Willie P. Bennett
Encyclopedia
Willie P. Bennett was a Canadian
folk-music
singer and song writer
.
, Ontario
, Bennett was part of the 1970s folk music scene in Canada, alongside such figures as Bruce Cockburn
, Stan Rogers
and David Wiffen
. He released his first single ("White Lines") in 1969, and his final solo album (the Juno Award
-winning Heartstrings
) in 1998.
While commonly regarded as a major talent, Bennett did not become as famous as his contemporaries until 1996 when Stephen Fearing
, Colin Linden
and Tom Wilson
formed Blackie and the Rodeo Kings
, a supergroup
named for Bennett's 1978 album, and recorded a tribute album featuring Bennett's songs. Bennett's first subsequent album of new material, Heartstrings
, won a 1999 Juno Award
for Best Roots & Traditional Album - Solo. On September 10, 2010 in Edmonton Alberta, Willie was officially inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame
during the Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMAs). The award was accepted by his mother, sister and nephew.
While Bennett was highly regarded as a songwriter and solo performer, early in his career he formed and fronted the newgrass group Bone China Band, touring through Ontario. Throughout his career, he kept busy as a sideman in bands fronted by other artists. From 1974 to 1979 he toured and recorded with The Dixie Flyers, playing harmonica. Bennett also played harmonica live and on recordings with Joe Hall
, Doug McArthur, Sneezy Waters
and several other pop and country artists. In the early 1990s, Bennett was a member of Toronto-based Pat Temple and the High Lonesome Players, playing live and appearing on their 1991 album Connecting Lines. In 1991 he joined Fred Eaglesmith
's band ("The Flying Squirrels"), with whom he toured and recorded until shortly before his death. During a 2007 Victoria Day weekend concert in Aylmer, Ontario, he suffered an on-stage heart attack - which he played through but which forced him to stop touring.
He died of a heart attack on 15 February 2008, at his home in Peterborough
, Ontario. . At the time of his death, he had resumed performing live solo, and was planning on re-joining Fred Eaglesmith on tour .
, released as a single, and named the 1990 Song of the Year by the Canadian Country Music Association
.
In 2010, Bennett was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Association
's Canadian Country Music Hall of Honour .
David Essig, producer of Bennett's first two albums, paid tribute to him in the song "Willie P", released on the 2009 album Double Vision (with Rick Scott). Canadian country singer Corb Lund wrote a song for Bennett on his 2009 album Losin' Lately Gambler
, entitled "It's Hard To Keep A White Shirt Clean".
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...
folk-music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
singer and song writer
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...
.
Life and career
Born William Patrick Bennett in TorontoToronto
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...
, 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....
, Bennett was part of the 1970s folk music scene in Canada, alongside such figures as Bruce Cockburn
Bruce Cockburn
Bruce Douglas Cockburn OC is a Canadian folk/rock guitarist and singer-songwriter. His most recent album was released in March 2011. He has written songs in styles ranging from folk to jazz-influenced rock to rock and roll.-Biography:...
, Stan Rogers
Stan Rogers
Stanley Allison "Stan" Rogers was a Canadian folk musician and songwriter.Rogers was noted for his rich, baritone voice and his finely crafted, traditional-sounding songs which were frequently inspired by Canadian history and the daily lives of working people, especially those from the fishing...
and David Wiffen
David Wiffen
David Wiffen is a Canadian folk music singer-songwriter. Two of his songs, "Driving Wheel" and "More Often Than Not", have become cover standards.- Career :...
. He released his first single ("White Lines") in 1969, and his final solo album (the Juno Award
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
-winning Heartstrings
Heartstrings (album)
Heartstrings was the sixth and final solo album released by Canadian singer-songwriter Willie P. Bennett and was released on CD by Bnatural in 1998 ....
) in 1998.
While commonly regarded as a major talent, Bennett did not become as famous as his contemporaries until 1996 when Stephen Fearing
Stephen Fearing
Stephen Fearing is a Canadian folk singer-songwriter.Fearing was born in Vancouver, British Columbia and raised in Dublin, Ireland. He returned to Canada in 1981 and began pursuing a career in music. In addition to his solo career, Fearing was one of the founding members of Blackie and the Rodeo...
