Press Information
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Bill is a teacher and founding member of General Store. Born in Carleton Place Ontario, he now lives in Brampton, Ontario with his wife Dora. Prior to General Store, he played with the bluegrass band Silverbirch and earlier, he was a member of the folk group "Pennies Children". He sings lead and harmony parts and plays 5 string banjo and guitar. He has played at all the major Ontario bluegrass festivals, a number of folk festivals and appeared on CITY TV in Toronto numerous times. Bill and his wife are social activists and can often be found demonstrating and working for health care and environmental and social justice. Bill is also a life member of the Brampton Excelsior Lacrosse Club and has 2 Canadian major championship rings.
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Brian played guitar and sang for years as a member of Canada's most famous and highly acclaimed bluegrass band "Mike O'Reilly and Cody." The members of this band have been honoured as pioneers of bluegrass music by the Canadian Bluegrass Awards Committee. Brian sings lead and harmony parts and plays solid guitar with General Store. Brian has recently begun to write some fine songs too. He lives in the Caledon area and is a self-employed engineer.
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Helen lives in Markham, and is employed in the computer industry. She began singing as a child at church, and has sung folk, pop, country, broadway and choral music. She toured Ontario and the East Coast while performing in previous pop bands. Helen is working on honing her songwriting skills, and is always surprised and flattered to see audience members singing along with her songs. There have been many highlights with General Store, including opening for Quartet and playing at Roy Thompson Hall. |
John lives in Erin Township, is a teacher and operates a 105 acre farm there. He sings lead, tenor and baritone parts and plays bass. John sang as a tenor soloist with the University of Toronto's Festival Chorus and performed with them in New York, at the Washington National Cathedral, and at various venues throughout North America. He began singing bluegrass in the 1980's. General Store is the third band that John has been with. |
Norm has been playing bluegrass mandolin for more than 30 years, and is inspired by the playing of Sam Bush, Adam Steffey and of course the 'father of bluegrass' Bill Monroe. He has had no formal musical training, and plays strictly by ear. Norm was voted Mandolin Player of the Year in 2006 and again in 2007 at the Central Canadian Bluegrass Awards. He also contributes some lead and harmony vocals to General Store's repertoire. Norm enjoys road trips with the band when General Store plays out of town. He also loves attending bluegrass festivals where he has been known to stay up late jamming on occasion! The travel trailer owned by Norm and his wife Nancy serves as the band's 'home base' at festivals.
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