Stompin' Tom has died at 77 [Archive] - Gordon Lightfoot Forums

charlene

03-06-2013, 10:18 PM

another Canadian legend, Tom Connors has died.... http://www.stompintom.com/

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/stompin-tom-connors-dies-at-77/article9400045/

Stompin’ Tom Connors dies at 77

PETERBOROUGH, Ont. — The Canadian Press

Published Wednesday, Mar. 06 2013, 8:41 PM EST

Last updated Wednesday, Mar. 06 2013, 9:10 PM EST

Canadian country-folk legend Stompin’ Tom Connors, whose toe-tapping musical spirit and fierce patriotism established him as one of Canada’s strongest cultural icons, has died. He was 77.

Connors passed away Wednesday from what a spokesman described as “natural causes.”

Brian Edwards said the musician, rarely seen without his signature black cowboy hat and stomping cowboy boots, knew his health was declining and had penned a message for his fans a few days before his death.

In the message posted on his website, Connors says Canada kept him “inspired with it’s beauty, character, and spirit, driving me to keep marching on and devoted to sing about its people and places that make Canada the greatest country in the world.”

Connors is survived by his wife Lena, two sons, two daughters and several grandchildren.

Dubbed Stompin’ Tom for his propensity to pound the floor with his left foot during performances, Connors garnered a devoted following through straight-ahead country-folk tunes that drew inspiration from his extensive travels and focused on the everyman.

Although wide commercial appeal escaped Connors for much of his four-decade career, his heritage-soaked songs like “Canada Day, Up Canada Way,” “The Hockey Song,” “Bud the Spud,” and “Sudbury Saturday Night,” have come to be regarded as veritable national anthems thanks to their unabashed embrace of all things Canadiana.

Still, Connors often complained that not enough songs were being written about his homeland.

“I don’t know why I seem to be the only one, or almost the only one, writing about this country,” Connors said in a rare one-on-one interview at his home in Halton Hills, Ont., in 2008.

“It just amazes me that I’ve been going so long I would think that somebody else (would have) picked up the torch a long time ago and started writing tons of songs about this country. This country is the most underwritten country in the world as far as songs are concerned. We starve, the people in this country are starving for songs about their homeland.”

Connor’s fervent patriotism brought controversy when his principles put him at loggerheads with the Canadian music industry.

In 1978, he famously returned a handful of Juno Awards he had amassed in previous years, complaining that some artists were being awarded in categories outside their genre while other winners had conducted most of their work outside of the country. He derided artists that moved to the United States as “border jumpers.”

“I feel that the Junos should be for people who are living in Canada, whose main base of business operations is in Canada, who are working toward the recognition of Canadian talent in this country and who are trying to further the export of such talent from this country to the world with a view to proudly showing off what this country can contribute to the world market,” he said in a statement at the time.

The declaration marked the beginning of a 10-year self-imposed exile from the spotlight.

From Connors’ earliest days, life was a battle.

He was born in Saint John, N.B., on Feb. 9, 1936 to an unwed teenage mother. According to his autobiography, “Before the Fame,” he often lived hand-to-mouth as a youngster, hitchhiking with his mother from the age of three, begging on the street by the age of four. At age eight, he was placed in the care of Children’s Aid and adopted a year later by a family in Skinner’s Pond, P.E.I. He ran away four years later to hitchhike across the country.

Connors bought his first guitar at age 14 and picked up odd jobs as he wandered from town to town, at times working on fishing boats, as a grave digger, tobacco picker and fry cook.

Legend has it that Connors began his musical career when he found himself a nickel short of a beer at the Maple Leaf Hotel in Timmins, Ont., in 1964 at age 28.

The bartender agreed to give him a drink if he would play a few songs but that turned into a 14-month contract to play at the hotel. Three years later, Connors made his first album and garnered his first hit in 1970 with “Bud The Spud.”

Hundreds more songs followed, many based on actual events, people, and towns he had visited.

“I’m a man of the land, I go out into the country and I talk to people and I know the jobs they do and how they feel about their jobs,” Connors has said.

“And I’ve been doing that all my life so I know Canada like the palm of my hand. I don’t need a map to go anywhere in Canada, I know it all.”

In 1988, Connors emerged from his decade-long protest with the album “Fiddle and Song,” featuring a new fiddle style and the songs “Canada Day, Up Canada Way,” “Lady kd lang,” and “I Am the Wind.” It was followed in 1990 by a 70-city Canadian tour that established him as one of the country’s best loved troubadours.

But his strong convictions about the music industry remained. Connors declined induction into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 1993.

Accolades he did embrace included an appointment to the Order of Canada in 1996, and his own postage stamp.

“Whatever I do, in my writing, I do it for others,” Connors said in the 2008 interview. “I do it for my country and I do it for my countrymen and that’s the only value that I really have. If there was no money in this, I’d be doing it anyway. I’ve always been that way. Because it’s what I am.”

Stompin Tom Connors sings "The Hockey Song" at NHL awards! - YouTube

charlene

03-06-2013, 11:12 PM

@27:36 in this concert footage of Stompin Tom you will see a young Ron Jones. Just last week he sent this along to me... Across This Land with Stompin' Tom Connors - YouTube

charlene

03-06-2013, 11:17 PM

Liona Boyd says, "Stompin' Tom launched my career with my first LP on his label Boot Master Concert Series."

and then Lightfoot took her out on tour and her career took off..

bjm7777

03-07-2013, 12:08 AM

He was a real Canadian.....he'll be missed.

Jim Nasium

03-07-2013, 07:38 AM

Sorry to hear about Stompin' Tom, I first came across his music whilst visiting Canada some years ago, I heard his song "Bridge Came Tumbling Down" I headed for a record store and bought a couple of his CD's and his book "Stompin' Tom and The Conners Tone." A terrific read, cannot recommend it enough. A sad loss.

03-07-2013, 07:49 AM

he was a neighbour here, that I'm sorry to say, I never met

had the biggest stones in the canadian music biz...a hero to the ordinary man

i used to get out of bed at 5am for hockey practice before school...loved this one

Stompin' Tom Connors - Hockey Mom Tribute (Live 2005) - YouTube

03-07-2013, 07:54 AM

Gord was shared globally, but I always thought Tom was a Canuck hidden gem

glad you stumbled upon some of his stuff, Jim

this was the most authentic 3 minutes of Conan's week in Toronto years ago

Conan saw a uppity downtown Toronto theatre turn into a small town saloon

Stompin' Tom Conners The Hockey Song - YouTube

*Ron has a wonderful Horseshoe Tavern memory to cherish...what a fine film

charlene

03-07-2013, 08:19 AM

Just listened to Gordon speaking on CTV a few minutes ago (via phone)He said, "Tom's music was poetry, poetry in motion"

audio @ http://www.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=879534&playlistId=1.1185336&binId=1.810401&playlistPageNum=1

He'll be out on tour so will miss any memorial/funeral..

our young Ron @ The Horseshow in 1973 watching Tom Connors.

