THOMPSON OKANAGAN REGION ROLLS OUT RED CARPET
FOR CANADIAN COUNTRY MUSIC ROYALTY
AWARD-WINNING ARTISTS VISIT ARC HOUSE STUDIO TO RECORD FIRST-EVER CANADIAN COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME ALBUM
ALBUM TO BE RELEASED AT CANADIAN COUNTRY MUSIC WEEK IN HAMILTON, SEPTEMBER 6 – 9
May 2, 2018 (Kelowna, BC) — Recognized for its spectacular beauty, the Thompson Okanagan is about to become the stage for some of Canada’s most celebrated country music artists. From May 3 – 8, award-winning vocalists Ian Tyson, Michelle Wright and The Good Brothers will be joined by a long-list of incredibly talented artists as they step into Arc House Studios in Kelowna to record the first-ever Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame album, THEN AND NOW – VOLUME 1. Slated for release as a part of Country Music Week 2018 in Hamilton, ON, this collection of songs will highlight the incredible Hall of Fame artists that have made an impact on the Canadian country music scene.
Created in partnership with Merritt B.C.’s Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, Creative BC, the Province of British Columbia and the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, this compilation album will feature CCMA Hall of Fame inductees such as Sylvia Tyson, Wendell Ferguson and Murray McLaughlin. Produced by CCMA Award-winning producers Tom and Carly McKillip, the project will see each Hall of Fame member perform their biggest hits as duets with some of today’s top names in Canadian country music — Brett Kissel, Aaron Pritchett, The Washboard Union and Jess Moskaluke, in addition to many others.
“This is an important project for the region because it highlights the role that country music plays in the Thompson Okanagan and that we are home to the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in Merritt.” commented Glenn Mandziuk, CEO Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association . “While here, the artists will also be taking the time to promote the region through various events and social media channels”.
In addition, these unique in-studio sessions will be video recorded as a part of a behind-the-scenes series to be released later this year. Each video will capture the magic found within each duet group, demonstrating what continues to be the foundation of Canadian country music — family, friendship and collaboration.
“The Hall of Fame is a central part of Merritt’s title of Country Music Capital of Canada, along with the Walk of Stars and the many murals of country music artists,” said Ron Sanders, President Walk of Stars “With this album, we hope to increase awareness and financial support for the Hall, and the amazing artists in it.”
COMPLETE ALBUM TRACK LISTING*
| Ian Tyson and Aaron Pritchett feat. One More Girl | “Summer Wages” |
| Family Brown and Kelly Prescott | “Raised On Country Music” |
| The Good Brothers and The Washboard Union | “Fox On the Run” |
| Wendell Ferguson and Gord Bamford | “If You’re Gonna Be A Cowboy” |
| Michelle Wright and Jess Moskaluke | “Take It Like A Man” |
| Sylvia Tyson and George Canyon | “You Were On My Mind” |
| Gary Fjellgaard and Brett Kissel | “Dance With This Old Cowboy” |
| Murray McLauchlan and Beverley Mahood | “Down By the Henry Moore” |
| Russell deCarle and Patricia Conroy | “Such A Lonely One” |
| Gordon Lightfoot feat. Full “Then and Now” cast | “Early Morning Rain” / “For Lovin’ Me” |
* made possible by Creative BC, the Province of British Columbia, the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association and the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame
About Then and Now Project
Established in 2017, the Then and Now project is envisioned to be a sustainable initiative that will involve a recording project every two years, as new inductees are added into the Hall of Fame. With strong endorsements from Creative BC, the Province of BC, the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA), the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) and the National Music Centre, the groundbreaking ‘Then and Now’ project will raise the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame’s profile on a national level. It will also create relevance and context within the music – and music tourism – industries (drawing from the models of Branson, Missouri and the Grand Ole Opry), by bridging the timeline between ‘then and now’.
About the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame
The Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) has been honouring Canadian Artists and Builders who have made long-term contributions to the growth and development of Canadian country music since 1984. Inductees into this Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame (“Hall of Fame”) are selected annually by their Canadian peers in the industry. The Hall of Fame is managed by the CCMA Board of Directors appointed “Hall of Fame Management Committee”.
About the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA)
The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association is a not-for-profit society representing over 4,500 member stakeholders and is the official representative of Destination British Columbia in the region. Governed by an elected Board of Directors who represent business and community tourism interests throughout the region, TOTA is one of five regional tourism organizations in the province of BC that work under the Super, Natural British Columbia brand, and whose mandate includes destination management and marketing.
About Creative BC
Creative BC is an independent society created and supported by the Province of BC to sustain and help grow BC’s creative sector (film and television, digital and interactive media, music, and magazine and book publishing industries). The society delivers a wide range of programs and services to expand BC’s creative economy. These include the administration of the provincial government’s tax credit programs for film and television; development funding and export marketing support; and motion picture production services to attract inward investment and market BC as a destination for domestic and international production. The society acts as an industry catalyst and ambassador to help BC’s creative sector reach its economic and creative potential both at home and globally.
About the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA)
Established in 1976, the CCMA is a membership-based, not-for-profit organization committed to the promotion and recognition of Canadian country music. Built upon the foundation to educate, elevate and celebrate Canadian talent, the CCMA progressively heralds the spirit, community and creativity that country music fosters through year-round initiatives, culminating every fall with Country Music Week and the Canadian Country Music Association Awards. Sponsors of Country Music Week and the 2018 CCMA Awards Show include FACTOR, Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters and the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage’s “Canada Music Fund”, the Ontario Media Development Corporation, Radio Starmaker Fund, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, City of Hamilton, Tourism Hamilton and the Hamilton, Halton and Brant Regional Tourism Organization.
