SHOWCASE: COUNTRY FROM THE HEART
‘Thanks to its deep roots in our family, country music has been a big part of my life for as long as I can remember.’
Meet Doreen Brown, who over the course of her life, has gone from country music fan to performer!
Iwas born on a farm in Madills, Ont., close to Creemore, and am the eldest of six children. At the age of one, we moved to the Sudbury area, which included the communities of Levack, Markstay and Minnow Lake. Dad worked in both the Levack and Copper Cli nickel mines. I went to school in Minnow Lake and Markstay.
My father always bought country records, and country music has deep roots in our family. I am told that my paternal grandfather played the fiddle and could almost make it talk, and I have two cousins, the late Cecil and Albert Hayes, who also played the fiddle. When I was about five, my Uncle Percy would often come to visit us from the West. He was always so cheerful and sang country songs for us all the time; “The Prisoner’s Song” and “Nobody’s Darling But Mine” (which I recorded much later on my very first album) were my favourites.
At about age l4, a friend and I would take the bus to the Crystal Palace in Sudbury, where there was always a country band playing, and I learned to square dance and round dance, too. Back then, I enjoyed listening to the CKSO Sudbury radio station when they played country music.
Later, my family moved to the Collingwood area and I went to Toronto at age l6, where I attended Shaw’s Business College. Following that, I held a position in a lawyer’s oce where I did shorthand, typing, the general ledger and customs work. I later became secretary to the Secretary Treasurer. In all, I worked l8 years in business administration and, during that time, I also studied nursing and graduated to become a nursing assistant. Later, I took a course at Humber College in psychiatry; after I graduated, I was asked to work at a well-known general hospital in Toronto hospital specializing in mental health. I had also taken a course in pharmacology and did related group work, and so I went on to write my exams to become a registered practical nurse. I enjoyed my duties very much, especially the time spent working with sta and patients.
FROM FAN TO PERFORMER
On many occasions after work, I went to gatherings at the back of Fred Roden’s Record Corral on Queen Street in Toronto; it was there I met Slim Rose, who was well known as a lead guitar player. Later, we became husband and wife. Often I travelled with Slim and his band, the Prairie Dawgs. On one occasion, we attended an interview session at CHML Radio in Hamilton,
where we met Gordie Tapp and Tommy Hunter, who was just starting out at the time. Being a natural born fan of country music, I knew all the places to catch a good show—the Horseshoe Tavern on Queen St., Palace Pier, you name it, if there was live country music, I’d be there. Sometime later, Slim teamed up with Chef Adams and they played together at the Brass Rail Tavern, just south of Bloor on Yonge St. Meeting Chef later proved to be fateful in my own music career. A few years afterwards, however, I found myself single at the age of 60, Slim and I having divorced. Not surprisingly I suppose, I immersed myself in country, not only listening to it and going to shows, but also writing, singing and performing my own songs.
In the mid 1990s, I became involved with the annual Classic Country Music Reunion in Trenton, Ont., initially as a performer. During the 25-plus years of our association, I have also been on the Board of Directors; sadly, this most venerable institution of Canadian country music no longer exists. Back in my early days as a performer though, it was quite the gathering place for musicians and fans alike. By that time, Chef had retired from the road, but we happened to meet up again around 1995 and we tried out a few songs together. We liked what we heard and decided to do some local shows. We formulated a group and before long we were playing in easy-to-get-to places like
Oshawa and Whitby, and such. We played the Roy Thomson Hall, both main stage and also the lobby, and we were regulars at Oprey Orillia for many years, both as a duo and as soloists. We also played the town fairs in Bond Head and Beeton, made the rounds in Tottenham and Holland Landing… and the list goes on! Sometime later, Chef encouraged me to do a recording. By then, we both knew many talented people we could call upon for support and so we rented a good studio and began recording “Unending Love.” I wrote this song about my late son, Randy, who died tragically while lifting bench weights in the mid-1980s. That became the title song of my very first album and it came into existence almost of its own volition: I did not have any idea of what the lyrics would be, but when I got out my guitar, footstool and, thank goodness, my tape recorder, good things happened. As it turned out, the major tragedy in my life, which had caused me so much grief, also provided inspiration and propelled me onwards in making music. I wrote the album to encourage people who have experienced loss to find the strength to carry on. When it was released in 1997-1998 and went on to receive international airplay, I could not have been more pleased. Some time went by and I wrote another song—“should I Cross the Line”—which became the title song for my second recording. “Country Music Will Live On” was anther popular tune at that release. Eventually, Chef and I decided to part ways musically, but I am eternally grateful to him for the large role he played in my development as a 60-something “newcomer.”