charlene

03-07-2013, 08:22 AM

When I spoke on the phone with Gordon in July 2012 - he mentions Tom:
I asked Gordon if there were any awards he would like to get considering he has almost everything there is to get and if he’s comfortable receiving all of these accolades. He laughed and replied, “I’m always busy working and staying prepared so I don’t have time to rest on my laurels too much.” “I do appreciate them and I’m beginning to appreciate them more and this latest one, this Songwriters award is a very important one. I feel very good about it.” I said, ‘there’s only three Canadians out of the almost 400 who have received the award.” Gordon said, “there’s Leonard Cohen, and myself and who’s the third?” I said I couldn’t’ remember and would have to look that info up. Gordon said, “they should put Bryan Adams in..Hey! They should put Stompin’ Tom Connors in!” I said that seeing Stompin’ Tom in Manhattan just might be worth a trip to New York and he laughed. http://www.stompintom.com/

03-07-2013, 08:39 AM

‘there’s only three Canadians out of the almost 400 who have received the award.” Gordon said, “there’s Leonard Cohen, and myself and who’s the third?”

oh, that's Joni Mitchell

when you look at the list of 300+ others, many leave you scratching your head

Tom certainly wrote about 250 other tunes beside the hockey song, eh? :)

btw, the other good segment of the Conan stint here, was the "border" skit where you had to sing a segment of the Wreck to be admitted into Canada, lol

char, could you give us a tutorial on how to do that screen capture?:cool:

charlene

03-07-2013, 08:43 AM

Q107 Toronto‏@Q107Toronto

A public celebration of Stompin' Tom Connors' life will be held at the Peterborough Memorial Arena next Wed. at 7pm.

Entertainment writer @ The Toronto Sun: Liz Braun‏@LizBraunSun

Farewell, Stompin' Tom. Only you and Lightfoot ever sang the truth about the soul and psyche of the true north, strong and free. RIP

k.d.Lang - k.d. lang‏@kdlang

Stomp on #StompinTom May you have a swift rebirth. Thx for shedding some light on our selves and our #canadian culture.

jann arden‏@jannarden

Tom- I know you're up there stompin' somewhere amazing! Thanks for being on the planet! Safe Travels....

Burton Cummings

Stompin' Tom Connors 1936-2013...one of Canada's recognizable faces world wide. He never craved success outside his native Canada, and ALWAYS had both feet on the ground. Made untold millions smile while he was here...truly one of a kind.
R.I.P. Charles Thomas Connors...

Chris Hadfield‏@Cmdr_Hadfield(Internat.Space Stn.)

Very sorry to hear Stompin' Tom Connors died. I'll play Sudbury Sat Night up here today, sing with him on his way.

CTV Canada AM‏@CTVCanadaAM
Talking now to Gordon Lightfoot about the passing of his friend Stompin' Tom Connors. His strongest memory is how much Tom loved Canada.

CTV Canada AM‏@CTVCanadaAM
Ronnie Hawkins tells us no one was more Canadian than Stompin' Tom Connors. "There wasn't a town he didn't talk about & sing about"

Prime Minister Harper: Stephen Harper‏@pmharper

We have lost a true Canadian original. R.I.P. Stompin' Tom Connors. You played the best game that could be played.

video of Ronnie Hawkins talking about Tom:http://www.citynews.ca/2013/03/06/ronnie-hawkins-shares-his-memories-of-stompin-tom/

charlene

03-07-2013, 09:11 AM

hit the PRNTSCN button, open PAINT (or some such programme I guess) then PASTE it..you can cut/crop and save it..
easy...
lol

I remember summers in Timmins and going into town to the Maple Leaf Hotel - it had separate entrances for Women and Men..lol - all ended up in the bar tho. There was always a chip truck out front selling fries in paper cones that dripped the vinegar out the bottom when I would overindulge.
But then my pants/top would smell of fries and vinegar all day so that was a good thing..

charlene

03-07-2013, 09:14 AM

http://www2.macleans.ca/2013/03/06/canadian-country-folk-legend-stompin-tom-connors-dies-at-age-77/

Darren Calabrese/CP

Canadian country-folk legend Stompin’ Tom Connors, whose toe-tapping musical spirit and fierce patriotism established him as one of Canada’s strongest cultural icons, has died. He was 77.

Connors passed away Wednesday from what a spokesman described as “natural causes.”

Brian Edwards said the musician, rarely seen without his signature black cowboy hat and stomping cowboy boots, knew his health was declining and penned a message for his fans a few days before his death.

“I know Tom loved the fans more than anything. He’s probably one of the few artists that built his whole life around fans and nothing else,” Edwards said.

“The man stood for everything that Canada stood for and he was very adamant that he stayed a Canadian and made it very apparent that he never left the country to advance his career and stayed very, very true to who he was.”

In the letter posted on his official website, Connors issued a final thank you to his fans, to whom he credited his entire career.

“I want all my fans, past, present, or future, to know that without you, there would have not been any Stompin’ Tom,” Connors wrote.

“It was a long hard bumpy road, but this great country kept me inspired with its beauty, character, and spirit, driving me to keep marching on and devoted to sing about its people and places that make Canada the greatest country in the world.”

The musician said he hoped his work would continue to “bring a little bit of cheer” into people’s lives even after his death and called on his fans to continue to bring Canadiana to the world.

“I must now pass the torch, to all of you, to help keep the Maple Leaf flying high, and be the Patriot Canada needs now and in the future.”

Connors is survived by his wife Lena, two sons, two daughters and several grandchildren.

Dubbed Stompin’ Tom for his propensity to pound the floor with his left foot during performances, Connors garnered a devoted following through straight-ahead country-folk tunes that drew inspiration from his extensive travels and focused on the everyman.

Although wide commercial appeal escaped Connors for much of his four-decade career, his heritage-soaked songs like “Canada Day, Up Canada Way,” “The Hockey Song,” “Bud the Spud,” and “Sudbury Saturday Night,” have come to be regarded as veritable national anthems thanks to their unabashed embrace of all things Canadiana.

As word spread of his death, Canadians from across the country began mouring his loss.

On Twitter, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said “we have lost a true Canadian original. R.I.P. Stompin’ Tom Connors. You played the best game that could be played.”

The National Hockey League tweeted “Sad to hear that legendary Canadian Stompin’ Tom Connors has passed. His legacy lives on in arenas every time ‘The Hockey Song’ is played.”

At the Air Canada Centre in Toronto many fans took to their feet as “The Hockey Song” was played after Connors’ death was announced.

Despite status as a Canadian musical icon, Connors often complained that not enough songs were being written about his homeland.

“I don’t know why I seem to be the only one, or almost the only one, writing about this country,” Connors said in a rare one-on-one interview at his home in Halton Hills, Ont., in 2008.

“It just amazes me that I’ve been going so long I would think that somebody else (would have) picked up the torch a long time ago and started writing tons of songs about this country. This country is the most underwritten country in the world as far as songs are concerned. We starve, the people in this country are starving for songs about their homeland.”

