NEON BLUE
Encyclopedia
NEON BLUE is a five-piece indie
country rock band from Bancroft
, Ontario
, Canada
. The band is fronted by singer/songwriter/bassist Mark Doney and drummer/harmony singer Sean Doney. Together the brothers independently funded the debut NEON BLUE self-titled cd and released it to the European radio market in 2005. The brothers continue to make changes to their act, adding new musician/ performers to the band as well as new original songs to their already extensive catalogue. The Doney's remain as the vocal core of the band in 2010.
Country Music News (a monthly publication
considered the voice of Country Music
in Canada
) describes their debut, self-titled album as "having a rootsy, down home feel, that ranges from early country/rock sounds of The Eagles to the more traditional laid back feel of The Good Brothers
."
Their first single "Thank God for the Simple Man", off their debut album was released to Europe
, Japan
and Australia
in early September 2005. Since its release the song, an ode to Mark Doney's father Murray Doney, has appeared on country music charts throughout the world.
"One Lonely Night" was their second single released to radio on January 3, 2006. In late March it hit 28th place on the European Country Music Association Country Music Radio Top 100. One Lonely Night remained on the E.C.M.A. charts for most of the summer of 2006. It reached #2 on the United Kingdom
National Country Music Chart and #5 on the Ireland
National Country Music Chart.
In late February 2006, "Thank God for the Simple Man" was re-released to 2,200 Gospel
and Christian
radio stations in the United States, Canada and worldwide by Glory Train Records.
"On My Own" was released to the European radio market in the spring of 2006. Paul Davis of NCM Radio Worldwide Syndication commented "On My Own has intriguing vocals with great potential!"
On July 28, 29th and 30th 2006, NEON BLUE performed on the same bill with other Canadian country music artists: George Fox
, Lace
, Diane Chase
, Brad Johner
and Carolyn Dawn Johnson
at Palmer Rapids Twin Music Festivals (voted by the Canadian Country Music Association
as one of the top 10 Country Events in Canada: 1999, 2000 and 2003). The event had a record crowd of 7,500 people.
On July 6, 2007, NEON BLUE was informed that their country/rock anthem "Katie" had been selected to appear on the MOOSE Trax 4 compilation CD which features the best of unsigned musical talent from Central and Northern Ontario. By being selected, "Katie" will be added to the playlist of all the 18 Moose FM
radio stations. Some of these stations are found in Bracebridge
, Parry Sound
, Timmins
, Elliot Lake, Kapuskasing, Hearst
, Cochrane
, Iroquois Falls
, Haliburton, North Bay
and the band's hometown, Bancroft
. Katie appeared on MOOSE stations on a regular rotation at the end of January 2008 and will be played throughout 2008.
On September 11, 2008 NEON BLUE performed for 2,500 Country Music fans at the Marmora
Country Jamboree. Headlining this event was Grand Ole Opry
favorite - Whispering Bill Anderson.
NEON BLUE remains an Indie, self-produced act as of January 2010. Although the dedut cd stacked up very well against much higher budget major label recordings coming out of Nashville, the band continues to work towards the production and funding of the much anticipated second album.
Indie (music)
In music, independent music, often shortened to indie music or "indie" is a term used to describe independence from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, and an autonomous, Do-It-Yourself approach to recording and publishing....
country rock band from Bancroft
Bancroft, Ontario
Bancroft is a town located on the York River in Hastings County in the Canadian province of Ontario.- History :In 1853 the first pioneer family settled in the area, and over the next 15 years the settlement grew quickly, as another 88 families followed...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
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...
. The band is fronted by singer/songwriter/bassist Mark Doney and drummer/harmony singer Sean Doney. Together the brothers independently funded the debut NEON BLUE self-titled cd and released it to the European radio market in 2005. The brothers continue to make changes to their act, adding new musician/ performers to the band as well as new original songs to their already extensive catalogue. The Doney's remain as the vocal core of the band in 2010.
Country Music News (a monthly publication
Publication
To publish is to make content available to the public. While specific use of the term may vary among countries, it is usually applied to text, images, or other audio-visual content on any medium, including paper or electronic publishing forms such as websites, e-books, Compact Discs and MP3s...
considered the voice of Country Music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
in Canada
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...
) describes their debut, self-titled album as "having a rootsy, down home feel, that ranges from early country/rock sounds of The Eagles to the more traditional laid back feel of The Good Brothers
The Good Brothers
The Good Brothers are a Canadian country, bluegrass and folk music group originating from Richmond Hill, Ontario. The band's core members are Brian Good , his twin brother Bruce Good and younger brother Larry Good ....
."
Their first single "Thank God for the Simple Man", off their debut album was released to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in early September 2005. Since its release the song, an ode to Mark Doney's father Murray Doney, has appeared on country music charts throughout the world.
"One Lonely Night" was their second single released to radio on January 3, 2006. In late March it hit 28th place on the European Country Music Association Country Music Radio Top 100. One Lonely Night remained on the E.C.M.A. charts for most of the summer of 2006. It reached #2 on the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
National Country Music Chart and #5 on the Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
National Country Music Chart.
In late February 2006, "Thank God for the Simple Man" was re-released to 2,200 Gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
and Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
radio stations in the United States, Canada and worldwide by Glory Train Records.
"On My Own" was released to the European radio market in the spring of 2006. Paul Davis of NCM Radio Worldwide Syndication commented "On My Own has intriguing vocals with great potential!"
On July 28, 29th and 30th 2006, NEON BLUE performed on the same bill with other Canadian country music artists: George Fox
George Fox (musician)
George Fox is a country/western music singer/songwriter raised in Cochrane, Alberta, the son of cattle ranchers Bert and Gert Fox.His debut single “Angelina” reached #8 on Canadian country music charts...
