Musician Friends

• Al Cross - You can hear the great drum work of Al Cross in six of the songs on my new album, "Bring Back The Music". He is truly a joy to work with.
• Anne Lindsay - I've had the exquisite pleasure of working with Anne on just two songs but I wouldn't trade those musical memories for anything. You can share those musical memories by listening to her incomparable fiddle playing on cuts 2 and 6 on my latest CD album, "Bring Back The Music".
• Bruce Hansen - I have listened to Bruce Hansen and I am a believer. His rich vocals and superb songwriting puts him into the top category of singer songwriters. He brings not only an engaging warmth and charm to his concerts but also the experience of a veteren performer with something to say. Well worth the experience!
• Chris Coole - Now I know at least one reason why "The Foggy Hogtown Boys" are enjoying such deserved praise; Chris Coole's fabulous guitar playing and clawhammer banjo! Chris's banjo pickin' graces two songs on "Bring Back The Music".
• Chris Whiteley - This multi-talented musician is an essential part of six songs on my new album, "Bring Back The Music". The value of his work is incalculable and I would play music with him again anytime, anywhere. Check out his excellent website and get to know the man and his music for yourself.
• Dan Frechette - Every time I see Dan, he's got a bunch of new songs that defy categorization. Listening to him play them, I get the distinct feeling that I'll be hearing them again and again as other singers adopt them into their repertoires. His music is universal and timeless, like all the best things in life.
• David Abramsky - If you're looking for soothing cello music played with an inspirational touch, you need look no further than David Abramsky. It was my pleasure to work with David on my 1997 CD "North Of Superior". His creativity, skill and originality are unmatched in my experience. You can sample his work on his website by clicking on this link.
• David Newland - I first met Dave Newland at the Trout Forest Folk Festival in Ear Falls Ontario, and then again at the Red Rock Folk Festival. Great songs from a great guy! Don't just take my word for it; check out his website for yourself.
• Dennis Pendrith - Many thanks to "The Bebop Cowboys" for lending me the services of Dennis Pendrith. I've worked with him only twice, and each time it was a privilege and a pleasure. Dennis plays both acoustic and electric bass on my latest album, "Bring Back The Music".
• Flipper Flanagan's Flat Footed Four - Their performances are every bit as unforgettable as their name. These guys continue to deliver some of the best bluegrass music anywhere and can be reached simply by clicking on this link.
• Grit Laskin - As a singer-songwriter, Grit Laskin is as good as it gets. His songs have been recorded by no less a person than Pete Seeger as well as by other excellent singers and groups. As an author, he has written both fiction and non-fiction. As William Laskin, he is an award winning and world renowned craftsman whose guitar-making and inlay work have both become legendary. A co-founder of the "Borealis" record label, which serves the interests of many of our finest folk and roots performers, Grit has also released several albums of his own material. I've known him since 1971 as a fellow songwriter, and last but not least, as a friend.
• Heather McLeod - Heather somehow manages to transcend all efforts to categorize her. Her performances are near perfect, her songs deceptively simple but finely crafted, while her stage presence is friendly and disarming. An evening with Heather and her music is an evening to remember. World class all the way, Heather calls Thunder Bay her home but the world is her stage. Catch her in concert before the world discovers her and steals her away.
• Ian Gill - Ian Gill is a name to remember if only because it belongs to a man who writes and sings some of the most memorable songs I've heard in a long while. My particular favourite is a song he wrote about his grandfather, called "The Admiral". I can't describe it to you. You have to hear it for yourself. Check out his website and find out more about this incredibly talented man and his music.
• Ian Tamblyn - At the "Live From The Rock Folk Festival" in 2003, Ian gave me one of the nicest introductions I have ever received on stage when he referred to me as the "grandfather of folk music in Northwestern Ontario"; but then, Ian's not far behind me in that regard! He's been writing and singing some of the finest northern songs for at least three decades now and has established himself as one of the premier singer/songwriters in the country, besides being a superb musician and producer. Thanks for the compliment Ian, but thanks even more for the gift of your music and your friendship.
• Jim 'n' I - Jim Gillies and Sherry Aldrich are two of the most talented and hard-working musicians I know. They've been a musical duo for many years and it shows in their close harmonies and tight performances. They both write as well, and I always enjoy our times together both on and off the stage. The "Bill Houston Trio" is two thirds "Jim and Sherry".
• Kam Valley Fiddlers - The Red River Valley has nothing on the Kam River Valley. It doesn't have the Kam Valley Fiddlers, and that's saying a lot! Catch their act if you can. They'll have you up dancin' and stompin' your feet even if you didn't think you could!