Connors’ fervent patriotism brought controversy when his principles put him at loggerheads with the Canadian music industry.

In 1978, he famously returned a handful of Juno Awards he had amassed in previous years, complaining that some artists were being awarded in categories outside their genre while other winners had conducted most of their work outside of the country. He derided artists that moved to the United States as “border jumpers.”

“I feel that the Junos should be for people who are living in Canada, whose main base of business operations is in Canada, who are working toward the recognition of Canadian talent in this country and who are trying to further the export of such talent from this country to the world with a view to proudly showing off what this country can contribute to the world market,” he said in a statement at the time.

The declaration marked the beginning of a 10-year self-imposed exile from the spotlight.

From Connors’ earliest days, life was a battle.

He was born in Saint John, N.B., on Feb. 9, 1936 to an unwed teenage mother. According to his autobiography, “Before the Fame,” he often lived hand-to-mouth as a youngster, hitchhiking with his mother from the age of three, begging on the street by the age of four. At age eight, he was placed in the care of Children’s Aid and adopted a year later by a family in Skinner’s Pond, P.E.I. He ran away four years later to hitchhike across the country.

Connors bought his first guitar at age 14 and picked up odd jobs as he wandered from town to town, at times working on fishing boats, as a grave digger, tobacco picker and fry cook.

Legend has it that Connors began his musical career when he found himself a nickel short of a beer at the Maple Leaf Hotel in Timmins, Ont., in 1964 at age 28.

The bartender agreed to give him a drink if he would play a few songs but that turned into a 14-month contract to play at the hotel. Three years later, Connors made his first album and garnered his first hit in 1970 with “Bud The Spud.”

Hundreds more songs followed, many based on actual events, people, and towns he had visited.

“I’m a man of the land, I go out into the country and I talk to people and I know the jobs they do and how they feel about their jobs,” Connors has said.

“And I’ve been doing that all my life so I know Canada like the palm of my hand. I don’t need a map to go anywhere in Canada, I know it all.”

In 1988, Connors emerged from his decade-long protest with the album “Fiddle and Song,” featuring a new fiddle style and the songs “Canada Day, Up Canada Way,” “Lady kd lang,” and “I Am the Wind.” It was followed in 1990 by a 70-city Canadian tour that established him as one of the country’s best loved troubadours.

But his strong convictions about the music industry remained. Connors declined induction into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 1993.

Accolades he did embrace included an appointment to the Order of Canada in 1996, and his own postage stamp.

“Whatever I do, in my writing, I do it for others,” Connors said in the 2008 interview. “I do it for my country and I do it for my countrymen and that’s the only value that I really have. If there was no money in this, I’d be doing it anyway. I’ve always been that way. Because it’s what I am.”

charlene

03-07-2013, 09:17 AM

3 Canadian Legends who never left home...
Anne Murray, Lightfoot and Stompin' Tom.
1973
and 1975 - Paul Anka singing @ 1975 JUNO awards-Gino Vanelli, Tom, Anne in audience...

03-07-2013, 09:50 AM

3 Canadian Legends who never left home...
Anne Murray, Lightfoot and Stompin' Tom.

and 2/3 of them never had face work.... that's right, Gord's had some... shhh

charlene

03-07-2013, 09:58 AM

yep - Gords fine face was chiseled from the finest Georgian Bay granite deposited by the pre-cambrian glaciers.......
;)

Auburn Annie

03-07-2013, 10:22 AM

He had the craggy face of an old John Wayne and something of the sound of Johnny Cash but, like Gord, he was one of a handful of walking emblems of Canada. RIP Stompin' Tom...

charlene

03-07-2013, 10:47 AM

Canada Post honoured him in 2009 with a stamp like Gord had a few years prior.

charlene

03-07-2013, 10:52 AM

He had the craggy face of an old John Wayne and something of the sound of Johnny Cash but, like Gord, he was one of a handful of walking emblems of Canada. RIP Stompin' Tom...

Where Lightfoots tune lent themselves to places beyond Canada, Tom's music was all Canada all the time..The small towns and villages across the country, the working man and woman in them..all were very Canada specific.He held nothing back.

Full lyrics for BELIEVE IN YOUR COUNTRY@ http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/s/stompin_tom_connors/believe_in_your_country.html

"If you don't believe your country should come before yourself
Ya can better serve your country, by living somewhere else."
Tom Connors

03-07-2013, 10:56 AM

he kept that "Rifleman" chiselled face right throughout his years, eh

i think his stamp image and layout was the best of the few series that were issued

Stan Rogers, Lightfoot, Stompin Tom and Tommy Hunter... quite a front four

C - eh - N - eh - D - eh

charlene

03-07-2013, 11:12 AM

Q-Gomeshi and Bidini- http://www.cbc.ca/liveradio/popup/index.html?networkKey=cbc_radio_one&programKey=toronto

charlene

03-07-2013, 11:25 AM

In 1977 Dave Bidini started a petition to bring Tom back from 'retirement' becuz he was pissed at the whole music scene...and he did come back after meeting with Dave and seeing the signatures...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stompin'_Tom_Connors
As the 1970s progressed, he retired to his farm in Norval, near Georgetown, Ontario, to protest the lack of support given to Canadian stories by the policies of the Federal government, particularly the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). He also boycotted the Juno Awards in protest of the qualification guidelines set by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) for possible nominees who were being consistently nominated and awarded outside of their musical genre. He strongly opposed artists who conducted most of their business in the United States being nominated for Junos in Canada. Connors, who referred to these particular artists as "turncoat Canadians", felt that in view of the fact that they had chosen to live and work in the U.S., it was only fair that they competed with Americans for Grammy Awards, and left the Juno competition to those who lived and conducted business in Canada.

His protest caught national attention when he sent back his six Junos accompanied by a letter to the board of directors.

"Gentlemen:I am returning herewith the six Juno awards that I once felt honoured to have received and which, I am no longer proud to have in my possession. As far as I am concerned you can give them to the border jumpers who didn't receive an award this year and maybe you can have them presented by Charley Pride. I feel that the Junos should be for people who are living in Canada, whose main base of business operations is in Canada, who are working toward the recognition of Canadian talent in this country and who are trying to further the export of such talent from this country to the world with a view to proudly showing off what this country can contribute to the world market. Until the academy appears to comply more closely with aspirations of this kind, I will no longer stand for any nominations, nor will I accept any award given. Yours very truly, Stompin' Tom Connors[citation needed]

He remained in retirement for 12 years. In 1986, Tim Vesely and Dave Bidini of Rheostatics crashed his 50th birthday party and published an article about it in a Toronto newspaper,[8] initiating a resurgence of public and record label interest in his work which resulted in the release in 1988 of Fiddle and Song, his first new album since 1977.

A couple of years ago on Tom's 75th Dave wrote this: http://arts.nationalpost.com/2011/02/06/the-junos-stompin-tom-at-75-and-a-soundtrack-for-canada/

charlene

03-07-2013, 11:27 AM

Bud the Spud: Amazon.ca: Stompin' Tom Connors, Brenda Jones: Books

Stompin Tom And The Connors Tone: Amazon.ca: Tom Connors: Books

niffer

03-07-2013, 11:32 AM

RIP Mr. Connors.

