In The Country With Dave Woods

One of the most masterful voices in Country music ever, Gene Watson still sings in the same key as 30 years ago and continues to prove why he is rightly referred to as “The Singer’s Singer”. His powerful voice and multi-octave range allows him to sing some of the most challenging songs with an ease that comes from pure, natural talent as well as from his many years performing onstage. Real. Country. Music. finds the the 72 year-old Country legend once again proving he’s the master of classic Country music. He remains defiantly Country in the face of today’s more pop oriented offerings and is proud his legions of fans rely on him to keep traditional Country music alive and well.  With that in mind, Gene delved back into history to pull out some overlooked gems in other artist’s catalogs as well  as a few of his own songs that are fan favorites but are no longer available.  As Gene noted, “Today’s songwriters  are not really writing the kind of songs fans of serious classic country are wanting. Traditional co

With 4 top 50 hit songs already to her credit, Ontario's Genevieve Fisher continues to expand her influence on the Canadian Country music scene. Her performance at the 2012 CCMA New Artist Showcase in Saskatoon left an impression on all who were in attendance and helped her take another big step in the right direction. This was followed by Female Artist of the Year nominations at the 2013 and 2015 Country Music Association of Ontario Awards. And now she is nominated once again for Female Artist of the Year at the 2016 CMAO awards. Check out this great organization at www.cmaontario.ca  When not performing at some of Canada’s largest Country music festivals, Genevieve finds herself collaborating with some of the brightest songwriters on both sides of the border. She has already shared writing credits with Jason Blaine, Steven Lee Olsen, Patricia Conroy, Jason Massey, Jennifer Schott and many more. If it is true that you can judge a person from the company they keep, Genevieve is poised to make her mark on the

Carleton Place, Ontario's Jordan McIntosh will release his debut album Steal Your Heart on April 15th. The lead single is the title track sure to climb the country charts. Jordan has become a country fan favourite with his previous releases "Grew Up In A Country Song" and "That Girl". Those songs are included on the album along with a duet with Country artist George Canyon. Jordan returns to perform at the Boots & Hearts Music Festival this summer. Jordan’s first influence was his older sister, Melissa. “My entire family is musical, but I idolized my sister. She started to sing before I did and, being younger, I wanted to do everything she did. That’s how I found out I could sing. I never really studied music. I just sang all the time. I know there’s a one in a million chance that you can make a career of your ability to sing. That’s always kept me focused, but I couldn’t do any of this without my family.”  Also, joining me on this episode is Ontario's Brittany Brodie. Her latest single is called "Lov

Fueled by Marty Raybon’s distinctive vocals and the band’s skilled musicianship, Shenandoah became well known for delivering such hits as Two Dozen Roses, Church on Cumberland Road and Next To You, Next To Me as well as such achingly beautiful classics as I Want To Be Loved Like That and the Grammy-winning Somewhere In The Vicinity Of The Heart duet with Alison Krauss.   Today that legacy continues as original members Raybon and Mike McGuire reunite to launch a new chapter in Shenandoah’s storied career. It all began when the guys got back together to perform a benefit concert for a friend  battling cancer. “We saw how folks reacted,” Marty says of the response to their reunion. “And then Jerry Phillips, son of legendary Sun Records producer Sam Phillips, said ‘You guys need to make a run at this. People still love what you do. You can tell by the reaction. There’s a lot of excitement in the air.’” “It’s kind of like riding a bicycle,” McGuire says of the band reigniting that chemistry on stage. “We ha

Saskatchewan's Tenille Arts - now living in Nashville - has been nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year & Emerging Artist at the upcoming Saskatchewan Country Music Association Awards (April 24th). She's also one of the top 6 finalists in the CCMA Discovery Program this year.  Tenille - barely into her twenties - has an old country soul that began at the tender age of 8. Her neighbor overheard her singing in the backyard and recommended she enroll in vocal training. The classical voice training rounded out her piano lessons and dance training so she was completely immersed in music. She picked up the guitar and penned her first song at the age of 13 and has been performing across the country at various events ever since. Tenille did her first television show Karaoke Star Junior (Corus Entertainment) at 14. That was the first time she heard a judge comment: “You have powerhouse vocals and perfect pitch” after singing Carrie Underwood’s song “Jesus Take The Wheel”. This would turn out to be one of many