• Ken Hamm - I've known Ken since his beginnings, and he never ceases to amaze me with his singing and playing. I wouldn't be exaggerating if I were to refer to him as one of the great blues interpreters of our time. He would probably disagree but that's just his modesty shining through. However, modesty is a mark of greatness too, (so you can't escape it Ken!)
• Manitoba Hal - Manitoba Hal (a.k.a. Hal Broland) is one of the warmest and wittiest people I know. You would never know to look at him that he is also one of the finest folk and blues artists this side of the galaxy. He writes, sings and performs as he lives; with the enthusiasm and heart of a man who knows what life is really all about.
• Martin Van de Ven - As you listen to the title song of my CD, "Bring Back The Music", the seductive sound of Martin Van de Ven's clarinet will bring back the music for you! His clarinet is also featured on two other numbers on the album, "Radio In My Head" and "Little Green Pills". If anyone can bring back the music, Martin Van de Ven can and does!
• Maryann Kleynendorst - Maryann sings like she writes and writes like she lives; with honesty, courage and passion. When it comes to singing about life and love, nobody does it better than Maryann Kleynendorst. Click on this link to go to her website. Clicking on "The Music" will bring up two sound clips. My favourite is "Crazy Gates". Click on the titles to hear the sound clips. You'll find it was well worth the trip. You can also purchase her CD "The Very First Time" which you'll find, is well worth the listen!
• Nathan Caswell - Nathan is one of those natural talents that brings a unique perspective to everything he does. What he does, is write and sing the most entertaining and humourous songs you'll ever hear. Then, just when you think you've heard everything he's got, he'll hit you with a couple of songs that'll break your heart. There's only one word for that kind of talent. Genius!
• Outside The Lines - A dynamic duo set to music, Jen and Lena write, sing and play like there's no tomorrow (hey, maybe there isn't!). Their high spirited performances take you on a tour beyond the boundaries of the norm and leave you breathless but satisfied "outside the lines".
• Paul Mills - The inestimable value of the musical skills of Paul Mills, both as musician and producer, turned my new CD "Bring Back The Music" into a dream come true. Thanks for making it happen Paul, and thanks for those great sandwiches too! Also, I was not at all surprised to learn that your own CD "The Other Side Of The Glass" won such critical acclaim. Those who have listened to it understand why. Congratulations!
• Rick Whitelaw - With his incomparable ability on electric guitar, Rick Whitelaw was the perfect choice for "Back In The 1950's", the 9th song on "Bring Back The Music". He succeeded in recreating the "spirit" of the music of the 1950's with the power of "musical suggestion" rather than the more obvious "copycat" style. He also plays nylon string guitar on "Radio In My Head". He's great, but don't take my word for it. "Click" on Rick!
• Rita Chiarelli - Rita has a heart as big as the world, and a voice to match. Listening to her sing, one gets the feeling that she can sing anything. Whether she's belting out a solid rhythm and blues number or a tender Italian folk ballad, she does it with both skill and conviction (a rare combination). If a song is meant to convey an emotion, Rita does it with style and grace (another rare combination). I'm a believer. Viva La Rita!
• Rodney Brown - Rodney is one of this country's top writers and performers of folk music. A proud son of Northwestern Ontario, his music has reached listeners around the globe. His concerns for the plight of the common person, the environment, and human rights add a dimension to his songwriting that transcends mere tune-smithing. Ranging from reggae to rock to historical ballads, the songs of Rodney Brown are always a "must listen". Check out his CD, "The Big Lonely" for the best original songs ever written about the fur trade.
• Stan Rogers - Every song that Stan Rogers ever crafted was composed with the skill of a master storyteller. There are no "average" Stan Rogers songs. And then there was that marvellous baritone voice! The lyrics, the tunes, the voice and the presence were all here for too short a time. Everytime I hear one of his songs or listen to one of his recordings I remember why I love folk music and I get inspired all over again.
• TC Higgins - TC writes some of the finest songs you'll hear anywhere. He has a way of expressing an idea or emotion in a way that makes the listening experience an unforgettable one. He has just released a CD that is destined to become a favourite wherever music lovers gather. Check out his website and learn more.
• The Sensational Hot Rods - The Sensational Hot Rods are one act you won't want to miss. They have taken nostalgia to new heights. Listening to them is like travelling back through time to the nineteen-fifties. Even people who have never lived through those times find themselves transported there by their music. To listen to "The Sensational Hot Rods" is to know what it was really like back then; great music, and great fun!