I regret that I had never heard of him outside of this forum. He certainly was a handsome gentleman, in the same weathered, rugged way as our Gordon is today.

I am curious, Char, from the lyrics you posted from Believe in Your Country - and I apologize that I don't know how to post a partial quote from my iPad - is Stompin' Tom regarded in Canada as a Woody Guthrie/Johnny Cash type of common man, or as more of a Merle Haggard "Okie from Muskogee" type of superpatriot?

charlene

03-07-2013, 11:36 AM

Tom sang of the fire at the Macintyre Mine in Timmins where my grandfathers both worked and where as a kid we grandkids were taken to the depths the miners worked. All very exciting to ride in the buckets so far below ground level. Perhaps my claustrophobia and hatred of worms started then. lol Several years ago a cousin became Mayor for a few years...I haven't been back there since mid 70's.

charlene

03-07-2013, 11:43 AM

I think Tom was a common man with a super patriotism for his country. His life from birth was tough-he 'slogged' his way through, never forgetting what a blessing it was, despite those hardships to be a Canadian. He truly wore his heart on his sleeve. He breathed and lived that thankfulness every day and in every lyric.
http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/2013/03/06/stompin_tom_connors_mitch_potters_1990_interview_w ith_the_legend.html

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/story/2013/03/06/stompin-tom-obit.html

03-07-2013, 12:01 PM

RIP Mr. Connors.

I regret that I had never heard of him outside of this forum

niff, most traditional canadians know of him and his music (unfortunately, just mainly bud the spud and the hockey song) but not of "him" ...myself included

i hope bid ini doesnt take the liberty to write some speculative book about him

two days ago, a Target store (first in Canada) opened 20 minutes away from Connors farmhouse and my place... a neighbour commented, "maybe Tom figured it was time to move along"

charlene

03-07-2013, 12:43 PM

instead of the red and white Tarjay bullseye:

niffer

03-07-2013, 12:50 PM

I wish we had a like button for these last two posts :)

Robby Lake

03-07-2013, 02:18 PM

It seems sad that as an American citizen, I had never been exposed to Stompin' Tom ; I don't remember anyone, including the snowbirds, utter his name, even just in passing.
At an early point in Gords' career, he was convinced for a time that..
"people won't know of my songs until after I've passed away." He wasn't even 25 yet.
But he knew that original talent and great songwriting doesn't guarantee anyone stardom.
Tom was successful at his craft and a true Canadian. He stook up for his root values and so, it seems, never forgot where he came from; setting a fine example for others who'll follow in his foot steps.
Thanks for the info, Charlene.

lighthead2toe

03-07-2013, 02:34 PM

A very sad feeling with this lighthead2toe guy today.

The loss of a friend with such an iconic stature has left a huge impact.

I got the news late last night so needless to say I didn't sleep too well.

I met Tom shortly after I arrived in Toronto in the early sixties and we've remained friends all along the way.

He would invite us to his place for parties etc. and he loved a good sing song.

Sorry I can't find the headspace to write more. This is quite difficult.

Best,

RJ.

charlene

03-07-2013, 02:57 PM

The National Arts Centre in Ottawa has lowered their flags...

charlene

03-07-2013, 03:25 PM

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/stompin-tom-canadas-rough-cut-bard-leaves-behind-a-rich-folk-music-legacy/article9432076/

video links and pics a link above

Stompin' Tom: Canada’s rough-cut bard leaves behind a rich folk-music legacy

Brad Wheeler

The Globe and Mail

Published Thursday, Mar. 07 2013, 3:36 AM EST

Last updated Thursday, Mar. 07 2013, 12:27 PM EST

The singer is the voice of the people,

and his song is the soul of the land.

So, singer please stay,

and don't go away,

with so many words left to be said.

For a land without song,

can't stand very long,

when the voice of its people is dead.

Stompin’ Tom Connors, the Popeye-jawed, true-patriot troubadour, died on Wednesday. He leaves behind a legacy as rich as could ever thought be possible for a folk-music composer. The American badass Johnny Cash boasted that he’d been “everywhere, man,” but Connors was his country’s rough-cut bard of song, nonpareil – his Canadian content extraordinary and independent of CRTC stipulations.

It was big news in the summer of 2009 when Canada Post slapped the Bud the Spud singer’s likeness on its 54-cent sticker. Of course Connors, responsible for The Singer (The Voice of the People) and more than 300 other songs, had left his stamp on the landscape well before then.

In his rock and roll chronicle On a Cold Road, the musician, author and sometimes homesick Dave Bidini wrote, “Tom’s voice drew me back across the ocean, and the songs about bobcats and Wilf Carter that I’d once been embarrassed to listen to anchored my identity in a culture where nationhood was everything.”

Bidini’s embarrassment was not uncommon; the canon of Connors was seen by many as hokey and homespun compared to other country-conscious songwriters such as Gordon Lightfoot or Robbie Robertson. Connors was the uncool stubby in world turning Heineken green – a throwback rube to a once unsophisticated country that had grown cosmopolitan. Connors stayed the course though, and his song-of-place material and sing-along historical markings eventually gained back appreciation.

Nowhere was his idolization more vital than in the minds of younger Canadian songwriters. As noted in the landmark book Have Not Been the Same: The Canrock Renaissance, 1985-1995, Bidini and the artful folk-rockers the Rheostatics, partly empowered by Connors’ unwavering home-country boostering, in 1991 released Melville, an album that included Saskatchewan, Northern Wish and a cover of Lightfoot’s The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

The foreword to Have Not Been the Same is a poem by the Tragically Hip singer-songwriter Gord Downie, who wrote, “Sensitivity happens, and the idea is the more it happens the more it happens more.” And so the Rheostatics lead was followed by Downie and others, including Maestro Fresh Wes, the rap star responsible for the cocky maple-blooded declaration, “Because I’m from Canada, don’t think I’m an amateur.”

In a posthumously released letter, Connors wrote that he was passing torch, “to help keep the Maple Leaf flying high, and be the Patriot Canada needs now and in the future.” Connors is gone, but not really at all – the land is strong with song and northern pros, no small credit to him and his dogged heavy lifting.

charlene

03-07-2013, 04:25 PM

http://arts.nationalpost.com/2013/03/07/the-legend-of-stompin-tom-dave-bidini-bids-farewell-to-a-canadian-icon/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

DAVE BIDINI
Stompin’ Tom Connors lived an impossible life; a life born from an impossible fiction where a single man affects so many despite having been raised with so little. As a toddler, Tom begged for change with his unwed teenage mother on the dirty St. John streets. Later, he was orphaned out to a family in Skinner’s Pond, P.E.I., but ran away a few years later, barely a boy, with no sense of where or why or how. For the first twenty years of his life, he was a lonely spirit drifting through the crushing nowhere of Canada in the fifties and sixties. He worked in the mines; he rode in the boxcars. Then, one Manitoba afternoon — at least I think it was Manitoba; with Tom, the stories blur into each other because there are so many of them — he met two school teachers. He’d started to play a little guitar — mostly American songs and some British, Irish and Scottish traditionals — and the school teachers asked him, “Why aren’t there any songs about Canada?” Tom had no good answer, so he wrote one. Then he wrote another. 61 albums later, the street urchin who never knew his father — knowing his mother barely more — would pass into the ether as the single most devoted Canadian artist of all time.