, Lace
Lace (band)
Lace was a Canadian country music group who formed in 1998 with the backing of music producer David Foster. Active between 1998 and 2001, the band charted four singles on national country music charts, in addition to releasing a self-titled studio album on 143 Records Lace was a Canadian country...
, Diane Chase
Diane Chase
Diane Chase is a Canadian country music artist. Chase has released three studio albums, 2000's In the Middle of Something, 2004's The Ride and 2009's Gettin' There. Her debut album produced two charting singles on the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada, of which the highest was the #11-peaking...
, Brad Johner
Brad Johner
-Biography:Brad Johner grew up in Saskatchewan playing music in his family band. When he was 16, Brad won a National Talent Contest during Country Music Week in Hamilton in 1982. He spent 6 years maintaining his solo career before teaming up with his brother Ken to form The Johner Brothers in 1988...
and Carolyn Dawn Johnson
Carolyn Dawn Johnson
Carolyn Dawn Johnson is a Canadian Juno Award winning country music singer-songwriter. Johnson first rose to fame by co-writing Chely Wright's 1999 Number One single, "Single White Female," which reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in September 1999...
at Palmer Rapids Twin Music Festivals (voted by the Canadian Country Music Association
Canadian Country Music Association
The Canadian Country Music Association was founded in 1976 as the Academy of Country Music Entertainment to organize, promote and develop a Canadian country music industry. The association changed its name to the Canadian Country Music Association in 1987.-Awards:The CCMA held the first Canadian...
as one of the top 10 Country Events in Canada: 1999, 2000 and 2003). The event had a record crowd of 7,500 people.
On July 6, 2007, NEON BLUE was informed that their country/rock anthem "Katie" had been selected to appear on the MOOSE Trax 4 compilation CD which features the best of unsigned musical talent from Central and Northern Ontario. By being selected, "Katie" will be added to the playlist of all the 18 Moose FM
Haliburton Broadcasting Group
The Haliburton Broadcasting Group is a Canadian group of FM radio stations, located primarily in smaller markets in Ontario.-History:The company is named for the Haliburton region in Central Ontario, where majority owner and president Christopher Grossman, a longtime radio sales manager, trainer...
radio stations. Some of these stations are found in Bracebridge
Bracebridge, Ontario
Bracebridge is a town and the seat of the Muskoka District Municipality of Ontario, Canada.The town was built around a waterfall on the Muskoka River in the centre of town, and is known for its other nearby waterfalls . It was first incorporated in 1875...
, Parry Sound
Parry Sound, Ontario
Parry Sound is a town in Central Ontario, Canada, located on Parry Sound on the eastern shore of Georgian Bay. Parry Sound is located south of Sudbury and north of Toronto. It is the seat of Parry Sound District, a popular cottage country region for Southern Ontario residents. It is also the...
, Timmins
Timmins
Timmins is a city in northeastern Ontario, Canada on the Mattagami River. At the time of the Canada 2006 Census, Timmins' population was 42,997...
, Elliot Lake, Kapuskasing, Hearst
Hearst, Ontario
Hearst is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is located in Northern Ontario, approximately west of Kapuskasing, approximately north of Toronto and east of Thunder Bay on Highway 11...
, Cochrane
Cochrane, Ontario
Cochrane is a town in northern Ontario, Canada. It is located east of Kapuskasing, northeast of Timmins, south of Moosonee, and north of Iroquois Falls. It is about a one-hour drive from Timmins, the major city of the region. It is the seat of Cochrane District...
, Iroquois Falls
Iroquois Falls, Ontario
Iroquois Falls is a small town in Northern Ontario, Canada, with a population of 4,729 in the Canada 2006 Census.The town centre lies just off of Hwy 11 on the banks the Abitibi River, west of Lake Abitibi. Timmins, one of the largest cities in northern Ontario is approximately to the west...
, Haliburton, North Bay
North Bay, Ontario
North Bay is a city in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. It is the seat of Nipissing District, and takes its name from its position on the shore of Lake Nipissing.-History:...
and the band's hometown, Bancroft
Bancroft, Ontario
Bancroft is a town located on the York River in Hastings County in the Canadian province of Ontario.- History :In 1853 the first pioneer family settled in the area, and over the next 15 years the settlement grew quickly, as another 88 families followed...
. Katie appeared on MOOSE stations on a regular rotation at the end of January 2008 and will be played throughout 2008.
On September 11, 2008 NEON BLUE performed for 2,500 Country Music fans at the Marmora
Marmora
-Places:Canada*Marmora, Ontario, a community in Hastings County*Marmora and Lake, Ontario, a township in Hastings CountyGreece*Marmora, Greece, a village in Cyclades Prefecture, South AegeanItaly*Marmora, Piedmont, a comune in the Province of Cuneo...
Country Jamboree. Headlining this event was Grand Ole Opry
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
favorite - Whispering Bill Anderson.
NEON BLUE remains an Indie, self-produced act as of January 2010. Although the dedut cd stacked up very well against much higher budget major label recordings coming out of Nashville, the band continues to work towards the production and funding of the much anticipated second album.
Singles
- Thank God For The Simple Man
- One Lonely Night
- On My Own
- Katie (first Canadian release)
External links
- NEON BLUE's Official Website http://www.neonblue.zoomshare.com
- NEON BLUE on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7oq2NB49F0
- NEON BLUE's Review in Country Music News http://www.countrymusicnews.ca/news.ihtml?step=2&article_id=945news
- E.C.M.A. Review of NEON BLUE'S CD http://www.europeancma.com/new_releases.htm
- Town of Bancroft Website http://www.town.bancroft.on.ca
- MOOSE FM Website http://www.moosefm.com/
- NEON BLUE MySpace page http://www.myspace.com/neonbluecountry