Thurs.
Nov 24, 2005
Canyon’s
Christmas
Pictou County cowboy gets into the holiday spirit with a CMT
special and his first CD of seasonal tunes
By ANDREA NEMETZ Entertainment Reporter
CHRISTMAS,
George Canyon says emphatically, is his favourite season.
And
come Dec. 25, the country singer with the deep voice and the
classic cowboy good looks will be back on his ranch in Southern
Alberta eating turkey and wife Jennifer’s special shortbread
cookies, hanging out with son Kale, 7, and Madison, 5, around
the Christmas tree the family has picked out on a journey
up the mountain with some of their five horses.
But
before the jolly holiday arrives, the Pictou County native
will get to spend some time with Nova Scotia friends when
he visits the province as part of a 25-city Christmas tour
that began in Yorkton, Sask. on Nov. 19 and wraps up Dec.
21 in Duncan, B.C.
Pictou
County singer-songwriter Dave Gunning (a buddy from West Pictou
District High School) is the special guest for all shows.
While
all shows except in Port Hawkesbury and Glace Bay are sold
out, those who miss the handsome star live can catch him on
TV in the one-hour George Canyon’s Christmas debuting
on CMT at 9 p.m. Friday. The show, which also features rising
country star Julie Roberts, folk singer Gunning and hockey
great Doug Gilmour, will be rebroadcast on CMT on Dec. 10
at 11 p.m., Dec. 14 at 9 p.m., Dec. 20 at 6 p.m., Dec. 23
at 7 p.m. and Dec. 25 at 6 p.m.
Fans
can also catch Canyon on Canada AM on CTV on Nov. 30 and on
the Christmas Daddies telethon on CTV Dec. 4 from 11 a.m.
to noon.
Or
they can pick up his newest album, George Canyon, Home for
Christmas, with six old-fashioned favourites and one original
seasonal tune.
Both
the Christmas special and the Christmas tour are designed
more as theatrical productions than traditional variety shows,
explains Canyon by phone from southern Manitoba.
He’s
just finished his third show of the tour, performing with
Gunning and Pictou storyteller John Meir and the lantern-jawed
singer says he’s getting more into the Christmas mood
with every stop.
"We’re
trying to create the feeling like when I was a kid, when we
would drop in on friends to exchange presents, tell stories
and drink eggnog."
Canyon
was worried that kids would get bored by the traditional concert
format of one song after another so he tried a non-traditional
approach when putting together the concert tour.
"I
wanted to create something the whole family could go to where
they’d be entertained as much by the stories as the
songs."
And
the songs aren’t just Christmas tunes. Canyon is incorporating
old country songs and his own compositions.
"We
wanted all the music."
The
Christmas special, which was filmed over three months in the
summer in Toronto and Nashville, has a similar format with
10 holiday songs interwoven with the story of Canyon trying
to make it home in time for Christmas. It features actors
Neil Crone and George Buza as well as a cameo appearance by
Gilmour.
"Doug
Gilmour is a really nice guy," says Canyon, of the Toronto
Maple Leafs star.
"My
dad and I used to watch Doug play on Hockey Night in Canada,"
recalls Canyon, who also played hockey growing up.
Gunning
was Canyon’s first call for the show. And Canyon and
his wife believe that Nashville’s Roberts has one of
the best voices in country music today.
"She
flew up and played a few shows and was really gracious."
Canyon
is gracious himself when talking about the past 18 months
in which he vaulted to public attention by finishing as runner-up
in the Nashville Star contest in 2004 then followed it up
by winning three East Coast Music Awards, including the fan-voted
entertainer of the year, rising star of the year and country
recording of the year for his album One Good Friend.
The
35-year-old entertainer also won the Juno for best country
album in April and four Canadian Country Music Awards in September,
including fan’s choice as entertainer of the year, male
artist, single and songwriter of the year for My Name, co-written
with Cape Breton’s Gordie Sampson.
"I’m
still in shock," he says modestly. "I can’t
believe it’s all happening the way it’s happening.
The Lord has blessed us in so many ways."
He
also toured Western Canada with country superstar Tim McGraw
this fall. McGraw and his wife Faith Hill spent time with
the Canyons.
"Their
girls played with our kids. They’re just wonderful people,"
Canyon enthuses.
Family
is his focus.
In
fact, the album seems geared for the younger set with spirited
versions of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Away in the Manger
and Frosty the Snow Man, setting off gorgeous takes on classic
hymns What Child Is This and Silent Night. Santa’s on
His Way rounds off the collection, which was produced by Canyon
himself and recorded in Calgary.
"I’m
such a fan of Christmas music, there were 20 to 25 songs I
wanted to include, but I picked the ones I felt I needed to
record, and hopefully next year I’ll cut the next."
(
anemetz@herald.ca)
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