Side A
1. Jean Carignan: Devil’s Dream – 1959
2. Paul James: Truckin’ Little Baby – June 1988
3. Ron Sexsmith: The Boatman – Sept 5, 1988
4. Ron Sexsmith: Time To Come Home – Sept 5, 1988
5. Cody: Madawaska – 1978
6. Norm Hacking: Richer for The Time – Oct 24, 1988
7. Weddings Parties Anything: Do Re Me – Nov 7, 1988
8. Two: Tomorrow – Nov 28, 1988
9. Anne Walker: Rainwater – Nov 28, 1988
10. Frank Wright Trio: Bluesette – 1963
11. Cheryl Gaudet: Gimme Gimme – Feb 20, 1989
12. Anna Coutinho: Girl Be The Telephone – Feb 20, 1989
13. Suzanne Pasternak: MacBeth – Feb 20, 1989
14. Peter Eastmure: Strangers Meet – Feb 20, 1989
15. Mr. James Cunningham: Aba Daba Honeymoon – 1989
16. Jackson Delta Trio: Come Back Again – Mar 27, 1989
17. Les Freres Labri: Trois Brandy – 1993
15. Side Two
1. John Allan Cameron: I’m My Own Grandpa – May 8, 1989
2. Marcello Puente: Barrios – Apr 10, 1989
3. Eric Andersen: Six Senses of Darkness – Sept 18, 1989
4. Rudi Knabi: Muchner Brub – 1978
5. Michal Hasak: Vin Cuunt Say Curry Confasfais – Oct 2, 1989
6. Steve Starchev: Bourree – Oct 23, 1989
7. Bobby Watt: Heart Of The Home – Nov 6, 1989.
8. Peter Jellard: Northland Two Step – Dec 11, 1989
9. Gregory Hoskins & Stick People: Passion – Jan 8, 1990
10. Positively Stompin’: Reesor Crossing Tragedy – Jan 29, 1990
11. StephenSteve Big Smoke: The Old Hag – Feb 5, 1990
12. The Hot Toddies: Rockin’ Crickets - 1959
13. Washboard Hank: Honky Tonk Donkey – Apr 7, 1990
14. Breen Derj Muc: The Letter – May 7, 1990
15. Wakami Wailers: Peter Emberly 1990
16. Trout Fishing In America: I Wish I Was A Dinosaur – 1990
17. Al Harris Ensemble: Yesterday – 1966
18. Al Cromwell: The Outskirts of Town - 1990
19. Harbord Trio: Lord Franklin’s Lament – 1991
20. Bob Snider: Parkette – 1991
21. Plaid: Dilatone – 2016
And Now for The ParticularsIt all Started 35 Years Ago, on June 13, 1988 at 10 p.m. at 91 St. George St. Here are the programs I've hosted since then:
Mariposa Radio Folkwaves June 1988 - July 1989
The Great North Wind August 1989 - June 18, 1999
Back To The Sugar Camp October 1999 - February 2012
Sugar Camp Music February 2012 – 2013
33.45.78 Nov 2013 – when they carry me out
MRF aired at 10 pm Mondays following Alan Baekeland's Twistin' Postman
GNW aired at that time till it moved to 8 pm Mondays followed by Rick Fielding's Acoustic Workshop program. In its last two years it aired 8 pm Thursdays as a 2 hour program.
BTSC was aired on Thursdays at 6 pm following Colin Bray’s Sugarfoot Stomp
SCM was originally Thursdays 3 pm and later moved to a better spot after Steve Pritchard's Radio Boogie at 5 pm Wednesdays before concluding on Mondays at 5 pm
33.45.78 airs Mondays at Noon.
From Mariposa Radio Folkwaves show #1 - as I was so unsure that I could do a weekly program, I shared MRF hosting duties with Axleman John McIntyre for the first few months - one week on, one week off. Our first guest was Mariposa Folk Foundation president Lynn Hurry on show #1 since the original intention of the program was to be a Mariposa FF platform. The first cut we played was:
Side A
1. Jean Carignan: Devil’s Dream – 1959
(Trad)
French Canadian Fiddle Songs: Legacy - LEG 120
Levis, QC
Producer Unknown, 1975
This was the very first record I ever played on my own CIUT radio show June 13, 1988. The show was called Mariposa Radio Folkwaves which I hosted for a year and a half before changing the name to The Great North Wind.
