Sneezy Waters,

musician, Ontario - 1998 - JM Hodgeson from Ottawa - best known for his legendary performances of Hank Williams: The Show He Never Gave - was member of The Children with Bruce Cockburn in the mid-1960s


I was at the first performance of Hank Williams The show He Never Gave at the HorseShoe Tavern In Toronto. The Horseshoe at that time was still the premier Country and Western Bar and all the big Nashville stars played there as well as locals like Sneezy.
  In the middle of the first set a Sneezy Fan passing by stuck his head in the door and yelled."Hey Sneezy sing Louis Riel"! One of the locals who just happened to be in the bar as usual caught Sneezy in between sets. "Hey Hank" she says "How old are you?" "Ahh, 34 " says Sneezy. "Bullshit" She says Your son was here 3 months ago and he was 36."

Valdy,

singer/songwriter - British Columbia - 2008 - Ottawa-born as Daldmar Horsdal, he went on to become an iconic figure on the fledgling Canadian music scene in the 1970s. His Valdy & the Hometown Band recording of 1976 is a classic.

Lucille Starr

country singer, Quebec - 2000 - chanteuse from Montreal who scored a major hit with The French Song in the mid 60s - influenced many important female singers: Sylvia Tyson included

Mose Scarlett,

musician - Ontario - 2006 - his long beard, tall lanky body, glass of scotch and a six stringed guitar have made him the Leon Redbone of Canada; his work with Ken Whiteley and Jackie Washington is something special: When old friends meet!

Roy Payne,

singer/songwriter, Newfoundland & Labrador - 1995 - one of the most fiercely Canadian recording artists of the 1960s, his songs I Wouldn't Trade a Million Dollars for a Single Maple Leaf and The Goofy Newfy defined his no-bullshit demeanor

Murray McLauchlan,

singer/songwriter - Ontario - 2007 - wrote The Farmer's Song and many others - hosted Swing on a Star on CBC radio as well as a TV show

Gordon Lightfoot,

singer/songwriter, Ontario - 2000 - started out as a singer and square dancer on CBCs Country Hoedown - started due The Two Tones before going out on his own - early songs covered by Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan & Ian & Sylvia

Roy Forbes,

producer, singer/songwriter, broadcaster, British Columbia - 2002 - once known as the performer Bim, influenced by country and blues, member of pop trio UHF

Bernie Finkelstein

music industry exec, Ontario - 1996 - before the days of CanCon, he started his own record company - True North - responsible for the careers of Bruce Cockburn, Dan Hill, Murray McLauchlin, Carole Pope and dozens of others

I once sold Bernie some prints I had of Iskowitz, Town Rayner Coughtry etc.
We had long negotiations but finally struck a deal.
Bernie says ,"Are you happy with this deal? Is it a good deal?"
"Yes I say "It is a good deal."
"Hmm says Bernie if you are happy and I am happy, how can it be a good deal."

Graham Townsend

fiddler, Ontario - 1993 - the peoples' fiddler, the man who could do just about anything on his instrument with his delicate, magical hands

Dick Nolan

singer, Newfoundland & Labrador - 1994 - the first Newfoundlander to record the folksongs of his native land - had a major hit with The Night We Stole Aunt Martha's Sheep

Colleen Peterson,

singer / songwriter, Ontario - 1996 - wrote and performed songs in Nashville and Canada - member of Quartette and very well loved

I hung out with Collen a bit and she spent a lot of time at my bar.
She took me back stage to meet Bonnie Raitt.
So much talent, so litle time, Sadly Missed.

Harry Hibbs

Harry played the Horseshoe and we hit it off enough that I got invited to the dressing room, Harry carried two case one with accordion and the other he said contained his music.You had to get invited to the dressing room to see his music which was 2 bottles of rum I more than a few with him. I remember his drunken rendition of his song mother where the tears would flow down his cheeks and occasionaly he would get a little raucous and go over backwards in his chair. Never the less he usually played to pretty good crowds

Harry Hibbs accordionist, Newfoundland & Labrador - 1993 - hosted At The Caribou on TV - one of the first Canadians to have 4 Gold records to his credit

John Allan Cameron

- singer, Cape Breton I, NS - 1995 - the man who made Cape Breton famous - hosted his own TV program - propelled Maritime music to the national stage

Willie P Bennett

Willie P Bennett, Singer-Songwriter & Musician - Ontario - 2006 - has influenced countless songwriters by breaking new ground with his 70s albums; played with the Dixie Flyers and Fred Eaglesmith's Flying Squirrels; Juno Award winning CD 'Heartstrings'

Great Guy, Willie was his own worst enemy, I had to bar him a few times in his wilder days but always appreciated his music.

Cliff 'Kid' Bastien

Jazz player, Ontario - 2003 - Leader of the Happy Pals who lead Saturday afternoon jams at Grossman's Tavern, Toronto, for 30 years.