Born and raised in Welland, Ont., Randy Owen''s award-winning broadcasting career began with two consecutive awards for having top mark in radio class at Niagara College. While a first year college student, he began working evenings and weekends at 1470 CHOW, his hometown country music station.Eventually, Randy worked his way up to mid-day announcer and music director.
The Canadian Country Music Association gives out their annual awards this weekend in Edmonton. Vancouver singer Jessie Farrell fondly remembers her wins on this date in 2008. Among the trophies she picked up were New Female Talent of the Year and Female Artist. It's rare for someone to win both a "new" artist award and a major vocalist award in the same year. And 1997 was a very good year for Calgary's Paul Brandt. On this date back then, he took home 4 CCMA awards: Male Vocalist, Single, Video and Song of the Year for his song "I Do." Oddly, Paul has never won the big one, the Fans' Choice (Entertainer) of the Year.
And what are the odds of three country music legends sharing the same day as birthdays? Patsy Cline, songwriter Harlan Howard and Jimmie Rodgers were all born on this date. Patsy, whose real name was Virginia Patterson Hensley, was born in 1932; Harlan, who wrote about 4,000 songs including Patsy's "I Fall to Pieces," was born in 1927 in Lexington, Kentucky and raised in Detroit, Michigan (oddly, both Patsy and Harlan died in the month of March); and Jimmie Rodgers, known as the Father of Country Music, was born in 1897 in Geiger, Alabama and raised in Meridian, Mississippi. Jimmie died at the age of 35 in 1933, just two days after his last recording session.
Happy anniversary to Joe Nicols and Heather Singleton. They were married three years ago today in a candlelight ceremony in Savannah, Georgia.
Monsoon-like wind and rain swept through the Paris Fair this past Saturday and there were a few drops of rain yesterday morning, but things gradually cleared up for a great day of country music. Terry Sumsion was at the fair with his newly-finished tour bus for a "meet & greet." The Walters Family did a great set of country music classics highlighted by the performance of eight-year-old family member Schyler, who did a terrific job on the song "Don't Rock the Jukebox." Schyler also did a great job on a classic fiddle tune duet with his uncle, Darren. Alex J. Robinson then took the stage to perform several of hits, including her latest song, "Girly Girl." BTW - the video for the song is now airing on CMT Canada. I've seen a lot of great bands over the years and I can truly say Alex and her band were impressive! The highlight of the night was Doc Walker's performance. It's been about 5 years since the guys played the Paris Fair and you could tell they enjoyed coming back. It was their last concert on the festival and fair circuit before the Canadian Country Music Awards next week. Doc Walker did a great show and proved why they are the reigning group of the year in Canadian country music and a past winner of the Fans' Choice Entertainer of the Year. Thanks to the Paris Agricultural Society, all the staff and volunteers of the Paris Fair, and to all the country music fans and listeners who stopped me to say "hi." Hope everyone got home safely after the show!
I must have somewhere between 50 and 60 autographed photos hanging on my living room wall. My rule is: I don't put up a picture unless it's autographed. But there is one exception. The photo was taken 18 years ago today! I had gone from Kitchener to Toronto for a luncheon put on by a major record company. The luncheon was held on the field in the Skydome and the record company used the Jumbotron to show some music videos from some of their artists. Then came a "meet and greet" with one of the artists on their roster, the biggest name in country music at that time, and a major force in the entertainment industry...Garth Books! Garth said a few words, met everyone there and posed for pictures. But by making arrangements ahead of time, I also had the opportunity for Garth to record some station I.D.'s for me (you known, "Hi, I'm Garth Brooks, and you're listening to more the best music with Randy Owen"). I rushed back to Kitchener and turned over the tape to the production department to produce the I.D.'s. I then went back to Toronto to take some contest winners backstage to meet Garth before his concert that night at the CNE. I had met Garth a few times before, interviewed him in Las Vegas and asked him to sign a CD back then. The concert in Toronto was an incredible show. No one in the first ten rows sat down during the first half-hour of the show! The photo of me and Garth, taken 18 years ago today, hangs in my living room, but it is the only exception to my autograph rule. So, if you're reading this, Garth, and find yourself anywhere near the Tillsonburg, Ontario area, let me know...and I'll ask you to autograph the picture.
One of the bright, new traditional country music stars celebrates his wedding anniversary today. Easton Corbin and his wife, Brinn, were married four years ago. A little over a month after their wedding, they moved from Florida to Nashville. At first, Easton ended up working at a hardware store, while Brinn got a job at a doctor's office. With hits like "A Little More Country Than That" and "Roll With It," I don't think Easton will be needing any other jobs to suppliment his current occupation! Happy anniversary Easton and Brinn.
iPhone
