NTCMA Review: Lynn Russwurm’s “Singing My Songs”

Lynn Russwurm "Singing My Songs" CD cover artLynn couldn’t have received a better accolade for his 1973 Canadian Classic “Down Home In Newfoundland” than having it recorded and popularized by  Newfoundland’s own Michael T. Wall in 1975.

When Lynn released his solo album “Singing My Songs” last year, Michael T. Wall submitted it to the NTCMA (National Traditional Country Music Association) for review.  And here it is:

LYNN RUSSWURM
Singing My Songs

Country music has gone through many different forms and phases, but one thing you can be sure of, country music has consistently been the vehicle to express lost love, heartache, lonesomeness, tears and the feeling of being so alone when one has lost a love. It happens over and over again. Lynn Russwurm has a complete collection of this kind of heartache in the twenty songs he presents on this interesting CD. He wrote every one of them himself, but he’s sort of ‘stuck’ in the loss of someone he has loved.

Individually these are great songs, and if a recording artist is looking for a ‘lost-love’ song, he/she would certainly find it here. Lynn is not an out and out super-star singer, he’s a songwriter, and most of the songs presented here reflect that.

I was captivated by a couple of the songs simply because of the incredibly good story they told. Hank Thompson felt the same, as he recorded some of Lynn’s fine songs. So had Michael T. Wall, who submitted this CD for review and possible consideration from the Rural Roots Music Commission. Backing band on all of this music is standard good country. Doug Dietrich on steel; Gerry Smith on fiddle; Bob Tremblay on Dobro; Grant Heywood on drums; son Lance on guitar; and Guylaine Basque on backup vocals.

In total its a darn good representation of what country music should sound like. I’m going to pass it along, let’s see what happens..

— Bob Everhart, Rural Roots Music Association

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Valentine Show on Sunday!

The Two Plus Who invite you to come on out to the Two Plus Who Valentine Show, featuring special guests:
Al Widmeyer
Linda Elder
and
Aaron Muir

2:00pm
Sunday, February 9th, 2014
24 Snyder Avenue South, Elmira

There’s a five dollar cover charge; doors open at 1:30pm.

It’s worth reading the super write-up on Al Widmeyer in the Woolwich Observer. I expect Dad will have some extra copies of the paper at the show on Sunday.

Lynn Russwurm and Bob Tremblay

If you’re a fan of Grant Heywood’s who likes a bit of rock & roll, you might want to check out the CRACKERJACK PALACE LIVE the night before,  Saturday, Feb. 8th, at EDDLEY’S in New Hamburg. This will be a rockin’ night of top notch nostalgic entertainment. Showtime: 8:00 p.m.  It’s a farewell to Eddley’s rockin’ house party you don’t want to miss. Danny Munro will be signing autographs.

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The Valentine Show

The final Two Plus Who Woolwich Memorial Centre concert will be The Valentine Show which will take place the Sunday preceding Valentine’s Day, 2014.

Lynn Russwurm Presents The Two Plus Who - 2p,, Sunday February 9th - The Valentine Show with special guests Al Widmeyer, Linda Elder and Aaron Muir at the Woolwich Memorial Centre - 24 Snider Avenue South, Elmira - $5 cover charge - Doors Open at 1:30
If you click on the poster, you can download your own copy of the 8½ x 11″ printable poster. Feel free to post a copy in your own neighborhood, or bring it along to the show for an autograph. I expect there will be a selection of the performer’s CDs available for sale at the show as well.

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December 1st Concert!

Here is the poster for the December 1st Concert:

Jeff Plager, Carmen Butchart and Jimmy Phair will be Sunday's "Who's"

Jeff Plager, Carmen Butchart and Jimmy Phair will be Sunday’s “Who’s”

You can download your own high definition 8.5 x 11″ copy of the poster to print from here

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Farewell to Lloyd Bank

Lloyd Bank has been a part of the Ontario Country Music scene for a lot of years.

Lloyd was awarded a Barn Dance Pioneer Award in recognition of his body of work on April 29th, 2000. He played steel guitar on the CKNX Barn Dance long before I was born. He was a long time friend of my Dad’s, and they played together in the Jamboree Reunion Band. Lloyd also helped launch the Barn Dance Historical Society and Museum in the 1990’s. What I remember most is that he always had a twinkle in his eye and a story to tell.

Lloyd will be missed.

Lloyd Bank on Steel Guitar in concert with one of the first Barn Dance shows produced by the Barn Dance Historical Society & Entertainment Museum

This is how I remember Lloyd Bank, playing his steel guitar with a big grin on his face.