• Tom Leighton - Tom Leighton took time out of his busy schedule to make my music sparkle and shine. You can "hear" him "sparkle and shine" in seven of the songs on my new CD, "Bring Back The Music". Musicians don't come any better than Tom Leighton and it was great having him on my team.
• Tracy K - I first heard about Tracy K through friends. I thought they were exaggerating until I heard her sing and play. My friends hadn't praised her enough! Tracy is one of those few who have been able to put it all together; the writing, the singing, the playing, and the stage presence. Then one evening I sat down to listen to her new CD. The experience was complete. I began to tell people about her. Now everyone thinks I'm exaggerating but I'm not. The only way to really know is to find out for yourself, and you can start by visiting her online at www.tracyk.ca or by clicking on this convenient link.
• Trevor Mills - Trevor is an absolute wizard on the bass guitar. He is also a wizard at writing songs; at producing, engineering, web-mastering and just about everything he puts his mind to. If you want to have an unforgettable musical experience, listen to his CD "Karaoke Cowboy".

Sites of Interest

• A BLOG BY MY COLLABORATOR JIM FARRELL - You might find this blog by my literary collaborator an amusing - even illuminating experience. It's called THE ZIPPER REPORT, because that was one of the pseudonyms he was assigned when he wrote for the supermarket tabloids back in the late 1960's. But he assures me he's mended his ways since then and claims I've been a moderating influence on his style. We'll see.
• A House Concert in your home - Canadian folksinger Bob Bossin tells you all you need to know about putting on a house concert, and you don't have to be Martha Stewart to do it!
• Acoustic Roof - This is a great site to find out all about the "House Concert" revolution. Here you will find good information on what's happening with this exciting new form of entertainment and how you can get in on the action.
• AIDS - The Real Cause - by Harold D. Foster - You might not think that a Professor of Geography could have anything useful to say about the AIDS pandemic. However, after perusing more than a few paragraphs of Harold D. Foster's well researched and highly readable book, "What really causes AIDS", I found myself instantly able to appreciate the intimate relationship between geography, soil conditions and human health (or the lack of it). While the world is agonizing over the increasingly expensive but far from satisfying results of the latest medical research on AIDS, Dr. Foster seems to have come up with an incredibly cheap and effective way to deal with the problem. Current clinical trials in Africa using his method are presently yielding very positive results. The concept is so scientifically sound and makes such good sense, you'll wonder why you haven't heard of it before. Tragically, the wheels of progress often turn slowly. However you can help speed up those wheels by reading Foster's book online and then recommending it to Stephen Lewis who is working tirelessly on the problem and needs all the help he can get in finding the answer.
• Atikokan Intergenerational Centre For Arts - The community of Atikokan is justly proud of their Arts Centre. Having recently performed there on two occasions, I can attest to its friendly atmosphere and lively cultural life. Featuring the work of local as well as world artists it is testimony to the human spirit in a hardy town that has more than proven its will to succeed.
• Back To The Sugar Camp - Absolutely the best site for all things "folk" in Canada. This site is a national treasure and deserves the applause of everyone across the country and around the world.
• Borealis Records - This is Canada's premier recording company for folk artists. Here you will find the best in Canadian folk music talent along with some of the finest singer-songwriters in the world.
• Bright Spot - Another scientific treatment center that practises Orthomolecular Medicine. Located in Wichita, Kansas, its reputation as a center for healing is well founded. The brainchild of orthomolecular pioneer, Dr. Hugh Riordan, Brightspot has much to offer those who suffer from illnesses that seem to baffle conventional medical practitioners.
• Defeat Autism - I found this healing centre in my own hometown, Thunder Bay, Ontario. COREY'S PLACE is manned by dedicated health professionals who believe that conditions such as Autism, ADD, ADHD, Aspergers etc. can be overcome with treatment programs developed by Orthomolecular pioneers such as Dr. Bernard Rimland and other medical researchers who have attained success beyond the reach of conventional medicine.
• Electric-Cosmos - Various links to interesting sites providing a new understanding of our universe in the light of electromagnetism and plasma theory.
• Fireweed Crafts - or "The Fireweed" as it is called by its patrons, is located in Thunder Bay, Ontario. It is one of those fascinating places where you can find special gift items and works of art which cannot be found anywhere else. They even have copies of my latest CD "Bring Back The Music". Stop in and find out for yourself why "The Fireweed" is becoming a famous destination for art lovers everywhere.
• Founders' Museum & Pioneer Village - This place is a "must see" . I have performed in its Community Hall several times and each time really got the sense of what a pioneer community must have been like. When you visit Thunder Bay, stop by and step back into time for a visit with the past. It's a memorable experience!
