Porcupine Awards - 1997

Jerry Holland, Cape Breton

Jerry Holland first recorded for Rounder Records in the United States in 1976 when he was just 21. A fiddling, step dancing sensation, he was steeped in the music of Cape Breton where he spent most of his summers. At an early age he listened to the fiddling of Bill Lamey and Angus Chislom. Later he was asked to join the Cape Breton Symphony with Buddy MacMaster and other great fiddlers, appearing regularly on John Allen Cameron’s TV program. It was there that he met the late Winston ‘Scotty’ Fitzgerald and adopted the master’s relish for swing dance music. Jerry has gone on to become one of the deans of the Scottish fiddle in America of his generation.

Tammy Fassaert, BC

Tammy has worked hard at her craft and deserves mention here. Her songwriting skills have grown through her desire to learn the music. A good bluegrass bass player, she has performed through North America. Her songwriting skills have been honed, her musicianship and ability to sing with feeling are recognized by fellow musicians and audiences.

Mrs Phylis Cavalini Silver, Toronto/Nfld

Mrs Cavalini always wanted to be a singer, always wanted to record her own songs written to celebrate the experience of her upbringing in a Portuguese/Newfoundland home. Daughter of a Portuguese stowaway and Newfoundland-Irish mother, she recalls the good times when Portuguese sailors would drop in from the fishery, bringing with them olives and wine and other Portuguese delicacies. And oh how they partied. After an initial start at a career in the early 1970s, she gave it up to raise her sons in Toronto who went on to play hockey in the NHL. Now, after all these years, she has finally released her first album of songs.

Liette Remon, Gaspesie, Québec

Born into a working class, musical family, Liette was inspired by the traditional sounds of her family. Learning the violin, she soon learned the reels and other dance tunes of the people around her. Sister to Porcupine Award recipient Lina Remon - for her book on Madame La Bolduc - Liette last year recorded and released a precious family portrait in music, complete with the encapsulated stories of her family members.

Lynn Russwurm, Ontario

Lynn has been personally responsible for archiving the history of Canadian Country music. His knowledge and love of the subject have made him a wise father-figure. The recent compilation album that he is responsible for assembling, ‘It’s The Saturday Night Barndance’ features some of the recording pioneers of the CKNX Barndance scene, right on up till the present. It includes some very rare recordings and good liner notes which would probably have been more in depth had he the budget to do so.

Chuck Angus & Brit Griffon, Cobalt, ON for We Lived A Life And Then Some: The Life, Death, and Life of a Mining Town, Between The Lines Pub., Toronto, ON - ISBN 1-896357-06-7

A great undertaking, the oral history of the Cobalt mining camp. It takes a good look at the folklore, the legends and characters who took part in this incredible history. A rich and creamy, working class story as told by the residents of this once famous mining town. The book includes artwork by Sally Lawrence and Rob Moir.

JACK HAYES AWARD FOR OLD TIME MUSIC:

The Leahy Family, Lakefield, ON

While Leahy is following in the footsteps of the Maritime success stories, The Rankins, The Barra MacNeils, etc.,it was the dedication and devotion of their parents Frank and Julie who originally formed the Leahy Family Band over twenty years ago. As each new sibling was born, it was drummed into them that they too would soon stepdance into the family tradition. Keeping a family of 10 kids on the go was never easy: each member had to learn to play more than one instrument and to do so well. Their current incarnation is testament to their tremendous skills and determination to follow through in the footsteps of their heritage.

The Friends of Fiddlers’ Green, Ontario

26 years ago the Friends got together to perform their favourite songs and tunes together. The set up their own folk club and hosted it weekly for twenty years. With a great collection of material at their disposal, their performances were punctuated by stories, anecdotes and periodic nonsense, and of course the no holds barred jokes of Tam Kearney. Joining him were the late David Parry, Finest Kind’s Ian Robb, luthier Grit Laskin, with Lawrence Stevenson, Alistair Brown and Geoff McClintock. Their club helped launch the careers of others such as Margaret Christl and Stan Rogers as well as some of their own individual careers.

Ivan Hicks, Sackville, NB

Ivan was born in New Brunswick in 1940 and started gigging with his dad, Curtis Hicks, when he was only 6, first as a mandolin player, and a short time later as a fiddler. His father, a self-taught fiddler with great technique and stubborn resolve to play it right, was Ivan's main inspiration. Now in his mid-fifties, he has gone on to become a major proponent of 'down east fiddling'. He teaches, he volunteers for fiddle fests, he has his own radio program and is known for his compositions, dexterity and the fame associated with having won the Maritime Fiddle Championships held in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, 5 times.