With 5 nominations, Leah Daniels tops the list of artists nominated along with Jason Blaine & Tebey at the 2016 Country Music Association of Ontario (CMAO) Awards coming up at the end of May. Leah's nominations are for the following:   Female Artist Of The Year, Single Of The Year: “Go Back” , Album Of The Year: What It Feels Like, Songwriter Of The Year: Leah Daniels, Beverley Mahood, Patricia Conroy for “Dream Without You” , Video Of The Year: “Old Piano” . Blending Leah's love of both modern and traditional country with a healthy dose of pop smarts, her CMAO-nominated album What It Feels Like features 10 tracks that range from the sassy opener "Boots 'N Jeans," to the soaring ballad "Old Piano," and the edgy "Your Kiss Is Killing Me."  Working with producers Dave ”Dwave” Thomson (Lady Antebellum, Autumn Hill), Gavin Brown (Three Days Grace, Barenaked Ladies), and Sam Ellis in the studio, What It Feels Like is the perfect introduction to Leah Daniels' powerful voice and undeniable charm, which have qui

Restless Heart lead singer Larry Stewart can remember the  exact moment and place his life began to change forever. “I was driving east on I-40 from West Nashville into town to an appointment,” he recalls.“Back then, I was listening to what we were doing in my Jeep Cherokee every day. I had turned the radio on, and Let The Heartache Ride was right in the middle of the acapella intro.” Larry had been living with the song for a while, and hearing it  through his car speakers wasn’t that big of a deal - until he  looked at the stereo and saw the numbers 97.9. “It didn’t sink in because I had it in the tape deck for days, then I realized  ‘That’s the radio. It’s WSIX.’ I pulled over on the shoulder around White Bridge Road and sat there with my car idling. It was like yesterday.” John Dittrich, Greg Jennings, Paul Gregg, Dave Innis, and Larry Stewart - the men who make up Restless Heart - have enjoyed one of the most successful careers in Country Music history, placing over 25 singles on the charts - with six

Dynamic and determined are just two words that can be best used to describe Nova Scotian country singer Andrew Frelick! From a growing online presence, artist showcase performances during CMA Fest & CCMA Week, to releasing his first single “Unlove You” from his debut Nashville recorded EP “Time Stands Still” to radio, 2015 was an amazing year of growth and opportunity. Kicking off 2016 with the release of “Time Stands Still” via Lauren Tutty Promotions, the EP’s title track is receiving great reviews and radio play in both Canada & the U.S. Andrew is a natural talent with rich, unique sounding vocals, delivering top notch country guitar work, and a polished live off the floor sound… Born into a musical family, Andrew was surrounded by country music and soon given his first guitar. Performing on top local stages by the time he reached his teens, hesoon developed a natural comfort that would compare to that of a seasoned performer. His love of country guitar, and passion for being on stage would con

Ontario Country singer-songwriter Nicole Rayy is a musical powerhouse, known for possessing a flair for dynamic storytelling, soulful, honest lyrics, and electrifying performances. Having played at such festivals as TurtleFest, Manitoulin Country Fest, and the Calgary Stampede to venues big and small throughout the country, Nicole is much known for her foot-stomping, energetic live performances as she is for her incredible recorded works. To Nicole, creating music is a way of baring her soul to the world and honestly expressing her feelings, making for music that resonates with many of her listeners. While she would love to follow in the footsteps of country and pop stars Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert and even Kelly Clarkson, Nicole has found that having the music set her own path is better than following the oft-travelled one. As a result, her music constantly evolves with each song, often combining influences from multiple genres of music from classic country to pop, dance, and rock, resulting in a fre

From a very young age, Brian Vain grew up listening to country music like Alabama, Randy Travis,and Garth Brooks. Hewas also drawn to the music of Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Micheal Jackson and more. At the age of 11, Brian picked up his first guitar and began teaching himself. After years of no guitar or vocal lessons, Brian had begun writing his own songs and found something he was really good at, finding melodies that were easy to sing along to but there was only one problem.. Brian was so shy he couldn’t even play in front of his parents let alone anyone else. It was when Brian was 22 he almost lost his hand in a workplace accident and finally broke his shyness enough to start playing his songs for other people. After many years or writing and performing in a rock band Brian wanted to go back to his roots. The name Kansas Stone had been an idea in Brian's head for many years until he had a book of country songs he had wrote and brought them to his best friend Matt Davey.. after that day Brian’s idea was now rea

