MCMA treasurer Noel Martin presents MCMA Country For Cancer proceeds to Laurie Wittinger of the Canadian Cancer Society.
With the help of our sponsors, volunteers, The Ranch Saloon and all the evenings performers we raised $5,063.64 towards the Canadian Cancer Society’s fight against cancer in Manitoba.
December 29 2012
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Amero Little Christmas 2012 Prairie Tour
Don Amero and Red Moon Road will be combining their musical super powers to bring in the Christmas season with some sweet harmonies and a bunch of your favourite Christmas songs.
Tickets for all shows are $15
Friday Dec. 7th - BRANDON @ Redeemer Lutheran Church
...Order tickets by calling 204-728-6206
Saturday Dec. 8th - BOISSIVANE @ Sawmill Tea and Coffee
Get your tix at the door
Sunday Dec. 9th - VIRDEN @ The Aud
Tickets @ Virden School & Office Supplies
Wednesday Dec. 12th - DAUPHIN @ The Watson Arts Centre
Tickets @ Fiddlelore Store, Dauphin Music & Electronics and at the WAC (or) Charge by phone at 204-638-6231
Thursday Dec. 13th - NEEPAWA @ Viscount Cultural Centre
Tickets @ Viscount Cultural Centre (Tues - Fri 10am - 5pm)
Friday Dec. 14th - WINNIPEG @ The West End Cultural Centre
TIckets @ Ticketmaster (or) The WECC
Saturday Dec. 15th - KENORA - Water of Life Church
Tickets @ Fragile Glass Studio - 529 3rd Ave S
Sunday Dec. 16th - SAINT PIERRE - The Sugar Shack
Tickets available at the door
December 09 2012
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Rachel Ashley's "No Time for That" Anti-Bullying Tour
Since the beginning of November 2012 Manitoba singer/songwriter Rachel Ashley has been speaking and performing at several schools across Manitoba with her "No Time for That" anti-bullying tour. Rachel shares her stories, experiences, and music to help and inspire.
Check out this quick snapshot of Rachel’s "No Time for That" anti-bullying tour
In the early part of 2012, Brandon poet and songwriter Brian Bergquist conceived the idea of "Bringing Bob Nolan Home" by booking the current Sons of the Pioneers for concerts in Manitoba. Rarely happening in music groups, the Sons of the Pioneers have never retired. Since their inception in 1934, they have performed continuously, adding new musicians as necessary but always keeping the unique harmony that made them famous. They still have a large and loyal fan base.
Mr. Bergquist arranged to have a special memorial ceremony held at the Ft. Garry Hotel on October 29th, a hundred yards from the exact place where Bob as a little boy left Winnipeg for the last time. The participants in this private ceremony gave freely of their time out of respect for the legendary Bob Nolan. Everyone, including the Fort Garry Hotel, donated their time and services for the memorial. Everything was carefully, lovingly planned and carried out.
Please join us for... the Manitoba Country Music Association’s
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Windsor Park Canad Inns, 1034 Elizabeth Road Winnipeg, MB
Meeting: 7:30pm
Room: Ambassador D
Admission: free
November 25 2012
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Ray St. Germain Inducted into MCMA Hall of Fame
The MCMA is proud to announce the induction of Ray St. Germain into the Manitoba Country Music Hall of Fame. Ray Martin presented Ray St. Germain with the award November 22, 2012 at the MCMA Country For Cancer Benefit Event at the Ranch Saloon
Born in 1940, Ray St. Germain started playing music and singing while growing up in St. Vital, a suburb in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He started out on accordion but switched over to guitar as a teenager because it looked a little silly jumping all over the stage with an accordion. He began performing all over Canada when he was still a teenager, earning the nickname "Winnipeg's Elvis", traveling with Hal Lone Pine, Betty Cody and their son Jazz Legend Lenny Breau. His career hasn't really let up since. During that time, he's performed on the bill with such greats as Johnny Cash, Porter Wagoner, and Johnny Horton. His music has taken him around the world, letting him travel to places like Germany, Israel and Cyprus, and across Canada. He clearly loves the performer's life and hasn't slowed down a bit. Ray has been seen nationally on CBC, Global, APTN and CKY as a performer, television producer/singer/host. Ray was also the radio host/program manager at NCI-fm. Ray St. Germain is an award winning Recording artist, and Stage show performer/producer. Ray recently added author to his repertoire as he wrote his autobiography "I Wanted to be Elvis, so What was I doing in Moose Jaw?" Ray has released his latest album entitled "Life Ain't Hard" and enjoys performing stage shows across Canada.
Ray St. Germain was first heard on the CJOB Western Hour as a regular guest. As Ray toured with Hal Lone Pine and Betty Cody and their son Lenny Breau they were featured on CKY Caravan's weekly radio show as they traveled around the province. CKY radio stated that Ray St. Germain's "She's a Square" was the first local rock n'roll 45 they ever played. That was followed by "Raise a Ruckus" released during Ray's time as host/singer of CBC TV's Music Hop.
Ray hosted the Country Kings on CKDM Dauphin Radio and later "Afternoon from Winnipeg" on CBC Radio with Murray Parker in 1966. After many television series and tours Ray returned to radio this time to NCI-FM where he hosted the Drive Home Show for eight years and was also the Program Manager.