Ken Hamm, Victoria, BC

Originally from Thunder Bay, Ontario, Ken started playing folk and blues music in his teens, having learned the music of Pete Seeger, Woodie Guthrie and Leadbelly through local music store owner Einar Nordstrom. Although he’s now living in BC, Ken stuck to his hometown roots for many years, increasing his abilities to write, sing and perform folkblues.

Linda Brietag, Minneapolis, MN

Linda’s love for Québécois traditional music, blended with her other musical tendencies, have produced some great musical sessions, some of which are captured on her CD Feet to the Fire. Produced in Québec by André Marchand, and utilizing the resources of many of Launadiere’s fine musicians, Linda’s journey has come round full tilt with authority, enthusiasm and joy. Her early work with Québec City based Cajun band Josephine exposed her to many Québécois musicians and thus her love for what is truly a Canadienne experience.

Gail Gavan, Quyon, QC

Daughter of the late Irish traditional singer - hotellier Lennox Gavan, Gail has taken to performing her rocking country music throughout the Ottawa Valley. Having recorded three albums, she has included a good measure of Mac Beattie’s music and other songs about the Valley. Her upbringing in Gavan’s Hotel was filled with Irish nights, fiddle nights, traditional singing nights, and many other excuses to party. She is bringing the music back to the people.

Simon Riopel, Launadiere, Québec

Fiddler, singer Simon Riopel has delved into the past and produced a living music that reaches into the depth of his family’s tradition. With his companion, Eric Beaudry, he brought it all together in the CD called Ni Sarpe Ni Branche, playing the way his father or his grandfather would, and utilizing the technology of the times to record it so clearly. Still only a youngster, it is people like Simon who will propel the wonders of folk music well into the twenty-first century.

• Judy Perly - proprietor of the Free Times Cafe, Toronto - providing a home for the singer/songwriter folks for the past 17 years.
• Mike Reganstreif, radio programmer, Folk Routes Folk Branches, CKUT FM, Montreal - has been a booker, promoter, enthusiast, collector, writer and now radio host for the past 25 years.
• Joel Wortzman, radio programmer, Acoustic Routes, CKLN FM, Toronto - has been selflessly promoting the careers of Toronto-based artists for year. Pat Paget Project and careers of Ron Sexsmith and Bob Snider owe a lot to this man.
• Merrick Jerrett - folklorist, Kitchener, ON - has collected folklore of The West. Had radio show on the CBC in the 1950s. Performed songs collected by Edith Fowke on her Radio Program. Holder of an expansive archieve.

McBeth Again by Jim Armour, Toronto

A tougue in cheek poke-at song sung in the traditional way. While Jim has not recorded, he is an enthusastic student of traditional folk music which he can never quite get enough of. This song was written as a parody with brilliantly humourous lyrics.

Bruce Cockburn, Toronto, ON for The Whole Night Sky

Bruce has many honours to his credit and doesn’t really need recognition here to validate his amazing career. However, how can we pass up this opportunity to honour a truly great Canadian singer/songwriter who has moved so many people, with his abilities to paint landscapes, bringing home the sense of responsibility we much each bare in the face of human activity. His relentless work on behalf of banning land mines, something he’s fought for some years, is finally proving fruitful. This is our humble way of honouring him. This song, in our humble opinion, ranks up there with some of his best work. It was recorded on his 1996 album The Charity of Night.

ROAD KILL AWARD:

Guy Lafleur, Québec for Lafleur!

Well it's been a few years since we last awarded this Porcupine to anyone, in fact in the history of the Porcupines, it's only been awarded twice before. However, Guy Lafleur, the legendary Montreal Canadien hockey player deserves this for his hockey instructional record backed with a disco track, complete with singers. Right out of the BeeGees book. The album (produced in the early 80s) comes complete with instruction booklet and a poster of Lafleur, half nude, sitting with his skates on in front of his Number 10 hockey sweater. Two minutes for looking so good Lafleur.

Daniel Roy, Québec City, QC

Daniel Roy performed for a time with La Bottine Souriante (their second album) and has since gained the respect of his fellow musicians for his great flute, flageolet and bones playing. Currently in the group Enterloupe with Paul Marchand and Eric Favereau, he has taken fairly obscure tunes and recorded them on his first CD called Au Tour du Flageolet, utilizing many forces that have influenced his own playing over the years into the mix. A great player - even better teacher.

Bill Garrett, Toronto ON

Bill Garrett, originally from Québec, was influenced by the sweet guitar sounds of American bluegrass and folk, and the reels of Québec. When he joined up with his musical partner Paul Mills, aka Curly Boy Stubbs, in the 1970s, he was enticed into working as a producer at the CBC. Since that time Garrett has put his name on classic Canadian albums, recorded to CBC standards, by the likes of the Schryer Triplets, Stan Rogers, Graham Townsend, Steel Rail and JP Cormier. His recent involvement with Borealis Records ensures that Bill Garrett will continue working on producing great Canadian folk oriented projects in the future.

