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Music Store: Sound Shop
City: Chatham Ontario Canada
Opened: Circa 1958
Closed: Jan. 1983
Notes: Sound Shop, one of Chatham’s first music stores, is closing after 25 years. The store on four King Street was owned by Gwen and Paul Beardsal.
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Above pic from 1983
Band: Driftwood
Home: Chatham Kent
Circa: 1981 – 1989
Style: Modern Country Music
Members:
Back Row L-R
Carlos Vinagre – Drums
Dennis Soliginy – Bass Guitar / Vocals
Roger LaPointe – Acoustic Guitar / Vocals
Front Row L-R
Jack Sullivan – Lead Guitar / Vocals
Gary Stocking – Drum / Vocals
Other Members:
Tim Gardner: Lead Guitar / Vocals
Bob McIntyre: Lead Guitar / Vocals
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Band: River Road
Year: 1983
Home: Chatham Ontario
Genre: Uptown Country Music
Members:
Ray Violot – Keyboards and Guitar
Mike Crone – Bass
Dan Noordermeer – Guitar
Ron Baldwin – Drums
River Road performed at the Kingsway allot and were all highly skilled players.
At about this time, Ray began to slow down with the band performances and took on single shows in piano bars. Ray was very talented and played several instruments. He began playing in the Chatham Concert band in 1985 playing the stand up sting bass, percussion, and guitar. He also became busy with University.
Mike Crone would join Manpower in 1985, who would become one of the longest running bands in Chatham.
Dan chose to leave town to pursue music full time. He eventually joined Jeff Healey’s blues band touring Europe and elsewhere. He was the second guitar player on a couple Jeff Healy CD’s released before Jeff’s tragic loss to cancer in 2008. Dan was also in the house band at Jeff Healy’s bar in Toronto which saw famous special musical guests almost every weekend. Noted as one of the best bar bands in the world for their diversity and skill in musicianship, Dan’s skill has landed him some of the finest jams with many stars.
2007 – Dan Noordermeer in the Jeff Healey Blues Band
If video does not appear, watch it here.
2009 Update: Guitarist extraordinaire Dan Noordermeer continues to dazzle audiences with his formidable talents. Originally from Chatham, Dan now resides in Hamilton. Dan is known for his Samson-like mane of hair and his wicked sense of humour. Unlikely as it seems, Dan was a full time country musician for many years before joining the band. But for those familiar with his playing it’s no surprise, since he has an uncanny ability to play every style of music with incredible authenticity, passion and virtuosity. Dan Noordermeer has been with The Dave Murphy Band for almost a decade.
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Notes: The CD contains a mix of original music and covers.
At age 21, Wendy is lucky to live two good lives as one. By day, she works as a quality control technician after graduating with honors from Ridgetown College. By night, she is a country singer with her single “Look out Love” that is in the top 50 of the country and western Charts.
Wendy has also been performing in ‘The Melody Ramblers’ for the past two years. They are a popular local country band that originally formed in 1953.
The new album was recorded in Nashville and Toronto.
Tracks:
01. He’s Cheatin’ On Me
02. One Big Happy Family
03. Walk Softly When You Go
04. (Just) Two Lonely People
05. Look Out Love
06. Turn The Light On
07. Rivers Of My Mind
08. I Did My Best (not to love him)
09. Blame It On The Rain
10. It’s Not Me
Photos: M. Martin
Music Samples in the video below
If video does not appear, watch it here.
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Chatham Music Archive 