A couple of weeks later, my first on-air guest was Toronto blues artist Paul James.
2. Paul James: Truckin’ Little Baby – June 1988
(Paul Vigna)
Toronto
Paul James: guitar, vocals
Steve Fruitman: washboard
I brought the washboard in and backed Paul up. This was the first live to air performance on any of my shows. I barely knew how to use the soundboard and I believe that it was Dave O’Rama who learned me the ropes.
3. Ron Sexsmith: The Boatman – Sept 5, 1988
(Davey Johnston)
St. Catherines ON4. Ron Sexsmith: Time To Come Home – Sept 5, 1988
(Ron Sexsmith)
Two great songs by Ron when he was just starting out, age 24. He was already singing great original songs, although I do believe that one of these two was a cover. It was CKLN folk radio host Joel Wortzman who urged me to check Ron out. He just moved to Toronto from St. Catherines, his home town, and was playing at the original Sneaky Dees when it was on Bloor St, across from Honest Ed’s.
5. Cody: Madawaska
(Mike O’Reilly)
A Tale of Three Cities: Posterity Records PTR-13008
Ottawa / Toronto / Montreal
Mike O’Reilly: mandolin
Larry Miller: banjo
Paul Menard: fiddle
Guy Carpenter: dobro
Brian Riseborough: guitar
John Partridge: guitar
Dick Miller: bass
Produced by Jerry Douglas 1978
Recorded by John Cybanski and Ken Fraser at Marc Productions, Ottawa ON
The mighty Madawaska River runs 230 kms from Algonquin Park, Ontario down to Arnprior on the Ottawa River. It was a major logging river, captured on canvas by Tommy Thompson. It was the source of many Mac Beattie compositions.
6. Norm Hacking: Richer for The Time – Oct 24, 1988
(Norm Hacking)
TorontoOne of Toronto’s unsung songwriting heroes, Norm had just released his best album, Stubborn Ghost and brought in Dyan Maracle for backup vocals and Kevin Bell on vocals and lead guitar.
7. Weddings Parties Anything: Do Re Me – Nov 7, 1988
(Woody Guthrie)
AustraliaThis great Australian band – I thought of them as the Aussie Pogues – came up to Canada and stayed for half a year. They learned Stompin’ Tom songs and would play them at local venues, really getting the crowd going. They did this for my first funding drive show.
8. Two: Tomorrow – Nov 28, 1988
(Two)
Thunder Bay ON9. Anne Walker: Rainwater – Nov 28, 1988
(Anne Walker)
Barrie ONNov 28, 1988 featured two acts: Two comprised of Sandy Stubbert and Mary-Ellen Anderson from Thunder Bay and Toronto area singer songwriter Anne Walker.
10. Frank Wright Trio: Bluesette
(Thielemans)
Canadian Talent At Work: Canadian Talent Library Records – D 103
Toronto ON
Frank Wright: vibes
Produced 1965
Frank Norman Wright b. Toronto May 5, 1929 / d. May 16, 2021 Toronto (92)
11. Cheryl Gaudet: Gimme Gimme – Feb 20, 1989
(C Gaudet)
Toronto12. Anna Coutinho: Girl Be The Telephone – Feb 20, 1989
(A Coutinho)
Toronto13. Suzanne Pasternak: MacBeth – Feb 20, 1989
(S Pasternak)
Prince Edward County14. Peter Eastmure: Strangers Meet – Feb 20, 1989
(P Eastmure)
TorontoFebruary 20 was a kind of hootenanny with four performers. Cheryl Gaudet went on to found the Eaglewood Folk Fest up in Pefferlaw. Anna Coutinho was a bright spark in town for a year or two. Suzanne Pasternak came in from Prince Edward Country and Peter Eastmure was another up and coming singer/songwriter from Toronto.