CEC McECHERN AWARD:

Tony Quarrington, Toronto

Tony Quarrington has been one of the quiet players on the Toronto music scene for over 3 decades. A producer, performer, but mostly an accompanist, he's there to make others sound great. His guitar work is superb, but it is his ability to improvise so strongly, and yet so tastefully, that makes him a favourite choice as a session artist or backup musician.

David Woodhead, Toronto, ON

David Woodhead - the guy in the background that just about everybody uses - started playing in the legendary folk troup Perth County Conspiracy in the early 1970s. Having mastered the art of electric bass, and especially the electric fretless, he has performed and recorded with the who’s who of Canada: Stan Rogers, Loreena McKennett, Eileen McGann, Oliver Schroer, Valdy, Anderson and Brown and countless others. His sound is like that of no other. His ability to play in almost any style, to solo, and his lesser known talents on the electric jazz guitar, is astounding.

Michelle Rumball, Toronto/Timmins, ON

Best known for her wonderful, gritty, get down to it vocals with the early Grievous Angels, Michelle graces our airwaves each week to sing the Theme song of The Great North Wind. It was only fitting to award her with this special appreciation award.

Gordon Lightfoot's Don Quixote - 1973

Lightfoot zoomed to the top of the folk ladder, not only in Canada, but in the world with his incredible songs. But it was this album, filled with incredible songs fit so well together, that put him over the top. Some say that this was his greatest work that he never again equalled. The jury will always be out on that one, but it was an album that I played over and over again, and learned to sing almost every song. The album featured Red Shea and Terry Clements, Rick Haynes and Gordon Lightfoot on all the instruments except for one: the mandolin on his hit song Alberta Bound was played by Ry Cooder.

The songs: Don Quixote - Christian Island (Georgian Bay)  - Alberta Bound - Looking At The Rain - Ordinary Man - Brave Mountaineers - Ode To Big Blue - Second Cup of Coffee - Beautiful - On Susan's Floor - The Patriot's Dream. Produced by Lenny Waronker; engineered by Lee Herschberg.

Jim McHarg, Toronto

This Scottish born jazz musician came to Toronto in the early 1960s and quickly formed The Metro Stompers, a dixieland jazz band. Jim played bass for so many great jazz artists visiting Toronto at places like the Colonial Tavern. When he guested on Acoustic Workshop he was so intriguing that Rick Fielding had him back the following week to continue his tale.

En Spectacle, by La Bottine Souriante

I fought hard not to give them this award since they'd already been awarded with Porcupines. However I couldn't resist. I listened to some other great albums trying my hardest to choose them over En Spectacle, but to no avail. This was simply the most enjoyable one. It was recorded live, in Québec, with great audience sound, and great live sound, and featured works from their repertoire over the past 20 years. But this will never happen again: La Bottine is being retired into the Porcupine Hall of Fame, ineligible for Porcupine Awards forever more. Promise.

Memorial

Smiley Bates - country singer, Ontario
Andy Dejarlis - fiddler, Manitoba
Dan R. MacDonald - fiddler, Cape Breton
Marg Osburne - singer, New Brunswick
George Wade - band leader, Ontario

Member

Charles ‘Chuck’ Angus - author, singer/songwriter, Northern Ontario
Bruce Cockburn - singer songwriter, Ontario
Bill Langstroth - television producer, Nova Scotia/Ontario
Manny Pitson - television producer, Nova Scotia/Ontario
Buddy MacMaster - fiddler, Cape Breton

Group

Don Messer and His Islanders, PEI
George Wade and His Cornhuskers, Ontario
Grievous Angels, Ontario
La Bottine Souriante, Québec
Ottawa Valley Melodiers, Ontario
Tamarack, Ontario

GOLDEN PORCUPINE AWARD:

Bruce Cockburn, Toronto, ON

Ever since his early days in Ottawa with The Children and Three's A Crowd in the 1960s, Cockburn was destined to become what he has. His early influence of playing blues-style guitar has only been expanded upon but is essentially the same. He has shared his life with us, painted in portraits through his earliest works as a solo artists, all on the same record label, True North. He's been awarded with Junos, the Order of Canada, and many other awards. He's brought us consciousness of social concerns through his spirituality. He's embroiled us in issues such as what they call democracy in the face of what goes on in the world, sanctioned by our governments. He even accomplished what Farley Mowat could not: threatened the United States with a Rocket Launcher and still not banned from entering that land (Mowat did it with a whaling gun). More than twenty albums of original work, more memories than most of us can remember, he's still energetic, still composing, still youthful, looking at the world through the innocent eyes of a beholder. He refuses to preach: he just paints a scene and lets us wander into it. If he does nothing more, he has deserved the credit to which this award attests to. He has accomplished enough for at least one lifetime; hopefully he'll start working on another one.