The Singers & The Ringers
The Singers and The Ringers. The salt & pepper on the dish. Each of them provided flare and brought their unique gifts for some extra flavour on Lost Country. Here we go!
THE SINGERS
Jessica Lyons & Andrina Turenne. [Souvenir]
2 beautiful singers, each of whom are well respected in their communities and beyond.
I worked with Jess extensively throughout 2014 and formed a great friendship with her. Seems like a different life or a lifetime ago. And it was, really. Based in the great city of Chicago, Jessica has toured the world and boasts an impressive resume as a Singer, Dancer, Actor, Host and Casting Director. She’s performed with some of earth’s most elite tribute acts including Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist, Shawn Klush and performed on the David Letterman show with another Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist, Justin Shandor - watch that performance HERE. She’s toured nationally with groups presenting original material including Acoustic Folk Rock Band, BandCalledCatch and with the Rockabilly outfit, Lance Lipinsky and the Lovers. With all that experience, she was a perfect candidate to lend her voice to, Souvenir.
From right here in Winnipeg, Manitoba, we called in our friend, Franco-Manitoban and Red River Métis singer-songwriter, Andrina Turenne. Turenne has graced stages across five continents and has lent her voice—as a member or a guest—to more than 50 albums during her 20-plus years in the music industry. A Juno nominee and winner as part of Chic Gamine, Andrina released her debut solo album, Bold As Logs in 2023. Her ability to blend vocally across many genres and with a variety of styles sealed the deal in having her team up with Jess for Souvenir. She’s out pounding the pavement hard these days in support of her new music. Be sure to keep up with Andrina at: www.andrinaturenne.com
Ted Hawkins
A 50+ year veteran of the hardest honky-tonks and toughest taverns from the glorious six-nighter era, Ted got his start in the bars in 1973. He’s seen it all and with an unwavering passion for country music and deep understanding of all great American Roots music having him on the sessions was a must. Ted tracked background vocals on Destroy Me, Before She Made Me Crawl, Drinkin’Me Six Foot Under, The Same Old Thing Again and, Alone Again, in some cases layering several parts. A fella of Ted’s stature deserves respect and he fit right in with all the other seasoned cats who appear on Lost Country. He and my Dad knew each other and even did some jobs together over the years. The old man had a ton of respect for Teddy. In the 1980’s he made waves fronting his own group, The Jack Diamond Band touring nationally and charting Top 10 Singles. Moving into the 90’s and early 2000’s, Hawkins served as drummer and right-hand man to Scotty Campbell on stage and in studio with The Wardenaires delivering what was arguably the best Country music of its time from a Canadian act. He continues to keep the finest of musical company performing consistently around Toronto in a variety of combos including: Thelonious Hank and with, Danny Marks. You can’t miss him - and if you get the chance, go see him play. His obvious love for music and the energy he brings to the stage are infectious.
THE RINGERS
Dennis Conn [Fender Telecaster]
Back in the 70’s, The Cement City Stompers were the hottest Country group in the Toronto clubs. Canada’s answer to Asleep at the Wheel but only way more dangerous. Fronted by bass player, Phil Lloyd, this 5 piece outfit (guitar, bass, drums, pedal steel, harmonica) was a force to be reckoned with. They were my Dad’s favourite band and he’d often find himself sat alone near the stage at the Horseshoe Tavern with a full ashtray and a table full of small draft glasses while revelling in the magic and charm of the Stompers and Dennis Conn’s masterful Tele pickin’. Dennis was his favourite picker in those days and throughout my teens my Dad told me tales of the Stompers, their wild antics and of the elite-level musicianship he witnessed those nights in the bars. I think he tried to keep up with them a few times in some of their legendary after hours activities but he was still in the early stages of his honky-tonk apprenticeship and could barely hang on to the ride. Dennis is cut from the same cloth as the hot pickers who came before him on the Toronto scene like Mickey McGivern and Roy Penney. No one plays like that anymore and it’s a goddamn shame. But Dennis still does. He has the tricks and the knowledge. He knows when and how to play; where it fits and where it doesn’t and has a respect for the space and the other pickers around him. A skill he no doubt honed while sandwiched between dynamite pedal steel (Mike Holder) & harmonica (Roly Platt) players in the Cement City Stompers for all those years. Beyond the Stompers, Dennis is credited on recording sessions by Roy Payne, Barry Smith and many more. I turned 19 on the road with Dennis playing in a Dixie Chicks tribute show. I floated in and out of that group for a couple years and got to travel and room with Dennis during that time. What a trip. Memories I won’t ever forget. I’m lucky to have Grant Siemens playing guitar for me for the most part, but for the purposes of Lost Country, we needed a cat who was there in the trenches in the time we were revisiting and there was no chance I was calling anyone else until I got a hold of Dennis. Watching him work and chatting between takes was a highlight of the entire session(s) for me. Hear Dennis’ pickin’ on Destroy Me, Drinkin’ Me Six Foot Under, Alone Again. His solo’s and rhythm parts are standout moments on my record. I’m forever grateful that he took the time to be a part of this.
