Encyclopedia of Canadian Country Music

Desmond Maley is the music librarian at the J.W. Tate Library,
Huntington College, Laurentian University and editor of the Newsletter
of the Canadian Association of Music Libraries, Archives, and
Documentation Centres.

This impressive encyclopedia brings together more than 250 ensembles and
performers that illustrate Canada’s rich tradition of country music.
Coverage spans the spectrum from George Wade and his Cornhuskers (the
first Canadian country group to broadcast on radio in 1928) to
contemporary acts like Shania Twain. Each performer or ensemble receives
a brief, informative biography in addition to a complete list of
singles, albums, and CDs with recording dates. There are color and
black-and-white photographs, and the appendixes include noteworthy
artists, Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) award winners from
1982 to 1995, and country Juno Award winners from 1964 to 1994.

Jackson’s research consisted of going through back issues of trade
publications, record company catalogues and press releases, and album
liner notes. He also consulted with publicists, record collectors, fan
clubs, talent agencies, the CCMA, radio stations, record companies, the
National Library of Canada, and many of the musicians themselves.

The encyclopedia is not intended as critical analysis and, for major
stars like Wilf Carter or Carroll Baker, the biographies in the
Encyclopedia of Music in Canada are more authoritative. Limited space is
given to old-time fiddlers, and the francophone dimension of country
music is largely neglected; this results in such surprising omissions as
fiddler Jim Magill and vocalist Paul Brunelle, both of whom were stars
in the 1940s and receive biographies in the Encyclopedia of Music in
Canada.

Nevertheless, Jackson has done a ground-breaking piece of work that is
indispensable, especially for its coverage of lesser-known musicians and
discographies.