Jon-Rae Fletcher
Encyclopedia
Jon-Rae Fletcher is a Canadian
singer-songwriter
. He has recorded both as a solo artist and with a back-up band, The River.
, British Columbia
, where as the son of a minister, he sang in his church's choir. Eventual musical developments included his discovery of Kurt Cobain
and the formation of his own garage band. Jon-Rae later moved and founded the original River band with a collective of Vancouver
friends, but disbanded the group when he moved east.
The River was reformed with like-minded Toronto
musicians in 2003, and they grew into a popular cult band with an ever-expanding audience. Combining country, gospel, rock, and soul, Jon-Rae & The River created a unique blend of music, sometimes complemented by an on-stage choir. In 2006, Exclaim!
labeled Fletcher "one of Toronto’s most captivating front-men, thanks to his impassioned performances and his glorious alt-gospel songs. Fuelled by alcohol and a fervent belief in the songs they're playing." Their critically acclaimed album Knows What You Need was released in 2006, but the band broke up soon afterward.
Fletcher moved back out west, settling in Brentwood Bay
, British Columbia. He released the full length Oh, Maria on (weewerk)
in 2009 and toured to promote the album with a new band lineup. Several of his former backing musicians in The River later re-emerged with the alternative country
band One Hundred Dollars.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
. He has recorded both as a solo artist and with a back-up band, The River.
Background
Fletcher grew up in KelownaKelowna
Kelowna is a city on Okanagan Lake in the Okanagan Valley, in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada. Its name derives from a Okanagan language term for "grizzly bear"...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, where as the son of a minister, he sang in his church's choir. Eventual musical developments included his discovery of Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Donald Cobain was an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana...
and the formation of his own garage band. Jon-Rae later moved and founded the original River band with a collective of Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
friends, but disbanded the group when he moved east.
The River was reformed with like-minded Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
musicians in 2003, and they grew into a popular cult band with an ever-expanding audience. Combining country, gospel, rock, and soul, Jon-Rae & The River created a unique blend of music, sometimes complemented by an on-stage choir. In 2006, Exclaim!
Exclaim!
Exclaim! is a monthly Canadian music magazine that features in-depth coverage of new music across all genres with special focus on Canadian and cutting-edge artists...
labeled Fletcher "one of Toronto’s most captivating front-men, thanks to his impassioned performances and his glorious alt-gospel songs. Fuelled by alcohol and a fervent belief in the songs they're playing." Their critically acclaimed album Knows What You Need was released in 2006, but the band broke up soon afterward.
Fletcher moved back out west, settling in Brentwood Bay
Brentwood Bay, British Columbia
Brentwood Bay, is a small neighbourhood in the municipality of Central Saanich, on the Saanich Peninsula. It lies north of the city of Victoria and south of Sidney on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. Situated on the Saanich Inlet, it includes the Butchart Gardens, the Victoria Butterfly...
, British Columbia. He released the full length Oh, Maria on (weewerk)
Weewerk
Weewerk, stylized as ', is an independent folk, roots, bluegrass, country record label and artist-management company based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded in 2002 as an art-and-music salon series in the apartment of Teenage USA Recordings partner Phil Klygo and artist-curator Germaine Koh...
in 2009 and toured to promote the album with a new band lineup. Several of his former backing musicians in The River later re-emerged with the alternative country
Alternative country
Alternative country is a loosely defined sub-genre of country music, which includes acts that differ significantly in style from mainstream or pop country music...
band One Hundred Dollars.
Discography
- Now Then
- Then Again
- Jon-Rae Fletcher & The River
- The Road – 2003
- Old Songs for the New Town – 2005
- Knows What You Need – 2006
- Oh, Maria – 2009