As a figure in contemporary pop music, no one dared risk expressing defiance and anger the way Stompin’ Tom did; this coming at a time when it was all about ‘making it’ and ‘wooing American radio’

In a final message to fans released after his death on Wednesday night, Canadian country music star Stompin’ Tom Connors issued an appeal for Canadians to “keep the Maple Leaf flying high.”

“It was a long, hard, bumpy road, but this great country kept me inspired with its beauty, character, and spirit, driving me to keep marching on and devoted to sing about its people and places that make Canada the greatest country in the world,” said Mr. Connors in the message, which was posted to his website. “I must now pass the torch, to all of you, to help keep the Maple Leaf flying high, and be the Patriot Canada needs now and in the future.”

Mr. Connors died in Peterborough, Ont., at the age of 77 from “natural causes,” according to spokesman Brian Edwards.
.
There are few comparisons to Tom as an artist; even fewer to him as a person. As a musician, he was important in the way that the Ramones or the Velvet Underground were important. He was deeply original; his songs were easy to play; and his work triggered the awakening of a people. In Canadian terms, he was more punk rock than punk itself. In 1978, he burned the remaining copies of Gumboot Clogeroo and gave back his 6 JUNO awards as a protest against the greater Canadian music industry’s treatment of Canadian artists; pandering, as they did, to American and British soundalike bands and encouraging groups to supplant Canadian place names with American locales. As a figure in contemporary pop music, no one dared risk expressing defiance and anger the way Stompin’ Tom did; this coming at a time when it was all about “making it” and “wooing American radio” and getting to the Grand Old Opry. Tom stuck his neck out, and it got stepped on. Or stomped on. But these strong bones we used to build the music of a young nation.

As a person, Tom was strong-willed, funny, driven, tough, playful and giving, if not forgiving; an Ontario cowboy with humble roots and an ego that needed feeding. As a young musician in awe of his talent, he had his sport with me while telling me to keep going. After writing about my encounter with him during his self-imposed exile at the musician’s secret 50th birthday party in Balnifad, Ontario, I saw him a few years later at an EMI music event (he’d signed with the label to record a handful of comeback records). I wasn’t sure whether Tom had read my piece — turned out he’d laminated it and hung it on his basement wall — so I was relucant to see him, fearing the worst. Before leaving the event, I passed by his table. He took one look at me and said: “Bidini, you’ve had to take a lot of s–t from me over the years.” I wasn’t sure how to react. Then my hero came over and hugged me. Tom liked to play both ends, and because we loved him, we let him.

Tom smoked one hundred cigarettes a day and loved to drink beer. On tour, he had to drive the lead truck, and could never be the last person to go to bed. This meant that his band took turns staying up with him. Once, the drummer– a lightweight who’d been given a pass by the rest of the band– was approached by the other players, who told him: “You’ve got to relieve us for a night. We can barely make it through!” The drummer said okay, he’d take one for the team. The morning after his night with Tom, he was admitted to the hospital with alcohol poisoning. Tom went hard, even harder if you were young.

There are so many stories about Tom, maybe half of them true. What we know is this: like the greatest tree in the most majestic forest, the thing we don’t see is the roots. And that’s what Tom was: this country’s roots. People under 30 — heck, under 40 — might not have lived at a time when the tree was a bud, a sapling, a single waving leaf. But this tree was pushed into life by Tom’s devotion to his remarkable and singular craft. Explaining the singer’s legacy to my blank-eyed kids on the morning after his death, I explained: “You know: the guy who does the hockey song!” Soon, they were walking around the room singing it. And so there was no finer a tribute to no finer a man.
.

charlene

03-07-2013, 05:03 PM

at the National Music Centre - Stompin Toms stompin board - 1971 given to CKRR radio.

03-07-2013, 05:36 PM

It seems sad that as an American citizen, I had never been exposed to Stompin' Tom ; I don't remember anyone, including the snowbirds, utter his name, even just in passing

very nice of you and others across the border(s) to acknowledge his passing, Rob

not stereotyping all Snowbirds (i was one for a few days this year actually!), but they are not typically of the mold that would have Stompin Tom cd/LPs in their collections

tom, the guy who did the hockey song
gord, the guy who did the sinking boat song
anne, the snowbird gal

i hope these folk's legacies broaden in scope

note to brad wheeler.... gord downie is not a follower, lol

Ron, I'm sorry for your loss... you guys were cut from the same red & white cloth ...you have consistently paid tribute to Tom in your decades of performing

that's a wonderful flag, char... it's now been much shared today:)

03-07-2013, 05:44 PM

at the National Music Centre - Stompin Toms stompin board - 1971 given to CKRR radio.

wonder how many worn Stompin boards are out there... doubt they lasted long

i missed any hype about the 2012 opening of this arts centre

we've still only a virtual hall of fame, even though talk of a 'place' lingers

one day there will need to be a place where Gord's capo(s) can be exhibited:)

charlene

03-07-2013, 05:48 PM

They haven't built it yet..it's in Calgary.Anne Murray was out for the ceremonial shovel in the dirt event a few weeks ago.
http://www.nmc.ca/
pics - https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.479666978748923.102921.173338139381810&type=1&l=8efc5048ce

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.479666978748923.102921.173338139381810&type=1&l=8efc5048ce#!/NationalMusicCentre/photos_stream

LOVE the guitar shaped shovels!

03-07-2013, 05:50 PM

comment from a close musical colleague:

"gord and tom, both so clever with the pen...huge catalogues...albeit, their compositions are miles apart musically...on the other hand, no disrespect to lightfoot, but while he is very much admired, tom was and is very much loved"

03-07-2013, 05:53 PM

They haven't built it yet..it's in Calgary.Anne Murray was out for the ceremonial shovel in the dirt event a few weeks ago.
http://www.nmc.ca/

oh, lol... the address and marker appeared on a google map... if i would have street-viewed it then i guess i would have realized that, eh:)

so the Stompin board is just laying in dirt in the foundation? lol

edit: WAIT, WAIT... it sure seems to exist already..check this out

http://www.nmc.ca/our-collection/

.