, Colin Linden
Colin Linden
Colin Linden is a Canadian musician, songwriter and record producer. He has worked with a wide variety of artists including Bruce Cockburn, Lucinda Williams, T-Bone Burnett, Colin James, Leon Redbone, Rita Chiarelli, Chris Thomas King and The Band.Linden is primarily a electric blues guitarist,...
and Tom Wilson
Tom Wilson (musician)
Tom Wilson is a Canadian rock musician from Hamilton, Ontario.A veteran of the Canadian music scene, Wilson has been a writer and performer for many years. Wilson's eclectic musical style has ranged from the psychobilly sound of the Florida Razors, to the western/roots style of Blackie and the...
formed Blackie and the Rodeo Kings
Blackie and the Rodeo Kings
Blackie and the Rodeo Kings are a Canadian folk rock/alternative country band with blues and country influences. The band was formed in 1996, in Hamilton, Ontario, by Tom Wilson, Stephen Fearing, and Colin Linden.-Early Period: 1990s:...
, a supergroup
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
named for Bennett's 1978 album, and recorded a tribute album featuring Bennett's songs. Bennett's first subsequent album of new material, Heartstrings
Heartstrings (album)
Heartstrings was the sixth and final solo album released by Canadian singer-songwriter Willie P. Bennett and was released on CD by Bnatural in 1998 ....
, won a 1999 Juno Award
Juno Awards of 1999
The Juno Awards of 1999 honouring Canadian music industry achievements were held in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The primary ceremonies at Copps Coliseum on 7 March 1999 were broadcast by CBC Television and hosted by Mike Bullard....
for Best Roots & Traditional Album - Solo. On September 10, 2010 in Edmonton Alberta, Willie was officially inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame
Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame
The Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, located in Merritt, British Columbia, was established in 1984 to honour Canadian country music artists, builders or broadcasters, living or deceased...
during the Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMAs). The award was accepted by his mother, sister and nephew.
While Bennett was highly regarded as a songwriter and solo performer, early in his career he formed and fronted the newgrass group Bone China Band, touring through Ontario. Throughout his career, he kept busy as a sideman in bands fronted by other artists. From 1974 to 1979 he toured and recorded with The Dixie Flyers, playing harmonica. Bennett also played harmonica live and on recordings with Joe Hall
Joe Hall
Joseph Henry Hall , nicknamed Bad Joe Hall, was a professional ice hockey defenceman who played professionally from 1904 until 1919 when he died as a result of the influenza epidemic...
, Doug McArthur, Sneezy Waters
Sneezy Waters
Sneezy Waters is a Canadian singer-songwriter and guitar player who is best known for his portrayal of Hank Williams Sr. in the play and film The play portrays an 'imaginary concert' that the legendary US country singer might have given New Year's Eve 1952 in Canton, Ohio, had he not died en route...
and several other pop and country artists. In the early 1990s, Bennett was a member of Toronto-based Pat Temple and the High Lonesome Players, playing live and appearing on their 1991 album Connecting Lines. In 1991 he joined Fred Eaglesmith
Fred Eaglesmith
Frederick John Elgersma , known by the stage name Fred Eaglesmith, is a Canadian alternative country singer-songwriter, one of nine children raised by a farming family in rural Southern Ontario. As a teenager Eaglesmith hopped a freight train out to Western Canada, and began writing songs and...
's band ("The Flying Squirrels"), with whom he toured and recorded until shortly before his death. During a 2007 Victoria Day weekend concert in Aylmer, Ontario, he suffered an on-stage heart attack - which he played through but which forced him to stop touring.
He died of a heart attack on 15 February 2008, at his home in Peterborough
Peterborough, Ontario
Peterborough is a city on the Otonabee River in southern Ontario, Canada, 125 kilometres northeast of Toronto. The population of the City of Peterborough was 74,898 as of the 2006 census, while the census metropolitan area has a population of 121,428 as of a 2009 estimate. It presently ranks...
, Ontario. . At the time of his death, he had resumed performing live solo, and was planning on re-joining Fred Eaglesmith on tour .
Awards and Tributes
Bennett's co-wrote the song "Goodbye, So Long, Hello" with Russell deCarle. The song was recorded by deCarle's band Prairie OysterPrairie Oyster
Prairie Oyster is an award-winning Canadian country music group from Ontario. They were named Country Group or Duo of the year six times by both the Canadian Country Music Association and the Juno Awards. The band also won the Bud Country Fans' Choice Award from the CCMA in 1994...
, released as a single, and named the 1990 Song of the Year 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...
.
In 2010, Bennett was inducted into 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...
's Canadian Country Music Hall of Honour .
David Essig, producer of Bennett's first two albums, paid tribute to him in the song "Willie P", released on the 2009 album Double Vision (with Rick Scott). Canadian country singer Corb Lund wrote a song for Bennett on his 2009 album Losin' Lately Gambler
Losin' Lately Gambler
Losin' Lately Gambler is the sixth studio album by Corb Lund and the Hurtin' Albertans. It was released in Canada on New West Records on September 22, 2009...
, entitled "It's Hard To Keep A White Shirt Clean".