Before my retirement from nursing, I took a course at The National Institute of Broadcasting, which helped me land a weekend morning show on Toronto Radio l430. The show was called “Country Calendar.” I covered entertainment in and around Toronto on Saturdays and, on Sundays, I aired features on Canadian artists. I also announced commercials and station IDS for CHKT in Atlantic Canada; co-hosted a show on 820 CHAM in Hamilton; and produced features for the annual Havelock Country Jamboree.
STILL GOING STRONG
Currently and for the past 22 years, I have had the pleasure of writing a column, also called “Country Calendar,” for The Barn Dance Historical Society, detailing upcoming shows and events, and providing updates on Canadian country artists. I also remain active on the country-music scene, singing and playing guitar, entertaining at benefits, jamborees, and guitar and fiddle clubs. A few highlights in this regard not mentioned earlier include many performances in nearby locales such the Heritage Theatre in Brampton; the Mapleleaf Country Jamboree in New Market and their country jubilee in Baldwin; the CKNX Barn Dance—canada’s largest travelling barn dance!—in Blyth and Howick; the Collingwood Jamboree, and guest appearances at Toronto clubs. I’ve also played in Nashville, TN, at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge and the Captain’s Table on Music Row, and many other wonderful places.
While onstage last year performing at one of their shows, I was so touched to receive an Award of Appreciation from the Barn Dance Historical Society. My most recent country-music journey took me to the Old Time Country Awards Show in Fremont, Neb., where I was honoured to receive the International CD of the Year award and be inducted into America’s Old Time Country Hall of Fame by Bob Everhart, president of the National Traditional Country Music Association. When I sang “Waltz Across Texas” and the whole audience stood up, it was like receiving another award! It was one of my most memorable evenings of all time.
In terms of airplay, “Waltz Across Texas” proved to be immensely popular, going to No. 1 on the playlists of 14 radio stations across Texas. Likewise, my self-penned “Should I Cross the Line” was featured on the East Coast Music Association’s Most Played Artists and Most Played Songs lists, and also made the Top 40 charts in East Texas. Radioatlantic.ca in eastern Canada, and several other streaming platforms around the world, have made my music accessible via the Internet. Most recently, my song “Country Music Will Live On” has been playing by request for many months on Big Al Field’s Radio Show in Australia. In terms of international airplay over the past 20 years, my songs have been included on Top l0, Top 40 and Top 200 country-music lists in China, Poland and many other countries.
I could write a long list of my supporters over the years, but in addition to the aforementioned Chef Adams, I will restrain myself by mentioning only two more key individuals— my late friend, Mr. Earl Heywood, with whom I had the pleasure of so many nice chats and still miss; and Mr. Michael T. Wall, who has been instrumental in the success of so many Canadian country artists, including myself, mainly through fundamental acts of kindness and “spreading the word” about his fellow musicians.
Looking forward, I plan to attend more shows and jamborees, continue writing my “Country Calendar” column, give support to others, and find out if I have another few songs in my heart to write down and possibly record. Country music has always been such a big part of my life, for which I am truly thankful. For me, the bottom line as a performer is that helping others along the way is the greatest reward of all.