Lloyd Bank, Ron Coulthard, Larry Mercey, Lynn Russwurm, Victor  Passowisty

Lloyd Bank helped kick off the Barn Dance Historical Society & Entertainment Museum, here with Ron Coulthard, Larry Mercey, Lynn Russwurm, Victor Pasowisty

with Victor Passowisty and Bill Mankiss

Lloyd in Lynn’s Jamboree Reunion Band here with Victor Pasowisty and Bill Mankiss  [photo by Shirley Russwurm]

The Jamboree Reunion Band in Elmira's Gore Park

Jamboree Reunion Band playing in Gore Park, Elmira

Jamboree Reunion Band - with Hugh Elder and Wayne Riehl

Jamboree Reunion Band: Lloyd Bank plays with Hugh Elder and Wayne Riehl

Lloyd Bank, Hugh Elder, Wayne Riehl, Lynn Russwurm, and guests

Lloyd Bank, Hugh Elder, Wayne Riehl, Lynn Russwurm, and guests

Ernie King, Lance Russwurm, Lynn Russwurm, Ron Coulthard and Lloyd Bank

Ernie King, Lance Russwurm, Lynn Russwurm, Ron Coulthard and Lloyd Bank at the Barndance Museum [photo by Ann Martin]

Lloyd playing on a trailer in front of the Wingham Barndance Museum

Lloyd playing at the Wingham Barn Dance Historical Society & Entertainment Museum [photo by Ann Martin]

Ernie King, Lynn Russwurm. Ron Coulthard

Ernie King, Lynn Russwurm. Ron Coulthard and Lloyd Bank at the
Barn Dance Historical Society & Entertainment Museum 
[photo by Ann Martin]

 Obituary
You can read the online condolences or leave your own at the Ratz Bechtel Funeral Home

Lloyd playing Bob Tremblay's dobro at Dad's Birthday Bash

Lloyd playing Bob Tremblay’s dobro at Lynn Russwurm’s 80th Birthday Bash


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Who’s at the 2nd Concert on Sunday?

This is the lineup for the second concert special guests appearing with the Two Plus Who at 2:00 pm Sunday November 3rd at the Woolwich Memorial Arena

Bob Tremblay plays a mean guitar

Lynn Russwurm on acoustic guitar
The Two: Lynn Russwurm and Bob Tremblay

Ernie Bessey in Gore Park, 2013+ Ernie Bessey

Ephriam Frey in Gore Park, 2013+ Ephriam Frey

Dicky Dugal in Gore Park, 2013+ Dicky Dugal

These photos were all taken during Lynn’s Gore Park Summer Concert series. Although outdoor evening concerts are fine for Canadian summer, as the days get shorter and winter approaches, Lynn thought indoor Sunday afternoon Concerts would be a much better idea. Here’s another video from last time as guest “who” Harry Busby sings the lovely “Sweet Dreams of You” at the first Lynn Russwurm Presemts Fall Concert. The Fall Series is being held at the Woolwich Memorial Centre. Admission is $5.00 at the door. Hope to see you there!

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The Second Fall Concert

This is the new poster for the second Two Plus Who Fall Concert on November 3rd. Lynn Russwurm Presents the Fall Concert Series - The Two Plus Who - Lynn Russwurm and Bob Tremblay with special guests Dicky Dugal, Ernie Bessey, Ephriam Frey - Sunday November 3rd, 2:00pm - Woolwich Memorial Centre - 24 Snyder Avenue South, Elmira, Five dollar cover charge, Doors open at 1:30 - Keeping the Summer Music Flowing - Sponsored by Woolwich Township

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Saturday at the Top End

The Two Plus Who will be appearing at the Top End Restaurant in Neustadt on Saturday, October 12th, 2013.  Check out the calendar in the sidebar for more chances to see them play.

Here’s a sample of the Two Plus Who in action, performing “Moonglow” at the first of their three fall concerts in Elmira:

You can see all the videos I’ve posted so far in my “Two Plus Who playlist” on YouTube.

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Happy Birthday!

Happy 83rd Birthday Dad

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Lynn Russwurm Presents

Big crowds come out for Lynn's Sunday Concerts in Gore Park

Lynn’s Sunday Concerts in Gore Park

Lynn Russwurm at the mic at a Gore Park concert

Lynn Russwurm

With the overwhelming success of Lynn’s Sunday Concert Series in Gore Park, the Township of Woolwich asked him to consider scheduling something during the rest of the year to keep the momentum going.

Lynn discussed it with his friend Bob Tremblay, and they decided it might be just the thing for The Two Plus Who.

Beginning this fall, “Lynn Russwurm Presents: The Two Plus Who in indoor concerts. A little different than the summer series, the indoor afternoon shows will happen about once a month. Three concerts are scheduled to take place at the Woolwich Memorial Centre located at 24 Snyder Avenue South in Elmira.

Bob Tremblay plays a mean guitar

Bob Tremblay taking a break from the dobro

A trio of versatile musicians, who are all terrific singers ~ Grant Heywood, Lance Russwurm and Harry Busby ~ are set for the first Two Plus Who concert this Sunday afternoon, September 29th at 2:00 pm.

Doors open at 1:30; there will be a $5.00 cover charge at the door.

Grant Heywoos singing in Gore Park this past summer

Stepping away from the drums for a song or two, Grant Heywood sings in Gore Park

Lance Russwurm plays guitar at Gore Park, 2013

Not only a musician, Lance Russwurm is also a talented visual artist

Harry Busby sings at Gore Park

Harry Busby picking and singing in Lynn Russwurm’s 2013 Summer Concert series

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