Country Music Association of Ontario Announces Performers for 2nd Annual Awards Show
Jason McCoy, this year’s host of the 2nd Annual CMAO Awards says: “It’s an honour to not only be nominated for a CMAO, but to be hosting Ontario Country Music’s biggest night as well … we’ve got some of the best artists in the world, and it’s going to be a great night to celebrate their talent! I look forward to seeing many of you on May 26.”
As a 25 year veteran of the entertainment industry, and two time CCMA Male Vocalist of the Year, Jason McCoy appears to be the king of reinvention. Growing up in the small town of Minesing, Ontario, Jason admired the well-rounded artistry of classic entertainers from Roger Miller and Johnny Cash to Merle Haggard and Glen Campbell. Armed with a guitar and a dream, Jason set out at the age of 19 to follow his own path to stardom. As a Country Music Artist, he’s racked up multiple CCMA and CMA awards along with a Gold album. As creator and front man of the highest selling band in Canadian Country Music history, The Road Hammers, Jason took on the Country Rock genre and guided the band to unprecedented success throughout Canada and the United States, picking up a platinum album, CCMA Band of the Year award, and a Juno along the way. www.jasonmccoy.com
In addition to Jason confirmed performers, to date include:
Autumn Hill is Mike Robins and Tareya Green. Toronto born Mike Robins has been a rising star in the Toronto music scene for several years. As a singer, songwriter and guitarist extraordinaire, Mike’s passion for music has taken him touring around the world. He has also lived in Los Angeles and Nashville.From the age of five, Calgary native Tareya Green has taken every opportunity to explore her incredible vocal gift. Throughout her childhood she honed her skills as a singer and songwriter, performing with choirs and youth groups, and seeking out the best vocal and music coaches Canada had to offer. As these talented young artists pursued their solo careers, they separately signed deals with Canadian indie label Wax Records. Fate struck soon after and the new duo was inseparable. They began to form plans of how to bring Autumn Hill to life and the following months found the pair writing with a who’s-who of top Nashville writers.The result is their debut album “Favourite Mistake” which was launched in September 2013. www.facebook.com/AutumnHillMusic
Singer/songwriter, father and husband Jason Blaine was born and raised in Pembroke, ON. After moving to Nashville, TN in 2006, he signed with Anchor Down Entertainment & New Millennium Music resulting in the highly successful “Make My Move” produced by Phil O’Donnell & Noah Gordon released on eOne Music Canada (formerly Koch). Since its debut, Jason has been at the top of the Canadian country music charts on both radio and CMT Canada, earning nominations from the CCMA for “Rising Star” (2007 & 2008) and “Male Artist of the Year” (2009). www.jasonblaine.ca
Marshall Dane’s infectious blend of country and rock is set to blaze a trail in the summer of 2014. Country by definition, but fueled by rock and roll and infected with a watermelon-sized helping of hope, love and salvation. Born in Southern Ontario, Marshall grazed on a rich fix of music, from the country sounds of his preacher dad – “He first taught me how to play “The Farmer’s Song” on guitar” – through his mum – in his own words the strongest, toughest, hardest working woman he’s ever met – who played piano in the evenings to his four sisters and two brothers and through his own musical discoveries from Johnny Denver to Michael Jackson.
“More and more I find the influences of my parents’ spiritual upbringing permeating my writing. Mostly the positive stuff like hope, and love, and kindness….you know – the fruitages of the spirit. “Marshall Dane has been slowly bubbling up to this moment. With “Alcohol Abuse” now released to radio across Canada and the United States, 2014 promises to be the Year Of The Dane. www.marshalldane.com
The Good Family Band - no strangers to stage and studio as some members are also in two of Canada’s premier acts. Bruce and Larry Good are two-thirds of Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductees and multiple JUNO Award recipients The Good Brothers. Travis and Dallas Good are members of JUNO and Indie award winning band The Sadies. Rounding out the family is Margaret Good, wife of Bruce and mother of Travis and Dallas. Margaret is also a veteran performer appearing on several recordings by both The Sadies and The Good Brothers. She also sang on Ronnie Prophets’ “Grand Old Country” which aired on CTV for two seasons backing such artists as Charlie Pride, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, Mel Tillis and Dolly Parton just to name a few. The Good Family talent pool does not end there as niece and cousin D’Arcy Good adds yet another dynamic with her amazing fiddle and outstanding vocals. And just when you think it can’t get any better it does with Sean Dean and Mike Belitsky of The Sadies, the rhythm section and the heart and soul of The Good Family band.
Beverley Mahood, a successful singer, songwriter, actress, model, and television host, is truly a dynamic entertainer. Though in many respects a seasoned veteran of the entertainment industry, Mahood’s career began anew in 2013. An exclusive management deal with Nashville-based All Entertainment promises a new foray for Mahood into the competitive US market, a step she has been preparing for since the release of her award-winning debut album in 1998. "There was something so exciting about releasing that first album," says Mahood of her debut CD Girl Out of the Ordinary. "Dreams were big and possibilities seemed endless. That excitement is back. With my new partnership with Brad Allen (of All Entertainment) it’s like starting out all over again, beginning a brand new chapter in my life and my career." Beverley now resides full time in Nashville, Tennessee.
