“HOMETOWN TUNES':  SONGS FROM SMALLTOWN ONTARIO

I’m honoured that I'm still remembered for my work as songwriter-in-residence for CBC radio. Best known was my work as a regular guest on “Basic Black”.. Arthur Blacks' National show, wherein I was required to write a rather silly song every week based on one of the interviews or features on the show. I also did a regional show in Southern Ontario as part of the “Ontario Morning Programme” called Hometown Tunes, 30 years ago, and I'm pleased to say that there's now a touring live show with the best of the songs. 

The idea was that listeners would write me letters (Often beautifully hand-written ones!)- about something that they would consider ‘songworthy’ from their towns. An historic incident, a local character, a current event, etc. . I’d pick a letter each week, write a song about the topic suggested, and perform it live on the air in Toronto, usually at 7:30 in the morning after driving in from MY hometown of Guelph. Some of the songs ended up in the repertoire of my former band Tamarack too, so the songs had a good afterlife. 

This project gave me a valuable connection with much of small-town Ontario: name a town, I probably have a song about it! 

Last year Kerrie Gill at the Woodstock Museum discovered the songs I had written with Woodstock themes in her archives.  (It’s a dubious honour to be archived in a museum):)  She asked if I could do a presentation about the whole ‘Hometown Tunes’ experience in an informal performance/chat, of course featuring the Woodstock songs, ( including one about a famous murder there).  I put a programme together and it was really appreciated by the attendees. With the basic presentation complete, I’m now offering it in other towns featured in the series: , at museums, libraries and town halls. 

Here's me singing a ghost story from Sterling Ontario: Spook's Hollow! 

AND … Here's a highway robbery tale from Tweed ON. 

AND: from pretty Tobermory ON on the Bruce Penninsula: Ice-Breaking Day 

AND Here’s a link to one of the two albums that were produced from the radio broadcasts so you can check out some of the other songs. 

https://jamesgordonmusic.bandcamp.com/album/more-hometown-tunes

Watch the calendar on this website for where I'm performing it… and if you can think of a place in YOUR town, let me know! 226-971-9132

Or james@jamesgordon.ca