03-07-2013, 05:58 PM

this was the most authentic 3 minutes of Conan's week in Toronto years ago

Conan saw a uppity downtown Toronto theatre turn into a small town saloon

Stompin' Tom Conners The Hockey Song - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiTeNS7Ds3U)

like Gord fans, a Stompin Tom audience has off-meter, very white rhythm? lol

charlene

03-07-2013, 06:10 PM

Anne Murray: RIP Stompin' Tom Connors...a writer of real, grassroots Canadian songs that have had us singing along and tapping our toes for decades.

charlene

03-07-2013, 06:29 PM

oh, lol... the address and marker appeared on a google map... if i would have street-viewed it then i guess i would have realized that, eh:)

so the Stompin board is just laying in dirt in the foundation? lol

edit: WAIT, WAIT... it sure seems to exist already..check this out

http://www.nmc.ca/our-collection/

.

more pics - http://nmc.pastperfect-online.com/38850cgi/mweb.exe?request=random

03-07-2013, 06:36 PM

i see...the current centre is in a 25 year old building...and they've broken ground for a replacement site to be ready in 2015...i need to listen to CBC more, eh

cool exhibits...Ronnie Prophet, Gordie Tapp wardrobes, all adorably yucky, lol

spots are reserved for Gord's white suit + the red velvet/waiter blazer

oh, the current blue one too...and the 70's flower power, embroidered jeans

..

charlene

03-07-2013, 07:07 PM

TOM might get into the Hockey Hall of Fame : http://sports.nationalpost.com/2013/03/07/stompin-tom-connors-could-find-place-in-hockey-hall-of-fame/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

charlene

03-07-2013, 07:11 PM

10 more albums yet to be released apparently...

charlene

03-07-2013, 07:18 PM

this is a riot! http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2013/03/07/stompin_tom_connors_tribute_to_ttc_streetcar_drive rs.html?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

03-07-2013, 07:33 PM

it is...these are the tunes/Canadian paintings that i love...the Skiddadler's also from the movie Ron was in... when i subscribed to Canadian Indy Film channel in the mid 90s, it was the first film i circled in the guide and later sat down to watch in full, with a stubby, or two...lol

i had immediately thought, why didn't they have a film like this (so well preserved) of Gord and others performing way back when at the Horseshoe, plus these type of humorous video diversions

i miss those old tank-like, heavy streetcars taking me down to the CNE, etc

these days, you get on those AC hard seated, futuristic ones and if the driver picks his nose or shuts his eyes at a stoplight, for even a second, you can bet some teenager is capturing it on cellphone and posting it to youtube hoping it goes viral...they at least know that the online version of thestar.com will have a link to it, lol

03-07-2013, 07:44 PM

here is a fun tribute from the Canadian members of parliament... NDP-ers

Andrew Cash and the NDP Caucus Sing "Bud the Spud" in a tribute to Stompin' Tom Connors - YouTube

i don't watch Question Period...i had wondered where Andrew Cash got to:)

charlene

03-07-2013, 07:50 PM

interactive Tom 'places in songs' map ! http://www.cbc.ca/news/interactives/stompin-tom/

Robby Lake

03-07-2013, 08:26 PM

"Just for now I'd like to rest
In The Shade of a maple tree
To The blue Canadian Sky
I'll say a prayer for the world out there."

Don Quixote

03-08-2013, 09:42 AM

As with most of us in the U.S., I had barely heard of Stompin' Tom. But a few years ago, I was preparing a conference presentation on Canadian music as a way of teaching language, geography history and culture . Needless to say, Tom's music was a gold mine for this (you could build several weeks of classes just around "Land of the Maple Tree") , and I just kept on listening--great fun, some of it pretty lowbrow, some of it quite moving, but all of it heartfelt and brimming with love of country. He lived an amazing life, took it all in, and gave it all back through his music. He'll now be a part of the land he loved so much.

DQ

charlene

03-08-2013, 06:07 PM

http://www.samaritanmag.com/1512/donate-food-banks-and-shelters-honour-stompin-tom

charlene

03-09-2013, 12:18 AM

Lightfoot will miss Stompin' Toms guitar: http://www.torontosun.com/2013/03/07/gordon-lightfoot-will-miss-stompin-toms-guitar

TORONTO - Stompin’ Tom Connors will go down in history as one of Canada’s great storytellers, says fellow music legend Gordon Lightfoot.

“He gave me his autobiography a couple of years and I couldn’t put it down because it was so interesting,” said Lightfoot. “He had a fascinating life and he sure wrote about it well.”

When he came to songwriting, Lightfoot said he is one of the all-time greats.

“His music was very good and he had his own style,” said Lightfoot who leaves Friday for Seattle for the first of a 14-date U.S. west coast tour.

“He wrote about people and places. He was a grassroots guy. He wrote about us.”

One thing Lightfoot said his old friend was proudest of was that his songs were played for the troops in foreign theatres to keep them from getting homesick.

“I listen to his albums too,” said Lightfoot. “I became a fan after seeing him play at the Horseshoe Tavern. He could really play guitar. He had accuracy and great feel for his instrument.”

Lightfoot said he already misses his friend.

“For me this is a very sad passing but he was still performing up until last year at 76 so that’s pretty good.”

charlene

03-09-2013, 12:24 AM

Toronto Sun:

03-09-2013, 12:57 AM

from his home, playing the first song he ever wrote

Stompin' Tom Connors - Reversing Falls Darling - YouTube

and what a lovely phrase in this one, describing PEI

his home cradled out in the waves....

Stompin' Tom Connors - My Home Cradled Out In The Waves - YouTube

its so nice to hear the mic-less low tones of his smokey voice, and capo-less guitar

....that is a wonderfully terrific post, DQ...and an appropriate stanza, robby

speaking of PEI, one of my fave little verses is from a song RJ covers so nicely, To It and At It

" a girl from old spud island, old potato lips...
...she married a Newfoundlander, and they lived on fish and chips "

hope you're feeling a bit better today Ron... Canada Day sure came early this year

lighthead2toe

03-09-2013, 10:51 AM

Thanks so much JJ.

Yes, the sadness in this occasion will definitely linger for a while.

I'll miss ol' Tom.

Yesterday at the "Heart and Crown" in the Byward market, downtown, Ottawa we played a pre "Paddy's Day" gig and there was a special announcement made regarding Tom's passing.
The speaker echoed Tom's request to donate to the food banks and homeless shelters in his memory. We topped the request off and played "Gumboot Cloggeroo."

Today at the "LaFayette Pub," also in the Byward market a special "Stompin" Tom" afternoon session is planned and I'm looking forward to attending that one, axe in hand.

I told Tom years ago that the reason why I liked his songs so much is because of the "little hook" he put in them. He complimented me by telling me liked "my own spin" I put on them.

He loved it also when we would play Gord's tunes. He would say "there's Ronnie Jones with his 150 string guitar (referring to the 12 string) and "just as many capos." Tom never used capos.

I'm looking forward also to attending the memorial celebration in Peterborough next Wednesday evening. It's about a three hour or so drive from Ottawa so I'll stay over in town and get to pay my respects and hang out with the family and friends, many whom I haven't seen for a while.

All very sad though.