Roly Platt [Harmonica]
Another veteran and star of the aforementioned Cement City Stompers, Roly has gone on to be a Harmonica player in high-demand. His list of credits includes 1700 individual album cuts, movie scores and jingles, 2 double platinum and Juno award album credits and multiple Maple Blues Award nominations. He’s toured and recorded with many greats in the business including: Ronnie Hawkins, Matt Minglewood, David Clayton-Thomas, Dutch Mason, Susan Aglukark, Suzie Vinnick and Rick Fines. Getting his start practicing to his older brother’s Blues and Bluegrass records, Roly’s early years on the road quickly introduced him to a wide variety of music including Country-Swing, Country Rock, R&B & Traditional Jazz. This experience of having to incorporate harmonica into some of these non-traditional roles helped form his melodic approach to playing and define his unique style. We enlisted Roly for Drinkin’ Me Six Foot Under and, Me and the Old Promised Land. I learned Six Foot Under from an old live recording by the Stompers so of course I had to get Dennis & Roly both to play on that one. And, Me and the Old Promised Land; well, Roly played on the original recording of that song from Joe Firth 40 years prior to laying down his parts on my cut of the song. For those reasons, there was no other harp player on the list - it had to be Roly, and I’m thankful he agreed.
Redd Volkaert [Guitar]
I mean, where do you start with someone of Redd’s stature? If you’re a Country music fan at all then you know the name and you probably know the distinct look & sound Redd brings to the table. He’s a world renowned guitar slinger and that’s no exaggeration. Redd grew up near Vancouver and landed in Alberta where the jobs were aplenty. He worked with the best of the best out there in the 80’s including the great, Joyce Smith before wising up and heading south to make a name for himself. First to California (if I’m not mistaken) and then out to Nashville, eventually landing the guitar chair in the Don Kelly Band at Robert’s Western World. Long before that section of Broadway resembled Vegas, as it does today. From that job, he landed the spot with his hero, Merle Haggard and was a member of The Strangers throughout the 90s. It doesn’t get any bigger or better than “The Hag” in terms of Country music, but the list of folks Redd has shard the stage or studio with is truly mind blowing. Here’s a brief sample: Ray Price, George Jones, Rose Maddox, Patsy Montana, Dave Dudley, Red Sovine, Leona Williams, Merle Travis, Asleep ash the Wheel, Red Simpson, Bill Kirchin, Charley Pride, Dolly Parton, Johnny Bush, Connie Smith. I mean, c’mon… royalty. And for good reason. After the Merle gig, Redd headed to Austin, TX where he starred in Heybale and continued to pick live and on records, including a series of solo albums. On one of those records, he covered Before She Made Me Crawl, so when I was planning Lost Country, I knew I had to request Redd’s talents for that song. In addition to pickin’ on Crawl, Redd also played lead guitar for me on the Dick Damron song, The Same Old Thing Again. I figured with all that history in Alberta that Redd must have played with, or at least hung-out with, Damron. Redd didn’t disappoint. He sent his tracks up from his home in Virginia. Signature Redd Volkaert sounds and licks and a great feather in the cap for Lost Country.
I’ve hesitated to write this final blog piece on the record. It feels like closing a chapter but I guess that’s a good thing. The record has been out for 3+ months now and by todays standards, that’s almost old news… especially since I’ve not been out on the road touring it. But that’s okay. I am extremely happy and proud of, Lost Country and to have had all of these folks play & sing on my record is a dream. From the core band we tracked with to the featured singers & ringers. To all of them, I owe a great debt of gratitude. I love Country music so much and each of them helped me bring this vision to light.
Thanks for the licks and for the great memories. And thank you for reading and following along.
SB -
In my house, on my couch.
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
8:52pm