Metis Hour with Naomi Clark: Ray continues to host the weekly Saturday morning show the METIS HOUR X2 on the NCI-FM network with co-host Naomi Clark. A popular show presented by the Manitoba Metis Federation President David Chartrand. Ray also co-hosts the 'Automotive Hotline with Sid Minuk', Saturday afternoons on the NCI-FM Radio Network.
November 21 2012
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MCMA Country For Cancer 2012
On November 22, 2012 the Manitoba Country Music Association and the Ranch Saloon present "Country for Cancer" an evening of Country Music. The MCMA is proud to present Chris Thorsteinson of Doc Walker, Gomie featuring David Wasyliw of Doc Walker, Foster Martin Band, Ray St. Germain, and Jerry Sereda.
Proceeds to support the Canadian Cancer Society to carry out their programs, services, advocacy and research to help Manitobans fight back against cancer.
Tickets $10 in advance, $15 at the door.
Purchase your tickets through PayPal. Present your email confirmation for entry at the door.
Tickets also available at the Ranch Saloon 1931 Pembina Hwy
November 15 2012
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Country For Cancer 2012 Ticket Winners
Due to the overwhelming response, the MCMA has decided to give away an extra 3 pairs of tickets to Country For Cancer. Congratulations to our seven Country for Cancer ticket winners:
Lorna Hogg
Kay Wagstaff
Everett Tremeer
Kristina Hacault
Suzy Prymak
Karen Smith
Brittney Christensen
November 15 2012
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Bob Nolan Inducted into MCMA Hall of Fame
Bob Nolan becomes the first inductee into the Manitoba Country Music Hall of Fame
The MCMA is proud to announce Bob Nolan as the first inductee into the Manitoba Country Music Hall of Fame. The award is to be presented to the Sons of the Pioneers at their October 29, 2012 Winnipeg show.
Bob Nolan was born Clarence Robert Nobles in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 1908. When the family broke up in 1915, his father changed his surname from “Nobles” to “Nolan” and disappeared into the United States leaving Bob and his little brother with their mother.
Unable to care for them adequately on her Manitoba Government Telephones salary, their mother was forced to leave her boys with their grandparents in New Brunswick. During those 3 years on the homestead, believing his mother had also deserted him, Bob became an aloof and lonely little boy. He spent every moment he could at the seaside and in the forests, already preferring Nature to human companionship.
Bob’s father settled in Tucson and sent for him in 1921. The change from green New Brunswick to the desert stunned the lad. Gradually awakening to its strange beauty, Bob Nolan grew to love the desert and it completed the work his Canadian wildwood had begun in his heart. He was impelled to put it all into words.
In Tucson High, Bob wrote his famous Cool Water. He married shortly after graduation but the Depression made it impossible to support his wife and baby. The marriage failed when Bob moved to California to look for work. Sadly, his bitter young wife refused to let him see their daughter for 15 years.
In 1932 Bob joined Leonard Slye (Roy Rogers) and Tim Spencer to form The Pioneer Trio. The Farr Brothers joined in 1934-35 and the name was changed to the Sons of the Pioneers. Thanks to Bob’s original compositions, Roy’s enthusiasm, Tim’s business acumen - plus unending practice - they were an immediate hit on live radio. Bob, tallest and best looking, became leader.
His songs of the West were unique, quite different from the simpler Cowboy ballads. Bob painted song pictures of the desert, the forest, the land itself. His verses were lyrical poetry, his melodies often complex and beautiful. This new Western (not Country) music caught the imagination of the public. Other groups copied the Sons of the Pioneers’ style but never managed their distinctive harmony.
The group was featured in over 90 movies. Bob acted and wrote songs for them all. Always a private person, this constant need of new songs made him appear even more of a loner. He wrote over a thousand, most of which were destroyed in a garage fire.
Tumbling Tumbleweeds, musical hallmark of the Pioneers, made the publishing company rich while Bob realized very little from his song.
Bob married again and the touring, acting, and personal appearances stopped abruptly in 1949 when Bob cried, “Enough!” This loner, who had been forced by circumstance to become a very public person, craved solitude and so he retired. Bob recorded with the Sons of the Pioneers until 1957 but otherwise disappeared from view for 30 years.
He did continue to write songs and he recorded one final album in 1978, The Sound of a Pioneer. He died suddenly in 1980 and his ashes were scattered on his desert. He is survived by one grandson, three great grandchildren and the Sons of the Pioneers – still going strong in 2012.
(Elizabeth Drake McDonald, Nolan family archivist)
MCMA's Miles Trach and Chris Ising presenting The Sons of the Pioneers with Bob Nolan's Hall of Fame Award.
October 28 2012
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Sons of the Pioneers - Oct 29th, 2012
The Manitoba Country Music Association is giving away two front row tickets to see the legendary Sons of the Pioneers, with special guest Eli Barsi & Ray St Germain, live at Pantages Playhouse Theatre October 29th, 2012
For your chance to win a pair of tickets please send your name by email, along with the name of two movies staring Sons of the Pioneers founding member Bob Nolan, to manitobacma@gmail.com
Emails will be accepted until 11:00pm Sunday October 14th, 2012. The draw will take place Monday October 15th, 2012 at 12:00 pm. The winning name will be contacted via email Monday October 15th, 2012 and posted to the MCMA website. You must be valid MCMA member, and a resident of Manitoba to qualify.