15. Mr. James Cunningham: Aba Daba Honeymoon – 1989
(A Fields / W Donovan 1914)
Toronto
I worked at the Post Office with Mr Cunningham. He would sing all the time at his sortation case, which drove some people nuts but I liked it. He was an excellent guest.
16. Jackson Delta Trio: Come Back Again – Mar 27, 1989
(Jackson Delta)
Peterborough ON
Alan Black: drums & harp
Gary Peeples, guitar
Rick Fines lead guitar
Me on the washboard.
I was turned onto these guys by Derek Andrews of the Toronto Blues Society.
17. Les Frère Labri: Trois Brandy
(Trad)
Quand l'vent vire de côté: LAB-CD-060 (cassette)
Joliette, QC
André Marchand, guitar, boots
Jean-Claude Mirandette: violon
Jean-Paul Loyer, banjo
Normand Miron: accordion
Produced by Les Frère Labri et André Marchand, 1993
Side Two
1. John Allan Cameron: I’m My Own Grandpa – May 8, 1989
(Unknown)
Markham ON
Until then, the biggest star I had on my show was John Allan Cameron. He was such a joy to have on as a guest, knowing instinctively how to bring out the best in me, a rookie radio host at a small, campus radio station. He brought along his 12 string.
In the summer of 1989 we (at the radio station) decided that it would be a good thing for me to rename the program. I was good friends with Charlie Angus and the Grievous Angels who had just released a cassette called Tout Le Gang which featured an excellent song of theirs called The Great North Wind. I asked Charlie if I could use it as a theme song and name the show after he and received his blessing. I did that show until 1999.
2. Marcello Puente: Barrios – Apr 10, 1989
(Puente)
Santiago Chile / TorontoMarcello used to be a neighbour of mine and was in a band called Los Companeros. I used to go see them play at the Trojan Horse coffee house up on the Danforth. Barrios means neighbourhood.
3. Eric Andersen: Six Senses of Darkness – Sept 18, 1989
(Eric Andersen)
SwedenThe biggest international star I ever had on was Eric Andersen who’s still performing. He had just released a new LP called “Ghost Upon The Road”. We realized that we were both Lord Buckley fans and that broke the ice for a good interview. At the end of the song you can hear cars zeooming up St. George St – a typical sound we used to have around CIUT.
4. Rudi Knabi: Müchner Grub Waltz
(Volksw)
Und Seine Goldene Zither: Helmat Melodie CL 29662
Munich, Germany
Rudi Knabi: zither
Others not listed
Produced by Rudi Knabi, 1978
Rudi Knabi b. Munich GM Sept 22, 1912 / d. Gauting, Bavaria July 15, 2001 (89)
5. Michal Hasek: Vin Cuunt Say Curry Confastais – Oct 2, 1989
(Hasek)
Toronto
Michal Hasek was an underground bluesy folksinger who put out a couple of albums in the 1970s. He was a bit eccentric and played some pretty interesting songs on the show.
6. Steve Starchev: Bourree – Oct 23, 1989
(trad)
Torontob 1955 d Toronto / d. Feb 22, 2006
Starchev worked for years at the CBC as a board technician who always longed to have his own radio show. A few years after this visit, he did get his own CIUT radio show which was excellent. Unfortunately, he succumbed to illness and passed away A classy hurdy gurdy player, he brought his machine in and played this bourree. He used to play in a duo called Celtique with Andrea Haddad.
7. Bobby Watt: Heart of the Home – Nov 6, 1989
Scotland / Oshawa / OttawaFrom the Isle of Arran, Scotland, Bobby immigrated to Canada and left stone masonry behind to work as a police diver in Toronto harbour. After 12 years of that, he decided to be a folk singer. After fronting a band called Cromdale with his fabulous voice, he went solo around 1990. He was a vital spark at the Vital Spark Folk Club in Oshawa but has now returned to stone masonry.
8. Peter Jellard: Northland Two Step – Dec 11, 1989
(P Jellard)
TorontoI used to play in a band called The Cajun Ramblers with Peter Jellard who also played (and still plays with) the Grievous Angels. I backed him up on guitar.
