical voice lessons, her incredible vocal range and depth have progressed rapidly into a growing music career. She was “discovered” at a New Year’s Eve party in Scottsdale, Arizona in December 2008. That led to a two song performance at a local country m...

Garrett Walker's mom and dad were both singers and musicians. When he was a very young child they would often take him to gigs with them. He'd hang out in the back room and listen to the show - breathing in the music like air. After the break up of his parents at age 8, his life changed forever, and he uses his songs to paint the pictures of his journey since - songs about love and pain, hope and...

Country Music artist Charlie Major shot up the country charts many times in the 1990s with hits like "I'm Gonna Drive You Out Of My Mind" & "I'm Somebody". Six songs from Charlie's debut album "The Other Side" went to #1 on the Canadian Country Music charts. He's also well-awarded - 3 Junos & 7 Canadian Country Music Awards. His lyrics champion the Blue Collar Hero in a manner that resonat...

Country artist Rayla Ray was born and raised in Gatesville, Texas. As a little girl, she sang with her father who wrote and performed country music & was also a DJ at the local Country station. Over the years, Rayla has competed in and won many local and national talent contests. She has performed at the Ft. Worth Stockyards, the Cotton Bowl & Nascar Weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. When s...

Christian Country group Hinson Revival makes music to touch your heart and inspire you. The trio is made up of Rod Burton, Eric Hinson & April Hinson. Their great songs 'The Lighthouse' and 'Hallelujah Meeting' are sure to move you with their powerful messages. Hinson Revival is proud to be an important part of the Branson Gospel Music Convention - along with many other Christian artists - run...

In Memory of Dianna Paul Dianna passed away on July 1, 2014. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, Dianna Paul is a Country singer/songwriter who gets her intense energy from her mother, her proud heritage from her father and the derivation of her life and songs from her faith. She can get things ro...

Northern Ontario's Larry Berrio began playing acoustic guitar at the age of 15. One of his big musical influences at that time was Country supergroup Alabama. Eventually he made a living as a graphic artist, becoming a much-in-demand sign painter, and an expert in air brushing fancy artwork on trucks and cars. But music kept calling him and soon he pursued it full-time. Several albums have been re...

When Calgary's Katie Love Hess sang at a church talent show at four years old, it was clear to everyone that she had found her calling. As a small girl grew into a big voice, she spent her time singing sweet gospel hymns and R&B classics and, after high school, touring with an a capella band. In 2005, she auditioned for Canadian Idol. Katie’s heartfelt, honey-soaked vocals, stage appeal and co...

Canadian Doug Folkins is a Celtic Rock singer/songwriter and storyteller (and amateur boxer!). He’s perfectly happy to sing down at the local pub tonight, but he has also set his sights on becoming a fixture on the Festival stage in the very near future. Folkins has spent the last 10 years, writing, playing, and producing his own material. With "Another Last Call", Doug’s fifth album, he returns t...

Armed with a saxophone, keyboard, and a 'must-hear-to-believe' voice, Pamela K. Ward has a stage show that is nothing short of electrifying. She has opened for Loretta Lynn and has been a guest performer on the Jim Stafford Show among others and at numerous fairs, festivals, and conventions around the country. Pamela played keyboards and sang background vocals on tour with Doug Stone in 2005 and h...

Kentucky's Glenda Neace has been singing since the age of 3. Her musical influences include Patsy Cline, Hank Williams Jr. and many more of the classic and contemporary singers. She was also inspired musically from an early age by members of her family. Glenda's new CD "Something About You" has a bit of everything: honky-tonk songs, love songs and sad songs. Tune in to hear this talented singer/so...

Vancouver Island's Beth Marie Anderson is a 22 year old singer/songwriter who has spent the last 5 years singing with such organizations as the Vancouver Island Opera Company, Bard to Broadway Summer Theater Group and Echo Players Theater. In October 2009 Beth headed to Nashville to take things to the next level in her music career. She attended a week long songwriting course, wrote with hit write...