Musician vies for provincial award

 

Castleton resident Cheryl Casselman has been nominated for an Ontario Independent Music Award for best country song.

The first annual music awards show is being held tomorrow (Nov. 15) in Toronto and will present more than 20 awards in a wide variety of music genres. More than 150 independent artists submitted their material for consideration.

She says she’ll be there when the awards are handed out.

When it came time to enter her music in the contest, Ms. Casselman says she thought the folk music category was a good fit but officials for the awards told her she was too “twangy.”

“But I do what I do and let the listener decide,” she says.

The local singer songwriter has been nominated for her song ‘The Imminent Goodbye,’ from her first album, ‘Any Road North.’

Her stepson’s grandmother who died two years ago inspired the song.

“She died of lung cancer and never smoked a day in her life,” Ms. Casselman explains. “It was a battle that lasted more than a year. I don’t think having plenty of notice makes it easier; in fact, I sometimes think it’s the opposite.

“I started thinking about all the goodbyes and how hard they are.”

Ms. Casselman has been writing songs beginning when she was just 8 years-old.

“I had dreams and in the morning I woke up with a song in my head,” she says.

Now married with three children, she says she didn’t start getting serious about her music until she met her husband Jimmy Forth.

“He urged me to pursue my passion and gave me the courage and strength to try,” she said.

Mr. Forth jokes about how she and her music is his retirement plan.

Ms. Casselman is becoming a regular performer at the Keeler Centre in Colborne, Human Bean coffee house in Cobourg and the world-renowned Ste. Anne’s Country Inn and Spa north of Grafton.

“This summer I was honoured to sing at a meadow wedding where the bride and groom chose three of my songs for their walk down the meadow aisle,” she added.

The album has taken more than a year so far and she credits some talented local musicians for their help.

She has applied to the Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings (FACTOR) and their Emerging Artist Program for financial help in getting her music on disc. The program was developed to support grassroots artists and is funded through Canadian Content Development dollars paid to FACTOR from Canada’s private radio broadcasters.

If approved, up to half of the production costs to a maximum of $35,000 and up to $50,000 to fund marketing and promotion is available to support the recording.

She has applied for assistance three times and has been turned down every time.

“So the money is coming out of our family’s pocket,” she said. “And this explains the slow process.”

The album is taking shape at Shirmont Recording Studios at Cobourg.

She says Monty Flindall, owner of the studio, has brought more than engineering talent to the project, playing drums, singing backup vocals and even adding some special effects.

“Shirmont is a favorite spot for local musicians and Monty has recorded many of us,” she says. “I respect Monty for his musicianship, professionalism, talent and, equally important, his feel for the music and what the artist has in mind.”

She credits local musicians Jim Ingram, a bassist with flare, calling him a harmony master who also writes his own songs, Colborne guitarist Keith Robertson and pianist Stephan Rapos.

“I have also had the pleasure of being joined by Steve Piticco who came to the studio to play lead guitar on one of my tunes.”

The Belleville guitarist, a six-time winner of the Canadian Country Music Association Guitar Player of the Year, joins Ms. Casselman on ‘I Believe in Angels.’ Canadian Musician magazine calls him Canada’s in-demand country guitarist.

As well, Al Brisco, owner of Steel Guitars of Canada in Colborne, is slated to add a track to the same song next month.

“There are many people involved in the making of this album, from my children giving me feedback on my songs, to the studio mastering and mixing,” she says.

So far, six of the 10 original songs penned by Ms. Casselman to be included on the CD are ready to go.

To those eagerly awaiting the finished CD she adds, “Please be patient, it’s nearly done.”

The Ontario Independent Music Awards is the brainchild of Martin Brown who says the show is a celebration of the varied and talented Ontario independent music scene.

The free show consists of handing out awards to the winners and a mix of performances at the Phoenix Concert Hall, 410 Sherbourne St., Toronto. The show begins at 7:45 p.m.