9. Gregory Hoskins & Stick People: Passion – Jan 8, 1990
(G Hoskins)
Peterborough ONDb Hawkes used to get ready for the Rick Fielding show called Acoustic Workshop while I was doing my show and if I had a larger band that needed more mics, db would do sound for my show as well. This was a stellar recording of a live band in studio. From Peterborough, Gregor Hoskins with Lynn Simmonds backing him up. This was just before he signed a records deal with Bernie Finkelstein’s True North Records.
10. Positively Stompin’: Reesor Crossing Tragedy – Jan 29, 1990
(TC Connors)
London ON
Ted Trebner: guitar, vocals
Murray Heywood: suitcase
Steve Fruitman: guitar
Of all the bands I had on, this was the one I would never have suspected would become famous. I was wrong. They got to perform on CBC’s Rita MacNeil Show. Ted Trebner and Murray Heywood (drumming on a suitcase) crashed Stompin’ Tom’s return party with the Rheostatics. He called his duo Possibly Stompin’ but changed to Positively. Both have passed away in the last few years. We had a recording of a Toronto streetcar (vinyl) as a backdrop and db Hawkes produced us:
11. StephenSteve Big Smoke: The Old Hag – Feb 5, 1990
(Woeller / Andrews)
TorontoA couple of Steves – Steve Woeller and Steve Andrews - who transplanted trees for years and were part of the Moose Records corral along with the Grievous Angels, Cajun Ramblers, Rheostatics, Allen Baekeland, Polka Dogs, Bob Snider, The Bookmen, Lost & Profound, Lazy Grace and others. Db recorded this one as well.
12. Hot Toddies: Rockin Crickets
(Bill Pernell / Vaughan Jonah)
45 Single: Shan-Todd Records ST-0056
Niagara Falls ON
Bill Pernell, Ohio, sax
Vaughan Jonah, Niagara Falls ON, guitar
Garry Kelba, Port Colburne ON, drums
Big John “T-Bone” Little, rhythm guitar, vocals
Produced by Tom Shannon & Phil Todaro, March 1959
Recorded at Shan-Todd studios, Buffalo NY by Phil Todaro
Big John Little b. Niagara Falls ON November 19, 1929
The real name of the band was Big John Little and the Rockers but recorded as The Hot-Toddys. Their first record was I’ll Always Love You bw Rock With Me Baby, first recorded on Tri-Fi label out of NYC
13. Washboard Hank: Honky Tonk Donkey – Apr 7, 1990
(Hank Fisher)
Peterborough ON
Washboard Hank: guitar, vocals
Steve Fruitman: washboard
One of my favourite guests was Washboard Hank (minus the Honkers). In fact, he played guitar and had me do the washboard for him. It was a bonkers show right from the start and was a lot of fun. Songs like That’ll Learn Ya Dern Ya were performed that night.
14. Breen Derj Muc: The Letter – May 7, 1990
(Al Parrish)
Toronto
Al Parrish: double bass, vocals
Kevin Fullbrook: vocals
Blain Fullbrook: guitar, vocals
Holmes Hooke: vocals
Blain Fullbrook was the plumber at the Bain Co-op where I live. He put a Blues Brothers band together with Al Parrish to play the Bain Street Festival. I asked he he’d like to do sound at Mariposa Folk Festival in 1987 and he got his friends together to help out. They became Brean Durj Muc who were a hit on the folk festival circuit. Blain played in the Two Ugly Guys and The Cajun Ramblers; Al went into Tanglefoot; Holmes booked Hughes Room for ten years and Kevin I lost track of.
I nicknamed these guys The Merkin Gurkins, all in good fun, but when they appeared on CBC, someone made a sign that said Merkin Gurkins. The band were certain that I had something to with it but I didn’t.
15. Wakami Wailers: Peter Emberly – 1990
(Trad)
Picton
Rob Hollett: vocal, guitar, bodhran
Mark Despault: vocal guitar
Mike Bernier: vocal, fiddle, mandolin
I had their cassette ‘The Last of the White Pine Loggers’ and met one of them who was working as a park ranger at Sandbanks Provincial Park, near Picton. I asked them to come onto the show and three of four showed up. Sound by db Hawkes.