Solo Albums
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 1975 | Tryin' to Start Out Clean Tryin' to Start Out Clean Tryin' To Start Out Clean was the debut album released by Canadian singer-songwriter Willie P. Bennett and was released as an LP album by Woodshed Records in 1975... |
| 1977 | Hobo's Taunt Hobo's Taunt Hobo's Taunt was the second album released by Canadian singer-songwriter Willie P. Bennett and was released as an LP album by Woodshed Records in 1977 . Produced by David Essig, the album was engineered by brothers Daniel Lanois and Bob Lanois... |
| 1979 | Blackie and the Rodeo King Blackie and the Rodeo King Blackie and the Rodeo King was the third album released by Canadian singer-songwriter Willie P. Bennett and was released as an LP album by Woodshed Records in 1979 .... |
| 1985 | The Lucky Ones The Lucky Ones (Willie P. Bennett album) The Lucky Ones was the fourth album released by Canadian singer-songwriter Willie P. Bennett and was his only release in the 1980s. Bennett self-released the album on cassette only in 1985 . It was re-released by Duke Street Records in 1989... |
| 1993 | Take My Own Advice Take My Own Advice Take My Own Advice was the fifth album released by Canadian singer-songwriter Willie P. Bennett and was released by Dark Light Records in 1993 .-Track listing:#"Livin' in a Dirty Town"#"Jukebox"#" Take My Own Advice"... |
| 1998 | Heartstrings Heartstrings (album) Heartstrings was the sixth and final solo album released by Canadian singer-songwriter Willie P. Bennett and was released on CD by Bnatural in 1998 .... |
Singles
| Year | Single | CAN Country | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | "White Lines" | — | White Lines |
| 1989 | "The Lucky Ones" | 19 | The Lucky Ones |
with The Dixie Flyers
| Year | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Light Medium Heavy | Boot Records |
| 1976 | Cheaper To Lease | Boot Records |
| 1977 | Just Pickin | Boot Records |
| 1978 | For Our Friends | Boot Records |
| 1979 | Five By Five | Boot Records |
with Fred Eaglesmith
| Year | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Indiana Road | AML (A Major Label) |
| 1991 | There Ain't No Easy Road | AML (A Major Label) |
| 1993 | Things Is Changin |
AML (A Major Label) |
| 1994 | From The Paradise Motel (live) | Barbed Wire Records |
| 1995 | Drive-In Movie | Razor & Tie |
| 1997 | Lipstick, Lies and Gasoline | Razor & Tie |
| 1999 | 50 Odd Dollars | Razor & Tie |
| 2001 | Ralph's Last Show (Live) | AML (A Major Label) |
| 2002 | Falling Stars and Broken Hearts | AML (A Major Label) |
| 2003 | Bailin | AML (A Major Label) |
| 2003 | The Official Bootleg Series, Vol. 2 |
AML (A Major Label) |
| 2006 | Milly's Cafe | AML (A Major Label) |
| 2008 | Tinderbox | AML (A Major Label) |
with Others (partial)
| Year | Album | Artist | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Sisteron | Dough McArthur | Posterity Records |
| 1977 | Larger Than Life | Denis Lepage | Boot BBG-6001 |
| 197? | It's High Time | Coyote | ? |
| 1981 | Sings Hank Williams | Sneezy Waters | |
| 1991 | Connecting Lines | Pat Temple & His High Lonesome Players | |
| 1993 | Drinking With The Poet | Scott B. Sympathy Scott B. Sympathy Scott Bradshaw, who records as Scott B. Sympathy, is a Canadian indie rock musician. He released several albums with his eponymously-named band in the 1990s, and subsequently became a member of Stratochief following the 1999 death of that band's singer Greg McConnell.The name "Scott B... |
|
| 1996 | High or Hurtin | Blackie & The Rodeo Kings | |
| 2003 | Dirty Rotten Shame | Stephen Hogg | Bluewater Music/AML Records |
| 2007 | Lovers Find Reasons | Lindsay Jane |
Blackie & The Rodeo Kings
| Song | Album | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Andrew's Waltz | Kings of Love | 1999 |
| Blackie & The Rodeo King | High or Hurtin' | 1996 |
| Come On Train | High or Hurtin' | 1996 |
| Country Squall | High or Hurtin' | 1996 |
| Driftin' Snow | High or Hurtin' | 1996 |
| Faces | High or Hurtin' | 1996 |
| For The Sake Of A Dollar | High or Hurtin' | 1996 |
| Has Anyone Seen My Baby Here Tonight | High or Hurtin' | 1996 |
| If You Have To Choose | Kings of Love | 1999 |
| Job Disorder | High or Hurtin' | 1996 |
| Lace and Pretty Flowers | High or Hurtin' | 1996 |
| Music In Your Eyes | High or Hurtin' | 1996 |
| Patience Of A Working Man | Kings of Love | 1999 |
| Rains On Me | High or Hurtin' | 1996 |
| Red Dress | Kings of Love | 1999 |
