Clark tours province
Published Thursday September 24th, 2009
'I am just an ordinary woman who happens to have an extraordinary job." Terri Clark said on the phone from Nashville recently.
"I have all the daily things to contend with every woman does in her day to day life. The only difference is I've been fortunate enough in my chosen vocation as a singer-songwriter to be signed by major labels, first Mercury, now Capitol."
She said those recording studios work hard to promote their artists with mail-outs, radio, advertising and music store promotions.
"That is the glamour end of my life, I guess you could say. That and the award show wins I've had, concerts, fans who have been faithful through my long hiatus from recording. And, of course, the touring, meeting so many wonderful people."
Clark is touring in support of her new CD, The Long Way Home, which brings her to New Brunswick for two sold-out shows next month. She performs at the Capitol Theatre in Moncton on Oct. 21 and The Fredericton Playhouse on Oct. 23. To check for ticket cancellations, call the Capitol at 859-2664 or The Playhouse at 458-8344.
Clark is one Canadian who is making it in Nashville despite the odds stacked against any talented hopeful. She was inducted into Nashville's hallowed circle the Grand Ole Opry in June 2004 after three CD releases went gold and platinum. The only other living Canadian member at present, that I am aware of, is Stu Phillips. Stu, for anyone who can remember, was a host of the Red River Jamboree on CBC-TV in the 1960s.
The Long Way Home, self-produced and released on Capitol Records earlier this month, is a 10-track album with a bonus eleventh track that, to my ear, is worth the price of the album alone. It's a reprise of the album's first track Gypsy Boots, a longer version but with a much simpler, far more beautiful accompaniment.
It has been written of Clark that she stayed close to her country roots, even if those roots were more new country than hard honky tonk. (It pains me when the entire scope of older country music gets labelled honky tonk, when that genre was never more than just a small part of it.) A couple of songs on this CD can be filed under that label: If You Want Fire and A Million Ways To Run, an intriguing song. I wish I had asked Clark if the inspiration for it came from an actual meeting with such a person. It is her only solo writing piece on the disk, although she was involved in writing all the songs, either with one or two collaborators.
What Happens In Vegas (Follows You Home) also has a honky tonk lean, although it is well scripted, reminiscent of numerous Hollywood plots. There is the turbo-charged Poor Girls Dreams. The duet You Tell Me features another Canadian export to Nashville Johnny Reid. The album has another duet, The One You Love, with the multi-talented Vince Gill. The intricate If I Could Be You, is a little puzzling if you don't listen closely.
An eight-time fan voted Entertainer Of The Year here in Canada; Clark took a five-year break from recording when her mother was diagnosed with cancer. Her mother accompanied her daughter when she moved to Nashville at 18, returning returned to Medicine Hat after a couple of years. So Clark took time off to be with her in Alberta during her lengthy treatment and recovery period. The Long Way Home is Clark's seventh studio album.
I couldn't resist asking her about a wonderful telecast she did over a half decade ago with the yodelling cowboy trio Riders In The Sky and other Nashvillites. During a campfire sing-along, supposedly under a prairie moon, she picked up Little Jimmy Dickens under her arm and jumped over the Rider's electric campfire. She laughed and said "now that's really going back into ancient history!" I said I'd noticed about the same time that she and Dickens were among a group of recording artists who had entertained on a cruise ship. "Yes," she said, "I took my grandmother with me, I had a heck of a time keeping her away from the gaming tables!"
Clark has emerged as a singular voice on the international country music landscape, one of the rare country women artists capable of throwing down some impressive guitar work and her endearing sense of humour certainly comes across in conversation.