• From Sea to Sea Enterprises - A taste of Canadian history, an exploration of this country's unique fiddle music and a great book series on songs about Canada, make Ed Whitcomb's site certainly worth a visit for all those with a passion for Canadian culture. From Sea to Sea should be nominated for Canadian website of the year. Three cheers for this site and three more cheers for Ed Whitcomb!
• Health Recovery Center - Founded in 1980 and located in Minneapolis, Joan Mathews-Larson's Health Recovery Center offers evidence-based treatment programs for those who suffer from depression, anxiety and other mental and emotional problems. Although the center's original success was in developing the world's best program for alcoholism, it has since expanded it's services to include proven treatments for various conditions not necessarily related to alcoholism (click on "Depression Free Naturally"). Not just another "medication center", this privately funded and highly successful center focuses on individualized restorative medicine without side effects, rather than on the commonly prescribed but more risk-prone remedies characteristic of conventional medicine. The result is a return to long term health and the elimination of the need for those short term pharmaceutical "quick fixes".
• Health Research Institute - Known to forward thinking doctors as The Pfeiffer Institute, this place is renowned throughout the world as one of the best places to go to find out what's wrong with you when you get sick. There are diagnostic tests routinely performed here that you will be hard pressed to find done anywhere else. The importance of good diagnostics in medicine cannot be overstated. So, if you want to know what you're dealing with in an illness and what you can do about it, The Pfeiffer Institute is one of the best choices you can make.
• Hidden From History - Kevin Annett, formerly a United Church minister, is at the forefront of the movement to expose a history of genocide perpetrated under the noses of a comfortable and gullible Canadian public. This is a story that refuses to die and will not die until justice is done, and until full disclosure is made to all Canadians and to the world. Under the Government and Church sponsored Indian Residential School System, tens of thousands of native children were systematically denied humane treatment and subjected to horrors reminiscent of Nazi death camps, and like the good people of Germany during the second world war, the good people of Canada were either blind or in a state of denial while this was going on (it would seem that "holocaust denial" is an all too common human trait). Many believe that a thorough house cleaning is in order but it remains to be seen whether or not that will happen, and whether or not the people who write our history books will choose to tell this story. We can't undo the past and heal the wounds that cannot be healed; we can't fix everything, but common decency demands that we not forget what happened to all those children who never returned home. It has been said that evil triumphs when good people do nothing. One thing that all good people can do is repent. Without repentance there can be no forgiveness. Will we repent ? Will we be forgiven? God only knows, and only time will tell.
• Hymers Fall Fair - This is no ordinary fair. It's been an event now for almost a hundred years and is still going strong! It has kept its charm as well as its vibrancy by remaining true to its roots. Performers are treated to a delicious meal in addition to the usual payment. No midway circus here! This is a country fair much like the country fairs that our grandparents and great grandparents attended. Livestock, home baking, old time music and just good old fashioned fun! I've had the honor of being asked to perform there in recent years. Next time you come to the land "North Of Superior", come and spend the labour day weekend at the Hymers Fall Fair.
• Ice Age Now - Robert Felix presents the clearest understanding of the ice age cycles that I have yet encountered. Based on eight years of extensive independent research, he outlines in plain language the inevitability of naturally recurring ice age cycles and informs the reader where we are on that timetable (we're due). Mr. Felix's website is full of data on climate change that many politicians and scientists appear to have missed or have chosen to ignore. You may be surprised to learn that despite the current detrimental effect that human stupidity has had on the biosphere, what actually causes the climate to change has very little if anything to do with the size of our carbon footprint. Although we can and should stop polluting the environment, we have no influence over cosmic cycles that have been occurring since before life appeared on the earth. For example, it's interesting to know that scientists have determined that just before the onset of every known ice age in the earth's history, there has been a "warming of the earth's oceans" due to increased underwater volcanism, the causes of which are still unknown. This "ocean warming" is accompanied by widespread tectonic activity as well as severe weather conditions spanning approximately a twenty to fifty year period and leading to permanent climate change. Geologically speaking, this relatively brief transition phase is in stark contrast to long-held theories of the gradual onset of ice ages. In the light of Mr. Felix's research, it would seem to be a form of denial or even vanity to imagine that we are the main cause of these climate/earth changes. We don't like to think that there are things beyond our control, but Robert Felix says that it's time to think again. We can't stop an ice age but maybe we can prepare for it and hope for the best. After all, our species survived the last one. One final thought; ice ages have never been known to punish the wicked and spare the virtuous. Instead they seem to reward the ones with highly developed adaptive capabilities as well as those blessed by dumb luck. So brush up on your survival skills - and may good fortune smile upon you!
• Immanuel Velikovsky - Archival information on the man who, in the 20th century, fearlessly and single-handedly took on the scientific establishment of his day and eventually won the respect of many of his opponents by being proven right, time and time again.
• Lauralee Show - An excellent site for those who are brave enough to explore new ideas and unorthodox views. You can eavesdrop as Laura Lee and her guests discuss everything you've always wanted to talk about but were too timid to bring up. You can also listen to archived shows dating back into the 1990's. Unlike some "new age" talk shows, the subjects are treated with intelligence and respect. Had she lived hundreds of years ago, Laura Lee would have interviewed Galileo, Marco Polo and Columbus before anyone had ever heard of them. Find out who's pushing the envelope in today's world. Check out "The Laura Lee Show".
• Live From The Rock Folk Festival - One of my favourite music festivals; held every August in the friendly community of Red Rock Ontario. Red Rock is situated on the north shore of Lake Superior; a superior location for a festival if there ever was one! Whether you're a veteren world class performer, an "up and comer", or someone who just loves to sing along or listen, it's a great way to spend a musical weekend.
• Margot Kidder - "Margie" as she is affectionately known to her many good friends, is a lot more than just the actor who played Lois Lane in the Superman movies. She has acted in scores of other films as well. But even more than being one of Hollywood's top stars, she is a lifelong fighter for social justice, a tireless advocate for the rights of women and a staunch supporter of orthomolecular medicine which has successfully helped tens of thousands of people to regain sanity and health. Find out more about this courageous woman and her amazing life. Click on this link for more details about Margot Kidder.
• Meta Research - Valid questions that challenge current scientific theories.
• New Music Label - Here's a site for those of us who are looking to market our music to the world via the internet. Sign up, submit your material and see what happens!
• Orthomolecular Medicine - The site of choice for those who want to know about the medicine of the future as well as the future of medicine.
• Orthomolecular Vitamin Information Centre Inc. - At this site you will find scientifically grounded and evidence-based information on vitamins and other important nutrients that you can't afford to do without. If you're interested in learning what you really need to know about nutrition and health, this is the site. This knowledge is based on groundbreaking nutritional research conducted by Dr. Abram Hoffer reaching back to the 1950's. As a nutritional scientist, medical doctor and psychiatrist, Hoffer's experience and credentials are unparalleled. Tens of thousands of people owe their happiness and health to his dedicated and tireless efforts. Dr. Hoffer passed away at the ripe old age of 90, but his legacy lives on. It is my fervent hope that the world will someday come to know and appreciate the truly great contribution he has made to medicine, and that he will receive the posthumous honour and acclaim he so richly deserves. Meanwhile you can benefit from his knowledge and experience right now by exploring this site.
• Orthomolecular.org - One of the best sites on the subject of human health. Click on their "History" page to read about medical pioneers of the past and the present. Good stuff.
• Rock Island Lodge - A magical place on the north shore of Lake Superior just outside of Wawa Ontario. Ideal for outdoor enthusiasts. Great for canoeing and kayaking. Rooms with views, friendly people, and excellent food will make your stay an unforgettable one. Entertainment is also featured for your pleasure. I know because I was invited to perform there, and I'm glad I did.
• Serendipity Gardens Cafe and Guest House - A short two hour drive east from Thunder Bay, Ontario or a six hour drive west from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario will bring you to the village of Rossport, which is the perfect spot to hide one of Canada's best kept hospitality secrets; namely the "Serendipity Gardens Cafe and Guest House". Owned and operated year round by Mary Burnett and Roger Alty, the guest house is an architectural marvel and the food at the cafe is phenomenal. It's a little taste of heaven on earth but you'll have to wait until you get there. Meanwhile, you can whet your appetite by going to their website.
• Trout Forest Music Festival - "The Trout" as it is affectionately referred to by the crowds that keep coming back to it every August, is located in the progressive northern town of Ear Falls Ontario. It is the longest running festival of its type in Northwestern Ontario and features performers from all over the world, plus its "after hours" campfire singalongs are simply the best. You will catch more than your limit every time, when you catch "The Trout"!
• Vitamin C Foundation - Everything you've always wanted to know about vitamin C but were afraid to ask. On this site you can also read (online) Irwin Stone's groundbreaking book on the biochemistry of vitamin C. Stone's work is what first inspired Nobel laureate Linus Pauling to investigate the crucial role vitamin C has played in human evolution. There is a "secret" here that needs to be told; it seems that "vitamin C" is actually much more than a mere vitamin, and this new knowledge has profound implications for human health and the future of the human species. Fascinating reading!