| Stealin' Away | High or Hurtin' | 1996 |
| Step Away | Kings & Queens | 2011 |
| The Lucky Ones | Kings of Love | 1999 |
| Turnkey | High or Hurtin' | 1996 |
| White Line | High or Hurtin' | 1996 |
| White Line | Swinging From The Chains of Love | 2008 |
| Willie's Diamond Joe | Bark | 2003 |
Others (partial)
| Song | Artist | Album | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goodbye, So Long, Hello | Prairie Oysters | Different Kind of Fire Different Kind of Fire Different Kind of Fire is the second studio album by Canadian country music group Prairie Oyster. It was released by RCA Records on April 10, 1990 and served as their debut album in the United States... |
1990 |
| Job Disorder | Scott B. Sympathy Scott B. Sympathy Scott Bradshaw, who records as Scott B. Sympathy, is a Canadian indie rock musician. He released several albums with his eponymously-named band in the 1990s, and subsequently became a member of Stratochief following the 1999 death of that band's singer Greg McConnell.The name "Scott B... |
Neil Young Street | 1990 |
| Lace and Pretty Flowers | Steve Goldberger | The Goldberger Variations | 1999 |
| Music In Your Eyes | Colleen Peterson Colleen Peterson Colleen Susan Peterson was a Canadian country and folk singer, who performed both as a solo artist and as a member of the band Quartette.-Career:... |
Beginning to Feel Like Home | 1973 |
| Music In Your Eyes | Garnet Rogers Garnet Rogers Garnet Rogers is a Canadian folk musician, singer, songwriter and composer. He began his professional career working with his brother, folk musician Stan Rogers, and arranging Stan's music.-Career:... |
Garnet Rogers | 1984 |
| Music In Your Eyes | Stan Rogers Stan Rogers Stanley Allison "Stan" Rogers was a Canadian folk musician and songwriter.Rogers was noted for his rich, baritone voice and his finely crafted, traditional-sounding songs which were frequently inspired by Canadian history and the daily lives of working people, especially those from the fishing... |
From Coffee House to Concert Hall From Coffee House To Concert Hall From Coffee House To Concert Hall is a 1999 folk music album by Stan Rogers. It is a compilation album of unreleased songs which were recorded before Stan's death... |
1999 |
| Stealin' Away | Colleen Peterson Colleen Peterson Colleen Susan Peterson was a Canadian country and folk singer, who performed both as a solo artist and as a member of the band Quartette.-Career:... |
Coleen | 1977 |
| Tryin' To Start Out Clean | Colleen Peterson Colleen Peterson Colleen Susan Peterson was a Canadian country and folk singer, who performed both as a solo artist and as a member of the band Quartette.-Career:... |
Coleen | 1977 |
| White Line | Billie Hughes Billie Hughes Billie Hughes was an Emmy-nominated, American recording artist, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He is best known for his songs with Philip Bailey with Phil Collins, The Jacksons, The Sisters Of Mercy, Bette Midler, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Lazarus, as well as songs from his solo albums... |
Horton, Bates & Best - The Last Catch | 1981 |
| White Line | John Starling | Long Time Gone | 1993 |
| White Line | Jonathan Edwards | Rockin' Chair | 1975 |
| White Line | Peter Pringle | Peter Pringle | 1976 |
| White Line | Pure Prairie League Pure Prairie League Pure Prairie League, sometimes abbreviated PPL, is an American country-rock band whose roots began between 1964 and 1969 in Waverly, Ohio with Craig Fuller, George Powell, Tom McGrail, Jim Caughlan and John David Call. In 1970 McGrail named the band after a 19th century temperance union mentioned... |
Can't Hold Back | 1979 |
| White Line | The Seldom Scene The Seldom Scene The Seldom Scene is an American bluegrass band formed in 1971 in Bethesda, Maryland.-Early history:The band formed out of the weekly jam sessions in the basement of banjo player Ben Eldridge. These sessions included John Starling on guitar and lead vocals, Mike Auldridge on Dobro and baritone... |
Live At The Cellar Door Live at The Cellar Door Live At The Cellar Door is a live album by the progressive bluegrass Maryland band The Seldom Scene. The Washington Post called it "not only a landmark for the progressive bluegrass scene that originated here in Washington, but may be the band's finest representation on disc."-Track listing:# Doing... |
1974 |
| Willie's Diamond Joe | Matt Andersen | Coal Mining Blues | 2011 |