The band that plays together stays together. Known as one of the first country bands to play on every one of their  studio projects, Diamond Rio made country music history when their first single Meet In The  Middle landed  them in the No. 1 spot. Now, 25 years later Diamond Rio is releasing I Made It, their tenth studio album. The  title track was co-written by the band’s lead guitarist Jimmy Olander and features 11 new songs. Produced by  Olander and Michael D Clute, I Made It is a follow-up to their 2014 first-ever live album release: Diamond Rio Live. Lead singer Marty Roe joins me to discuss the group's career, hit songs, Opry performances, the Eagles, Larry Gatlin & much more!

Kym Simon is a prominent singer, songwriter, entertainer, and instructor in the Canadian music industry. She is currently teaching voice / guitar / piano lessons to some the most talented young artists in Alberta who are known as the Songbirds. Kym’s roots began in Stettler, Alberta. She was born into a musical family and followed in the rhythmic beats of her parents and grandparents as they sang and played for various community events. While Kym was performing at her high school graduation ceremony, she instinctively made music her career. Before Kym knew it music was an entire way of life (for herself, her husband and 2 children). The energy Kym eludes on stage is incredible. Her audiences are always the “priority”, whether it is getting fans to join her on stage, or walking into the crowd so everyone can dance and sing along. This is what has made her music dreams become reality. Kym just released her 3rd studio album called Mirror. Tune in to get to know this talented Country artist and her music!

Under a big Stetson, accompanied with a big smile, and based, under even bigger skies of Grande Prairie, Alberta, is Canada’s newest gentleman of country music, Brad Sims. Of Metis heritage, Brad’s call to immerse himself in all things country occurred when attending an annual Bud Country Fever Music Festival. After sneaking backstage to gain main stage access to watch the performers, Brad’s realization of one day doing exactly the same thing resonated; he was 10 years old. Fast forward and a short 8 years later, Brad’s musical journey commenced with a band called Nowhere Road. Competing in various and well known vocal competitions had Brad take center stage and be awarded the winning position for Duke’s Entertainer of the Year (2010), the Alberta/BC Talent Contest (2013) as well as garnering an impressive third place win in The Next Nashville North Star, at the Calgary Stampede (2014). Inspired by musical influences including Marty Stuart, George Strait, Mark Chesnutt, Dwight Yoakum and George Jones. Canad

Not many artists come up with the best work of their career three decades in, but happily Lori Yates has done just that.  Sweetheart of the Valley, her 7th recording, shows that the honky-tonk heroine is at the very top of her game. This stellar collection of new songs showcase her twin talents as a compelling songwriter and the possessor of a voice that few can equal. When it came time to record a follow up to her award-winning acoustic "The Book of Minerva", she called in roots heavyweights & bandmates Hey Stella! - Bazil Donovan (Blue Rodeo, Doug Paisley), David Baxter (Justin Rutledge, Kim Beggs), Michelle Josef (Etta James, Prairie Oyster).  The results are being heralded as "An dark alt-country masterpiece." Lori Yates reclaims her title as queen of Canada's country singer-songwriters". (GR, Hamilton Spectator) This enigmatic, rebellious and hard to pin down veteran singer/songwriter, Yates adeptly blends country, folk, rockabilly and cow-punk to create her own award-winning sound and style of wr

John Berry has a new outlook, a new address and a new beginning. The singer-songwriter rose to stardom on the country charts of the 1990s with such mega hits as “Your Love Amazes Me,” “Standing on the Edge of Goodbye” and “She’s Taken a Shine.” His annual Christmas tours brighten the holidays for thousands, as does his electrifying rendition of “O Holy Night.” During his star-making decade, John placed 20 singles on the county hit parade. He earned Gold and Platinum records. He was nominated for a Grammy Award, CMA Awards and ACM Awards. And thanks to the miracles of modern technology, he even sang a duet with the late, great Patsy Cline. But when the hit records faded, John quietly left Nashville and headed back to his native Georgia. "The fall is hard. For a time it left me angry and disillusioned. I was fortunate because singing was all I had ever done and all I knew to do.  I buckled under and made it work. It was then that I became the President and Janitor of JB Music. I am proud to say I have survive

