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February
11, 2008
New
Glasgow Evening News
Canyon blessed, Gunning surprised with ECMA wins
NEW GLASGOW – It turned out to be a good weekend for fans
rooting for Pictou County musicians at the East Coast Music
Awards.
George Canyon says he's blessed by his fans and their support,
after taking home the coveted Entertainer of the Year award
at the award gala, held Sunday in Fredericton, N.B.
While Halifax's Joel Plaskett and his band Emergency earned
six awards for their 2007 album, Ashtray Rock, Canyon took home
the fan-supported award for the fourth year in a row. "It
is still hard to grasp the blessings that we have received over
the past five years in my career," Canyon said in a statement
yesterday.
He was unable to attend the ceremonies in Fredericton Sunday,
but said "We are so very, very grateful for the support
we continue to receive and certainly wished we could have been
there to share in the celebration of ECMA 2008. East coast music
is a strong part of, not just this country, but this continent's
diverse musical culture and I am so honoured and proud to be
a part of it."
"A big congrats to all the nominees and to my brother Dave
Gunning and a big thanks to every member of our team."
Gunning, who won two awards, one for Male Solo Artist of the
Year and Folk Recording of the Year, said he wasn't expecting
to take home either. "I was surprised to get the folk award,
and it was even a bigger surprise to get the male artist one,"
Gunning said from Fredericton Monday afternoon.
"I just didn't expect to win. I didn't expect to get any
of them, let alone both of them."
"I know my record distributor up in Ontario is certainly
excited about it – it gives them a shot for the distribution.
We've been selling records all across Canada and things have
been going really well, but it's just an extra little boost."
Gunning said he'd been in contact with Canyon Monday morning
"We've been talking pretty much every day," he said.
On Canyon's win, Gunning said. "That's great, I was really
happy that he got that. Certainly not a surprise, he has a lot
of support from the general public."
Wintersleep, whose roots also run in Pictou County, did not
take home any awards this past weekend, but the group was nominated
five times for their 2007 album, Welcome to the Night Sky.
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