I hate writing about myself in the third person, so I won't.
After spending my teens and most of my 20's playing in rock bands you've never heard of, I made a decision to quit, and put my energy into what I really loved, which was writing songs. It took me another decade or so to find my voice as a writer, and then several more years for the country music mainstream to catch up with me. I was too rock for country in the 80s, and too country for rock. Then everything changed. Some called it "New Country", some call it "Country Rock". I called it good music. As time has moved forward, my tastes have broadened even further into more traditional country, folk, and even pop and bluegrass. .
For most songwriters, the obvious thing would be to move to Nashville, and work their way up the ladder the old fashioned way. I decided to go a different route. I made a conscious decision to stay here in Canada, and make my career by writing with and pitching my songs to artists here in Canada. I do pitch my songs to American artists as well, but I've been very fortunate to write with some of the most talented artists in the Canadian country music scene
My first major cut as a writer was Sunshower, written with and performed by Donny Parenteau. This song was nominated for song of the year at the 2012 Sakatchewan Country Music Awards, and appeared on Donny's Juno nominated album, Bring It On. On my own, I wrote Teagan Littlechief's hit I'll Bring The Party, which made it to Number One on the national Aboriginal charts. I've had 24 other cuts along the way, with and I've also contributed songs to several feature films and the play My Fair Zombie. I was nominated in 2021, along with Mychela and Rob hewes, for a Josie Award for Song Of The Year, female country for Mychela's debut single I'm Not Gonna Stop.
I was a founding board member of the Country Music Association of Ontario, and continue to be very active with that organization.
After spending my teens and most of my 20's playing in rock bands you've never heard of, I made a decision to quit, and put my energy into what I really loved, which was writing songs. It took me another decade or so to find my voice as a writer, and then several more years for the country music mainstream to catch up with me. I was too rock for country in the 80s, and too country for rock. Then everything changed. Some called it "New Country", some call it "Country Rock". I called it good music. As time has moved forward, my tastes have broadened even further into more traditional country, folk, and even pop and bluegrass. .
For most songwriters, the obvious thing would be to move to Nashville, and work their way up the ladder the old fashioned way. I decided to go a different route. I made a conscious decision to stay here in Canada, and make my career by writing with and pitching my songs to artists here in Canada. I do pitch my songs to American artists as well, but I've been very fortunate to write with some of the most talented artists in the Canadian country music scene
My first major cut as a writer was Sunshower, written with and performed by Donny Parenteau. This song was nominated for song of the year at the 2012 Sakatchewan Country Music Awards, and appeared on Donny's Juno nominated album, Bring It On. On my own, I wrote Teagan Littlechief's hit I'll Bring The Party, which made it to Number One on the national Aboriginal charts. I've had 24 other cuts along the way, with and I've also contributed songs to several feature films and the play My Fair Zombie. I was nominated in 2021, along with Mychela and Rob hewes, for a Josie Award for Song Of The Year, female country for Mychela's debut single I'm Not Gonna Stop.
I was a founding board member of the Country Music Association of Ontario, and continue to be very active with that organization.