Songwriter, singer, recording artist, documentary producer, television personality, motivational speaker-these are just a few of the many colored hats that Benita Hill wears on her creative journey. The former background vocalist for the Allman Brothers has written number one songs for Garth Brooks ("Two Pina Coladas" & "It's Your Song") and her songs have been covered by artists in multiple genres-the legendary Isaac Hayes, gospel jazz saxophonist Kirk Whalum, country songbird Crystal Gayle and many more.Her music has appeared in Broadway musicals, television and radio commercials (she’s the voice of “Santa Baby”for Jaguar Automobiles) and she has released six critically acclaimed CDs of her original jazz/pop inflected songs. Three of her songs,co-written with Julia Rich,are performed worldwide as part of the Glenn Miller orchestra’s standard repertoire. Most recently, her documentary The Healing Power of A Song premiered nationally on the Blue Highways television network.She also tours with a seminar

Welcome to the first In The Country episode of 2016! Please send your comments on the show to inthecountry@mail.com. We love hearing from our listeners. On the show... From B.C., The Washboard Union is here to chat and share their new chart-climbing single "Maybe It's The Moonshine." Ontario's Amy Rose brings the laughs and her brand new song "One Of These Days." Alberta's Domino gather in the kitchen to talk about their Alberta Country Music Awards nominations and share their latest single "Big Blue Sky." Check out more In The Country interviews atwww.inthecountryinterviews.com  

Don Graham and Marshall Dane - Together Again For the First Time! Don Graham is a veteran country singer/songwriter having spent over four decades perfecting his craft. He has performed globally, picking up friends and fans around the world. Don was signed in the early days to Irving Almo Music to a writers deal by the legendary Brian Chater, resulting in him relocating from his hometown of Montreal to Toronto. Don now spends his time performing at select venues, while also travelling to showcase at places like the Nashville Palace in Tennessee, a private party during MIDEM in Cannes, France and appearing on the pilot for a video show hosted by Dave Woods. Marshall Dane was born in Southern Ontario and brought up on music, with a preacher Dad who played guitar and a musical Mum who played piano. Playing his first solo gig at age fifteen for thirty-five bucks and a plate of cheesecake, Marshall tried working in a band before eventually taking fate in to his own hands in 2008, heading down to Nashville for a

Brooklyn Roebuck’s childhood love of singing competitions landed her on YTV’s nation-wide, talent-search TV show The Next Star at fourteen years old, where a loyal and rapidly growing fan base of which three million voters decided that the crown belonged to her. After the win, her career kicked into high gear and she appeared regularly on YTV, even hosting her own Brooklyn’s Movie Night and guest starring on the hit series Life With Boys. Her music videos for the infectious pop-country singles The Way I See You, Lemon and Lime, and One Of These Days have caught airtime from Juicebox Television, CMT, and YTV, and have each been viewed tens of thousands of times on YouTube alone.  In 2012, Brooklyn performed a soulful rendition of O Holy Night on CMT’s star-studded The Gift of Giving charity special which showcased not only her remarkable vocal talent but her maturity as an artist. With names like Randy Bachman, The Trews and Beverley Mahood in attendance, it remains one of the most special performances of her

Alabama-based Country-rock singer/songwriter Donica Knight is happy to announce the release of her new single and VEVO music video for Love Ain't A Prize. The video is currently available for viewing at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRRQzjt7358. "Love Ain't A Prize" was written by Donica Knight, her producer, Jim Huff, and Chris Vos. Recorded at Fox Force Five Recorders and Huff's home studio in Los Angeles, CA, the track is taken from her forthcoming EP, Can't Buy A Southern Girl, slated for early 2016 release. The single is already airing at radio stations around the globe. The music video was shot on location in LA, and it was directed by veteran cinemetographer, Noel Maitland. Maitland has directed videos for Flyleaf, EdenXO, Bobby Newberry, and others. Says Donica, “This time around, I wanted to make a record in LA, but reminiscent of some of the great southern rock and country I grew up listening to; some of that Muscle Shoals vibe with horns, motown-ish background vocals, and of course, lots of rock