PS: Ottawa CTV were there filming at the gig yesterday so there may be some news footage still available on their network.

charlene

03-09-2013, 11:49 AM

RJ - I wondered if you were heading to P'boro...glad to hear you can make it and be part of the memorial.
I know Tom was a long time friend of yours and I'm sorry for your loss. If there's an issue with accomodations on Wednesday then just head to my place...If I had wheels I'd head to P'boro myself!

charlene

03-09-2013, 11:53 AM

lighthead2toe

03-09-2013, 03:56 PM

Hi Char.
Thank you for your kind offer and condolence message.

I sure would love to stop by and hang out with you a bit but my tight schedule has me heading back to Ottawa the following day for a 2PM gig.
It's good the gigs are coming my way as it seems to keep me focused and also I get to play all the tunes I like doing.
No doubt there will be a few Stompin' Tom requests.

Regarding the late Gene MacLellan- yes, he was an amazing guy and very accomplished writer.
The CBC video link here is a very moving one. Very sweet.

On his "Face to the Gale" cd Ron Hynes does a beautiful song reflecting the passing of Gene called "Godspeed."

bjm7777

03-09-2013, 08:45 PM

03-10-2013, 12:20 AM

another wonderful Canadian should be honoured: The late Gene Maclellan - https://www.facebook.com/#!/bidinmytime

and video -

http://music.cbc.ca/#/blogs/2013/3/Put-Your-Hand-in-the-Hand-all-star-choir-sings-greatest-East-Coast-song-of-all-time

I remember the announcement of his death and radio tributes. Hard to believe it was almost two decades ago. Nice PEI Music Week tribute last year (maybe our gordwebmaster, Wayne Francis was there) and some may recall this terrific clip

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulz0dFpFSCI&feature=youtu.be

That was a very nicely captured, fun vid, char!

This is the version I usually hear weekly on my AM oldies station.
Ocean was a group from about an hour west of here. Live video gem

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1iAaKHd7z8&feature=youtu.be

03-10-2013, 12:23 AM

Ronnie: I love Tom's 12 string/capo quote! Memories

charlene

03-11-2013, 10:21 AM

http://www2.macleans.ca/2013/03/10/remembering-tom-connors-mp-charlie-angus-on-canadas-cultural-map-maker/#.UT1GdAGpTMo.twitter

lighthead2toe

03-11-2013, 01:42 PM

Got a call yesterday from my old musical friend Glen Reid who lives up there in the North Ontario town of Burke's Falls.

First time I saw Glen was back in the sixties and he was in a band singing Early Morning Rain. Also did a great job on "Did She Mention My Name."
He's one of the old gang still playing the gigs and makes fine instruments.

He said "hey Ronnie, don't ya know that these things usually happen in three's? (referring of course to Tom).

As it happens, Max Ferguson, long time CBC announcer died March 7th and Tam Kearney, Co-founder of "Fiddler's Green" folk group in Toronto passed on the same day as did Tom. All were friends and had either worked or associated with each other over the years. Amazing!

Glen performed on "Singalong Jubilee" and several other TV shows of that era.

I'm hoping to see him at the Memorial Service Wednesday evening.

Any event that Tom was associated with involved a song or two so I'll be taking that ol' 150 string guitar with me JJ, (just in case) and of course my ring of capos as well. Just for old times sake and "These Friends of Mine." (in case the Hawk is there).

charlene

03-11-2013, 01:53 PM

The Hawk is right up the road so if he's able to I bet he'll be there. He's not been in the best of health these days either...

charlene

03-11-2013, 02:01 PM

Dave Gunning had some very funny stories to tell when he performed at a Lightfoot tribute @ Hugh's a few years ago...

http://www.cbc.ca/informationmorningns/2013/03/07/dave-gunning-remembers-stompin-tom-connors/

from 2005 - Dave: Gordon asked Dave how he liked touring with Tom as he'd learn an awful lot from him. Dave told us that there's that show called "Riverdance" and then there's the Stompin' Tom show - Liverdance! Where you learn to drink and hold your liquor."

lighthead2toe

03-11-2013, 04:19 PM

Just had a listed to Dave's interview. He's a very nice guy.

And yes, any kind of gig associated with Tom would include a 5AM drink, song, argument session, but not necessarily in that order. The fun times are now cherished ones.

03-11-2013, 07:41 PM

http://youtu.be/-vbefa1T_WY

Gunning does quite the long intro here. Yeah, Liverdance:)

Note: Many YouTube performances out there of Hughs Room Stompin Tom tributes.

03-11-2013, 07:55 PM

charlene

03-11-2013, 08:13 PM

Dave G. is a lovely person. He just won an ECMA (East Coast Music Awards) the other night for Song of The Year: http://www.globalmaritimes.com/ecma+co-host+rose+cousins+takes+home+3+awards+dave+gunning +wins+song+of+the+year/6442825511/story.html

charlene

03-11-2013, 08:17 PM

That would be wonderful if you played, Ron

Something I just read had me flashing back to some recording sessions at Grant Ave studio and a country music stint I was on in Europe mid 90s

Mark Laforme was on lead guitar with us and Larry Murphy on bass.
Mark had played lead solo on a single I co-wrote and later produced with me Doidge. and we released over there. Royalties. It bought the Fisher Price) farm...

He assembled the backup band for Tom soon after and was playing the Hockey Song at the HOF and Maple Leaf Gardens closing ceremonies. Glad he will be there. I doubt he'll recall that stint. Bit of a 'blur'!

http://m.thespec.com/whatson/music/article/899377--stompin-tom-connors-will-get-fitting-send-off-with-hamilton-focus?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thespec.com%2Fwhatson%2 Fmusic%2Farticle%2F899377--stompin-tom-connors-will-get-fitting-send-off-with-hamilton-focus

Funny to hear that Larry Mercey of the Mercey Brothers was Toms buddy... I used to provide daycare - for his sons daughter back in 2003-2005...
(LaForme, 58, had been a fixture on the Hamilton music scene for some 20 years when Connors asked him to join his tour on the recommendation of Larry Mercey of the Canadian country group, The Mercey Brothers. LaForme put together a band for Connors that included Hamilton musicians Steve Petrie, Larry Murphy and Danny Lockwood.)

lighthead2toe

03-11-2013, 10:26 PM

Hey guys.
The "Circle is Small" it seems here in this "circle of friends."
It's very soothing and sure helps make the night's sleep easier.
The phone calls, emails etc. coming in are so wonderful and kind of makes me feel sort of grateful and to give thanks that I was included as apart of that wonderful era.

03-12-2013, 01:08 PM

FI used to provide daycare - for his sons daughter

aka, Larry's grand daughter? :p ...lol

oh, I made that last post from a Smart phone... oops... lots of typos... Dumb phone

Ron, so terrific to hear of the support you and other family and friends of Tom have received ....as I know it, and did a drive by salutation, his place is on Trafalgar Rd. N

* this loss, also brought back memories of an odd tragic local incident involving another of Tom's former guitarist's.... i think i posted this previously...seems like there might be a Stompin Tom song that could have come from Wayne's life

http://miltonsearch.com/2007/09/07/curtain-call-wayne-chapman-guitarist/

charlene

03-12-2013, 01:42 PM

yes -I worded it that way to note it was a son's kid, not a daughters..lol you ditz.

