Telling stories
North Sydney writer inspired by daily life.
NORTH SYDNEY — Ron Gillis doesn’t have any problem revealing his age.
“I’m 76,” said Gillis, breaking out in a huge grin. “What keeps me young is working on my passion, which is writing, that and my wife’s cooking.”
In the comfort of his rocking chair, where admittedly he does some of his best thinking, Gillis said he was in his early 50s when he started writing poems, essays and short stories.
“I eventually showed my work to Jack O’Donnell, the music director with the Men of the Deeps. He advised me that my poems were more lyrical, so I tried my hand at songwriting,” he said. “It can be pretty difficult at first. But as a songwriter you have to go out and pitch your work to local composers and musicians, they don’t come to you.”
Early on he released an eightsong compilation titled “Lyrical Expression” and a chat book featuring 30 poems.
“That was back in 1992, my first music was traditional and from there I decided to try my hand at writing country songs.”
After several years, Gillis decided to re-release his first work, with three additional numbers. More recently he released a traditional album, “Ron Gillis Lyrical Expression Revised.”
“It’s exciting to hear your songs played on the radio,” he said. “I get my inspiration from life’s experiences and the people in my life.”
Until he was 12 years old, Gillis lived in Iona, Victoria County, where his father was the railway station master.
“That’s where the song, “Hear That Whistle Cry” came from, my father worked on the railroad when we still had the steam engines, before the diesel. It’s the same with Westray (mine disaster), it was a song I wrote the day of that tragedy. My hope is that my songs tell a story.”
The day his youngest son left for university, Gillis recalls going upstairs and looking into the empty room. Within a few minutes, he wrote “Son’s Room.”
“I sailed for a while with Marine Atlantic and I worked as a stevedore for nine years. I did various jobs and I’m sure some of the inspiration for my work stems from those experiences,” he said. “I wrote the song “100 Years of Living” for my mother when she turned 100 years old.”
Gillis is quick to give credit to the local music community.
“I’m a lyrist, but those are the people that put the words to music. Everything starts with words, without words, there would be no songs,” he said. “I spend a lot of time revising, and once I’m satisfied I can’t go any farther, my next step is to get a composer. I credit them with being able to get my work recorded.”
Gillis took up the guitar at 68 years of age and is also learning to read music.
“Trying new things keeps your mind sharp.”
Gillis said he was fortunate to be able to secure three grants from the Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent on Records to help pay to have his work recorded.
He does get royalties for his songs when they are played on various radio stations.
“I’m not making a killing for sure, you’d have to sell in the millions, but that’s not what it’s about. It’s about finding a way to express yourself. A bonus is you meet a lot of good people along the way. It’s a fun hobby.”