MIRAMICHI MESSER TRIBUTE
The Miramichi's Jim Morrison and his band The Down East Entertainers were invited to Harvey on May 9 to perform at a centennial tribute to the late Don Messer, who would have celebrated his 100th birthday on that date. Don, who died in 1973, was the star of CBC-TV's Don Messer's Jubilee from 1957 to 1969. It was a show that, for two years, snagged more viewers than Hockey Night in Canada. Never out of the top 10, it was cancelled unceremoniously in 1969 citing a change in focus at the CBC-TV's upper levels. Jim Morrison is one of a few fiddlers, Susan Butler says, who can play the down-east style like Messer did. Those from the Miramichi who heard Jim perform that day have prevailed upon him to perform his Messer Tribute again on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 7:30 p.m. at the James M. Hill High Theatre, in Miramichi City. Advance tickets are $12 from Books Inn, Bill's Kwik Way, Newcastle Farmers Market in Miramichi or the Stitching Post, Bathurst: they are $12 at door. The band is comprised of Jim Morrison on fiddle, Gary Bulmer on drums, Jimmy Lawlor on guitar, Roger Lanteigne on accordion and Matilda Murdoch, queen of the Miramichi fiddlers. Susan Butler will perform Marg Osbourne favourites and Jimmy Lawlor and Gary Bulmer will sing a selection of songs Charlie Chamberlain often sang. This is a Miramichi Folk Song Festival Inc. sponsored trip down memory lane. Don't miss it.
ANTHONY KEARNS IN SAINT JOHN FRIDAY
Young by operatic standards Anthony Hearns is bringing his international acclaimed voice to the stage of Saint John's regal Imperial Theatre, Friday at 7:30 p.m. It's a concert Saint John's large Irish ancestrial population has long awaited! He has enthralled audiences the world over! And there are still some tickets left so get yours now! Visit the Imperial box office or phone 674-4100 today or 1-800-323-SHOW if you live outside the Saint John area.
DIVORCEES IN SUSSEX SATURDAY
The Divorcees, who are resurrecting the spirit of outlaw country, perform Saturday, at Dooley's in Sussex. If you miss country the way it once was, don't miss 'em!
RIVERVIEW COUNTRY SATURDAY
A Valley Jamboree, hosted by Gary Morris on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Arts Centre, 400 Whitepine Rd., Riverview, features Ivan and Vivian Hicks, Mavis O'Donnell, Sylvia Campbell, Geraldine Charters, Shelby Murray, Norma Gale, Larry Mattson, Heather Morton, Susan Layton, Jaylee Hebert and regulars Gary and Tammy Morris, Dale Butland Cheryl Ellis and the Jamboree band. Tickets are $10 in advance at Jean Coutu and Sobeys in Riverview, Frank's Music in Moncton, Ron Colpitts in Salisbury, Morris Music in Sussex or online at www.RiverviewArtsCentre.ca. They are $12 at door.
SUSSEX COUNTRY SATURDAY
A Country Music People's Serenity Garden fundraiser, hosted by Bob Burgess and Friends on Saturday from 7-10 p.m. at Sussex Regional High, features Joe Ness, Carmen MacAllister, Justin Bannister, Micah MacLennan, Ralph and Lynn Henderson, Teresa and Laurie Beaman. Norma Currie is the MC. The backing band is Bob Burgess on drums, Sam Aucoin on steel guitar, Danny O'Donnell on bass, Steve Sears on guitar and Winston Crawford on fiddle. Cathy Hutch is their special guest. Tickets are $10 at Backstage Music or by calling 433-2122. They are $12 at door.
BELMONT GOSPEL SUNDAY
An Inspirational Fundraising Concert, Sunday at 7 p.m. at the KBM Hall in Belmont, features Allison Inch, Stirling Nickerson, Jeannie Tracy, Steven Stackhouse, Alex and Cecilia Benoit, The Living Water Trio, The Coffeehouse Girls, Allie Pratt, Tessa Chapman, Lois McAleer and Roger Hunter. A love-offering is asked. All funds raised are for much-needed repairs to a heritage church on South Oromocto Road.
PARK AVE. FIDDLERS SUNDAY
The Park Avenue Fiddlers host a Fiddle Jam on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. at Park Avenue United, Saint John East. All fiddlers, traditional accompanists and fans are invited. Coffee or tea will be served with a donation to help with expenses. For details, call 847-1034.
Gerry Taylor www.gerrytaylor.ca has covered folk and country music for over 30 years.
More Magazine
Search Articles
More CE Network Sites & Partners:
