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By
Colin Oswin
May 30 2007
George
Canyon plans to bring a little piece of Nashville to Merritt
on Friday night
Canyon
will headline the fourth annual Walk of Stars Gala on June 1
at the Civic Centre. CMT will broadcast the Chevy Top 20 live
from the gala, with artists Canyon, Aaron Pritchett, Brett Kissel,
Kenny Hess and many others sharing the stage. Canyon
George
Canyon in 2005
|
says
he jumped at the chance to join the Walk of Stars celebration.
“It’s important to support Merritt,” he says.
“With so many acts to choose from, it’s an extremely
humbling honour to be picked.”
The two-time Juno winner will get to see his completed mural
when he arrives. He attended the mural’s unveiling when
he played MountainFest a couple years ago, but it was only half-finished
at the time. Canyon is excited to see the mural because it is
such a new experience for him.
“No one’s ever painted me on the side of a wall
before,” he says. “That stands out as one of the
top things someone has done for me.”
Canyon says events like the gala are important for the Canadian
country music scene, because they give artists an opportunity
for wide exposure.
“Especially in Canada, we have to keep the industry healthy,”
he says. “We have to promote Canadian music and talent
to get out from the United States’ shadow.”
Walk of Stars president Ron Sanders says the industry gives
a lot back when it comes to big events like the gala.
“We get a lot of support from particularly Canadian artists,”
he says. “Anyone that we’ve asked, if they’re
available, they’ll come and help us out.”
Canyon
says the Walk of Stars has done a great job promoting Merritt
in Canada and south of the border. He has lots of American friends
who know of Merritt as the Country Music Capital of Canada.
Canyon will only be in town for Friday’s gala. For those
interested in meeting Canyon or getting an autograph, the best
chance will be at the Civic Centre at 6 p.m. that evening.
Sanders says having Canyon play the gala is a big coup for the
Walk of Stars, and it should make for a great show.
“We’re excited as hell to have him here,”
he says.
Canyon has five albums under his belt, with several singles
reaching the Canadian country charts, including Somebody Wrote
Love and Drinkin’ Thinkin’. The singer is currently
touring Canada, with stops on the East Coast following his appearance
at the gala in Merritt.
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