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CD release a dream come true

Jackie Guy is making a dream come true as she released her first solo album of her country-inspired music. All 10-songs on the disk are Guy's own compositions. One of the songs was previously recorded, but went through changes for the solo effort.
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Jackie Guy is making a dream come true as she released her first solo album of her country-inspired music.

All 10-songs on the disk are Guy's own compositions.

One of the songs was previously recorded, but went through changes for the solo effort.

"I changed the feel of the song," she said, adding the songs were penned over a number of years, and are generally country-themed, a couple with an older feel using banjo and steel guitar, a couple has a newer-country approach, and some more spiritual in nature.

"I hope people enjoy it and find one, or two songs in there they connect with," she said. " Hopefully there's a good message they can take from it."

Guy said her personal favourite is Did I.

"I actually started writing it for my parents' 40th anniversary," she said, adding writer's block stopped that from happening. Eventually the song evolved to one detailing what she would say to her husband at their own 40th one day, making it a song for husband Dwight. "That's why it's a personal favourite.

While the CD is a first it has been a long time in coming.

Guy said while she hasn't been performing for years, music was her passion before career and family became more important.

In her younger years Guy was part of a family band.

"We started when I was in high school," she said, noting the band included her three sisters, and one brother, and they added a drummer and guitarist to perform as the Young Country Band.

When Guy moved on to college she became involved in the band Longshot, and for a time juggled both band and her education.

But going to school to become a physical therapist finally took more time, so Guy let Longshot go, "but I kept up with Young Country."

Then Guy got married, and began a family which would grow to seven children.

Guy still found time in 1993 to compete in the GX94 Star Search, taking honours for best original song for Reflecting In My Eyes, but time was becoming limited for music.

"Trying to juggle full time work and weekend play was not easy," she said.

And while the family band would self produce a six-song disk, she would soon leave the fold to concentrate on family and career.

While Guy walked away from performing she never completely gave up her involvement.

"On maternity leaves I'd do my songwriting," she said. " It was kind of my escape."

Guy said she hadn't really been considering a return to music until struck by a serious illness in 2008, which put a lot of things in her life in a fresh light.

As Guy reflected on her life she said, "one thing I felt I hadn't done was put all these songs on an album."

Guy turned 40, and decided it was time to make the recording.

"I decided let's just celebrate life and do something I've always wanted to do, record the songs," she said.

Guy began the recording process locally, with Kurt Neis doing preproduction work, and early recording at Freedom Sound with John Anaka. She said both men were very helpful.

It was Anaka who connected Guy with Danny Parenteau, who is a well-known performer she said is "connected to all the greatest musicians.

"I feel totally blessed he (Anaka) had connected us."

With the disk near ready Guy is now planning what to do with it.

While sending it out to radio and seeking a manager to help with sales placement, how to promote is still something she is working on. She said she could perform solo, but admitted she is leaning toward forming a new band.

"I think once you've been in a band it's hard to go just by yourself and not have the back-up of a band," she said.

At the same time Guy said she isn't necessarily hung up on achieving mega sales, adding producing the record was the goal onto itself.

"That was a dream of mine," she said, adding " I do plan to have a release party."

Guy said the disk is certainly one she will be proud to promote.

"It has turned out so well, probably better than I was even imagining it," she said.

Still in the end Guy said she is likely less performer and more writer.

"I've always thought my skills lie more in songwriting," she said. "I'd love to be respected as a songwriter I would love to be known as a songwriter."

The new disk is available locally at Freedom Sound, The Plum Tree, FuzzTone Music and KM Auto.