Successful chapters of Mahood’s past musical journey include Lace (1999), Moody Blue (2004), and Unmistakable (2009), each album as diverse and acclaimed as the entertainer herself. "Each album I’ve done is reflective of the time of my life in which I recorded it," says Mahood. "My music is the story of my life. It’s honest and real. I don’t ever hide behind misleading lyrics. … I have my own style…”
Beverley’s firm belief that everything in music starts with the song enables her to approach her songwriting with an unequalled passion and appreciation for the craft. (Mahood penned "Come to Me," a song recorded by Celine Dion for her platinum-selling "Miracle" album in 2004.) Lessons about love, loss, and personal growth are all part of Beverley’s musical mix, issues that she has explored as much for her own sake as for the sake of her audience.
If there’s anything that rivals Beverley’s passion for entertaining, it’s her dedication to community. Closest to Beverley’s heart are initiatives for children. She is a devoted supporter of Juvenile Diabetes, the Alberta Children’s Hospital, and the David Foster Foundation. She is currently the national spokesperson for the Pink Mitten Campaign www.pinkmitten.com (in support of breast cancer research). In the past couple of years, Mahood has performed for some very exclusive audiences, including the G8 World Leaders in Toronto, British Royals William and Kate (on their first official trip to North America,) for the men and women of the Canadian military during a two-week tour of Afghanistan, and for a crowd of hundreds of thousands as host of the CBC Canada Day Celebrations on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. www.beverleymahood.com
Deric Ruttan: It’s fair to say the Nashville-based, Bracebridge, Ontario born singer/songwriter has a fair bit to celebrate these days. Over time, Ruttan’s songs have been recorded by Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Gary Alan, Jason Blaine, Doc Walker and dozens of others. He’s been recognized repeatedly by the Canadian music industry with a variety of SOCAN and CCMA Awards, a JUNO nomination for Best Country Record for 2010’s Sunshine and, most recently, multiple 2013 CCMA Award nominations in categories including Single and Songwriter of the Year.
Then there’s the success of Take The Week Off’s lead single and title track, his current single Pass It Around and as if that’s not enough, one of the album’s tracks, co-write ‘Mine Would Be You,’ became a runaway #1 hit for Country superstar Blake Shelton and generated both Grammy and ACM nominations in the Songwriter of the Year categories for Deric. www.dericruttan.net
Tebey: Rather than measure the success of a song in terms of chart positions or sales, Tebey Ottoh tends to focus on how deeply the sentiments it expresses resonate with listeners and how easily they can find their own lives, loves and struggles reflected in the story it tells. While that’s important in any genre, nowhere is it more so than in country music. “If you can see the story as it happens, and see yourself in it, I think that’s what makes a good country song.”Tebey’s songs have been recorded by the likes of Canadian country artists Emerson Drive, Doc Walker, Jason Blaine, Chad Brownlee, and Aaron Pritchett among others. Tebey has also seen his songs recorded outside the country genre, by pop acts like One Direction, FLO RIDA, Shawn Desman and The Veronicas. Recently, he scored his first #1 single in the UK, ‘All About Tonight’, which was performed by Pixie Lott, and garnered a nomination at the 2012 BRIT Awards for Single of the Year. Tebey also has two songs on the current One Direction album “Take Me Home”, which has sold in excess of 6 million copies worldwide. But with his debut record, he very much wanted to showcase his own signature sound, an energetic brand of cutting edge, contemporary country with deep overtones of R&B, Soul and rock and roll that proves, without a doubt, his talents as a performer are just as highly developed as his song writing chops.
Tebey’s debut album, and aptly titled “The Wait”, was released in December of 2012. It spurned three singles, including the hit runaway hit “Somewhere In The Country”, which peaked at #11 on the Canadian Country Airplay Charts. In March of 2013, Tebey released “Till It’s Gone”, the first single from his sophomore album “Two”, which is expected in stores this fall. “Till It’s Gone”, co-written by Tommy Lee James (Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift, Martina McBride), has since gone on to spend an incredible three weeks in the Top 10, and become his second consecutive hit.
Tebey currently has the #1 Canadian song at Country radio nationally, Wake Me When It’s Over, a collaboration with his pals Emerson Drive. www.tebeymusic.com
The Western Swing Authority is a unique collaboration of some of Canada’s top studio and touring musicians who share a common love for authentic Western Swing. A group of seasoned professionals whose individual bios include multiple Canadian Country Music Awards, Juno nominations, and resumes that span from Gordon Lightfoot, to Michelle Wright to George Canyon, to Kellylee Evans. Their self-titled, debut album arrived to critical acclaim and brought their music to people all around the world. www.thewesternswingauthority.com
This year’s star-studded Awards Show is once again being held at the Flato Markham Theatre – the date is Monday, May 26 2014 at 7:30PM. Tickets are $55 plus HST and service charge. www.ticketbreak.com