16. Trout Fishing In America: I Wish I Was A Dinosaur – 1990
(Keith Grimwood)
TexasTwo guys: Ezra Idlet and Keith Grimwood from Houston Texas, mostly known for their kids albums, were the ideal two person band. They were playing at Crooks Tavern on Front St in Toronto when I approached them about appearing on my show. They were great. Sound by db Hawkes.
17. Al Harris Ensemble: Yesterday
(Lennon / McCartney)
CBC Transcription Record: Radio Canada International Service LM-35
Toronto ON
Al Harris: guitar
Others not listed
Produced at CBC Toronto, 1966
Al Harris b. Toronto 1922 – 2006
Was the versitile guitarist for the Tommy Hunter Show on CBC TV through the 1960s. He wrote the Peoples’ Credit Jewellers theme song that every kid in Toronto knew by heart. He gave Lenny Breau lessons in reading music. At age 18 he was declared Canada’s Best Guitarist by DownBeat Magazine. He then got a job playing for the Mart Kenney Orchestra before joining CBC’s Country Hoedown show. He continued playing professionally well into the 2000s.
18. Al Cromwell: The Outskirts of Town – 1990
(Al Cromwell)
Al Cromwell: guitar, vocals
Rick Fielding: guitar
Steve Fruitman: jug
Recorded by db Hawkes on Acoustic Workshop, 1990
Al Cromwell made quite a name for himself playing blues in Toronto in the 1960s, then for personal reasons, he quit the scene. I think it was Rick Fielding who found him washing windows on Queen Street West and got him into our studios. He was nervous, sweating, but as soon as the music started, he was the coolest. He recorded a song for Live at Grossman's Vol 1 but apart from some YouTube video, this might be one of his only recordings. Al passed away in 1995.
19. Harbord Trio: Lord Franklin’s Lament – 1991
(Trad)
Toronto
Kelly MacGowan: vocals
Oliver Schroer: fiddle
Don Ross: guitar, vocals
A supergroup featuring the Late Kelly MacGowan, with husband (Guitar Ace) Don Ross and the late Oliver Schroer. I nearly levitated out of my seat behind the board hearing them do this one about the ill doomed Franklin expedition in 1845, searching out the northwest passage.
20. Bob Snider: Parkette – 1991
(Bob Snider)
Toronto / Nova ScotiaA Downsview lad, now living in Nova Scotia. One of the best songsmiths I ever interviewed. Although he never became rich and famous, his talent was right up there with the best of him. This song is so ironic; I love it!
21. Plaid: Dilatone
(Plaid)
The Digging Remedy: Warp Records - LP277B
London UK
Andy Turner and Ed Handley: electronics
Benet Walsh: flute, guitar
Produced by Plaid 2016
Mastered by Noel Summerville
More electronic sounds from this great English duo with guitarist Benet Walsh. Minimal and yet, like Silver Apples, just full of sound.
Heard over:
CIUT FM 89.5 CHMR FM 93.5 FM
University of Toronto Radio Inc Memorial University, St. John's NL
Mondays 12 noon Tuesdays 10 pm NT
Radio Bell Island 93.9 FM Radio VGR
Wabana, Bell Island NL London/Thetford UK
Wednesdays 4 pm NT Tues 10 pm GMT; Sat 3:30 am
Bluewater Radio CFBW 91.3 FM VOBB The Voice of Bonne Bay
Hanover / Grey Co. ON Rocky Harbour & Norris Point NL
Sundays 6 pm ET Tuesdays 9 pm NT
BOIR Bay of Islands Radio Southern Shore Sounds
100.1 FM Internet Radio
Corner Brook, NL Ferryland NL
Thursdays 2 pm NT Sun 8:30 pm NT
Community Radio CIOE Home Grown Community Radio
97.5 FM CHCR 102.9 FM & 104.5 FM
Lower Sackville NS Killaloe & Wilno ON
Sun 8 pm AT Tues, Thurs 12 noon; Fri 2 pm