These are the five songwriters who I feel have had the greatest influence on my work, whether in the form of inspiration or of technical ideas.  If you like my songs - or even if you don’t, for that matter - I encourage you to spend some time exploring these links.  Your time will be well rewarded.

Stan Rogers: 

1. •lived in Hamilton, Ontario, and had family ties to Nova Scotia; died in 1983
   

2. •his official website is here; you can hear several songs on the “iStan player” on the right
   

3. •of the songs on the iStan player, I especially recommend 45 Years, Mary Ellen Carter, The Idiot, and Northwest Passage
   

4. •Stan had a great gift for singable and memorable melodies, and for capturing the essence of a character or a situation in a telling detail
   

“Well it’s not the hours of watch on watch

And it’s not the work that I mind so much

Or the long cold miles from my lover’s touch

Though for sure she’s far away.

No stranger I to the touch of steel

Or the honest fear any man can feel

But I long for dust under my heels, and a pocket full of pay

So I’ll take it from day to day.”       

...Take It From Day to Day

Jed Marum:

1. •lives in Dallas, Texas; does a lot of writing about the Civil War and Irish immigrants
   

2. •his official website is here; he also has song samples up at Myspace here and here, and rotates them regularly
   

3. •I also recommend his Youtube video: Chickahominy River
   

4. •Beautiful voice and guitar playing, beautiful poetry in his lyrics, and a clear dedication to researching and understanding his characters
   

5. •It was Jed’s first CD, Streets of Fall River, that inspired me to start writing historical songs
   

“When the battle is done, victory is won

And my soldiering days are all through

If the good Lord declared that I should be spared

I’ll return to New Bedford and you.

Cause I’m leaving in the morning light

With those Massachusetts boys

Fare thee well, my old Acushnett River home

Fare thee well, my sweet Ellen Joyce.”       

...Sweet Ellen Joyce

Utah Philips:

1. •died in 2008; his name was Bruce, but was nicknamed Utah because he spent most of his life there.
   

2. •his official site is here; see this page for his online songbook
   

3. •on Youtube you can hear a band performing Orphan Train, one of my favourites of his songs; I also really love Miner’s Lullaby (from the songbook linked above)
   

4. •I admire Utah for his ability to tell stories in a manner that is stark and simple yet compelling, and to make the political points he wishes to make without preachiness or vagueness.
   

“We bought watches, we bought cameras

We bought whores, and we bought booze

With the little barefoot beggars

Bending down to shine our shoes

We gave them back our candy

And to answer our desire

We gave them round-eyed babies

Who died outside the wire.”       

...Trooper’s Lament

James Gordon:

1. •lives in Guelph, Ontario, and is a very prolific writer who deals with a lot of Canadian stories
   

2. •See his website here; you will find some MP3s and lyrics there; he also has some songs up on Myspace here
   

3. •James has a great sense of craftsmanship in composing harmonies and finding internal and unexpected rhymes
   

“Oh the whispering wheels and the wind at his heels

Would often fool him into thinking he was getting somewhere

But if he stopped to look behind him he usually would find

There wasn’t really any difference between here and there.

Somehow every year about this time he starts to spend

All his days in wondering where the hell the last one went

Maybe he’ll find out listening to that cold Saskatchewan wind whining

Like some lonesome cowboy’s lament.”       

...Lonesome Cowboy’s Lament

Bill Gallaher:

1. •lives on Vancouver Island, British Columbia
   

2. •his website is here
   

3. •I haven’t found many of his songs online, but on Youtube, see The Last Battle
   

4. •Bill tells stories from across Canada with vivid imagery and strong melodies; he has a particular focus on labour history
   

“There were no better times than these

The great adventure had begun

And I signed up for overseas

So I wouldn’t miss out on the fun

My mother wept and waved goodbye

She knew so much more than her son

Hush now mother, don’t you cry

I’ll be home when Christmas comes.”       

...1914 (The Grand Illusion)

Other links:

The Mudcat Cafe - a discussion board and lyrics database (AKA “the Digital Tradition”) focused on folk and blues music; I spend a lot of my internet time here.

Songwriters Unite - an association that promotes networking among songwriters and holds many showcases in Toronto; I have performed at two of these shows.

Toronto Song Circle - meets Friday nights in various members’ houses.  The locations are not publicly announced; if you’re interested in attending, you can get in touch with me for an invitation.  These song circles are where I sing socially most often, and where I most often launch my new material.