03-12-2013, 09:36 PM

:clap:

charlene

03-13-2013, 11:27 AM

CTV will stream the memorial at 7.
CP24 TV will air it live @ 7...
Rogers TV Toronto will have coverage of the tribute starting at 7 p.m. ET (cable 10/63 in Toronto).

charlene

03-13-2013, 01:44 PM

The PM's wife was at the private funearl yesterday and gave the family a Canadian Flag that flew atop The Peace Tower in Ottawa the day Tom died...

http://www.680news.com/2013/03/13/dryden-clarkson-tyson-bidini-to-honour-stompin-tom-at-public-memorial/

charlene

03-13-2013, 09:54 PM

http://www.torontosun.com/2013/03/13/to-us-kids-stompin-tom-connors-was-this-crazy-hillbilly-dude

Buffery

To us kids, Stompin' Tom Connors was this crazy hillbilly dude

By Steve Buffery,Toronto Sun
First posted: Wednesday, March 13, 2013 06:16 PM EDT | Updated: Wednesday, March 13, 2013 06:52 PM EDT

•Fans pay tribute to Stompin’ Tom Connors
•A Canadian night with Stompin' Tom

TORONTO - I like to tell people that me and the boys in the old neighbourhood heard The Hockey Song long before anyone else.

Back in the late ’60s, we played road hockey pretty well every night on Firestone Rd. out in the wilds of central Etobicoke, but we couldn’t play in front of my place because there was always a truck or two parked beside the curb, either Stompin’ Tom Connors’ pickup, or his pal Stevedore Steve’s, who was also a singer from the east coast. (Anyone remember Lester the Lobster?)

So we had to play a bit up the street. Still, at times when we were banging around the tennis ball and pretending to be Dave Keon or Mike Walton, we could hear Tom in the basement of the Chapman’s house, singing his songs, and getting ready for his next gig at the Horseshoe Tavern.

Stompin’ Tom was a fixture in our neighbourhood, though back in the day, of course, nobody knew he would become a Canadian icon and The Hockey Song would be played in arenas around the world.

To us, he was this crazy hillbilly dude who lived with the family across the street from the east coast, the Chapmans, and drove around in his customized pickup truck. They said Stompin’ Tom smoked four packs a day and loved his beer. Yeah, well there was no doubt about that. Every Saturday, Tom would load up his truck with empties and wave $100 in the air (a $100 bill was a pretty big thing in the 1960s) and announce to neighbourhood kids: “Kiss it goodbye boys, it’s all goin’ on beer.”

Back then, everybody knew everybody else on the street (for better or worse) and many a time Tom would sing at one of the neighbour’s houses, including our joint, though the old man wasn’t a huge fan of Stompin’ Tom’s brand of Canadiana country.

Once, when Tom was singing in the living room, and all the neighbours were hootin’ and hollerin’ and jumpin’ around (when you write about Stompin’ Tom, I’ve discovered, you have to use a lot of apostrophes), the old man was sitting beside his record player waiting to put on one of his jazz albums (and bring everybody crashing down). Finally, when Tom finished one of his songs, the old man yelled (so everyone could hear): “When is that hick going to stop warbling so we can put on some REAL music!” Everybody laughed, even Tom.

Another time — and it might have been the same night as the “real music” crack — Tom was singing and stompin’ away with my younger sister Meaghan sitting on his lap. Part way through a song, poor Meag, who apparently had been force-fed by half the neighbourhood during the shindig, turned green and then heaved all over Tom. The old man later suggested that it was as honest a music review as he had ever seen. Stompin’ Tom later wrote a song called “Firestone Ave.” about a party on our street, though apparently never recorded it.

My friend, David Scott, who lived down the street, posted a story on Facebook after Tom’s passing was announced last Thursday about how Tom sang in front of their house once and stomped and sang so loudly, the neighbours called the cops.

“(But) when they arrived they told the neighbours to shut up and go home,” David wrote. “(The cops) loved him.”

Years later, when Stompin’ Tom played at Massey Hall, Meag and my mom and some friends went to see him play and they all had a nice reunion afterwards. That was the thing with Stompin’ Tom. He was one of us. Nobody was a prouder Canadian. We knew that even then.

The Hockey Song didn’t appear on an album until 1973, but me and the boys like to think we heard it long before that, while we were playing road hockey on Firestone Rd. and Tom was in the Chapman’s basement, singing and stompin’ away.

03-13-2013, 11:39 PM

Wonderful 680 link and other interesting new posts, char!

I hope ron enjoyed the event. Lovely send off to a longtime pal.

I was running behind today but did drive through rural roads of Halton Hills eastbound and along #7 south of Peterbrough...smiling

Last month i was looking up at the tall Peace Tower flag ...on a very cold Ottawa's day

Great flag gesture. Seems like Tom was bypassed for Pope selection and has gone directly to fan Sainthood....

Saint Tom, from Saint John :)

.

03-14-2013, 12:58 PM

http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2013/03/13/rousing_sendoff_for_stompin_tom_at_arenasized_kitc hen_party.html

i dont know if young children also attended... or if Bidini actually swore in full

charlene

03-14-2013, 07:08 PM

https://www.facebook.com/groups/48038261361/10151241987096362/?comment_id=10151263501721362&notif_t=group_comment#!/photo.php?v=10152631867850517&set=vb.105383012832943&type=2&theater

03-14-2013, 10:23 PM

very much appreciated, Char!:)

charlene

03-15-2013, 10:27 AM

the whole memorial is @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WWv-TwYQe-0

lighthead2toe

03-15-2013, 10:52 AM

The era has ended but the Legend lives on.

Wednesday morning began with an early rise and out onto the highway to get settled in Peterborough Town to ensure a pass through the doors of the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

This is one gig I don't want miss.

As it turned out there was plenty of room in the arena and no one got left out in the cold. That wouldn't be Tom's way of doing things.

There was quite a line up and it was a cold day in Peterborough but things went along quite orderly and there were donation boxes at the door.

My choice of seating was upstairs in the high area right of the stage with amazing view where I could catch the show as well see the workings going on behind the stage.

Believe me, if there was ever an emotional blowout, this gig is at the very top.

Can you imaging a guy planning his own funeral celebration?

Mounted Police Officers, decked out in full uniform wheeling Tom's casket onto the stage?

That's Stompin' Tom Connors.

With the media coverage available here there's little more needed to be told about the turn of events of the evening.

To witness a stoic Lena Connors place the legendary hat of her beloved husband on his casket and their Son, Tom Jr. delivering an epic non scripted speech toward the end is what I mean with that reference "emotional blowout."

There was no shortage of tears in that arena believe me.

Those performers would have to have risen above to find their inner strength in order to fulfill their mandate that evening.

The good thing about where I was seated there was a beer stand close by and knowing Tom that would have been a pre requisite included in the planning.

This "Moosehead's" for you Tom!

Rest in peace old friend.

charlene

03-15-2013, 11:16 AM

Glad you could make it RJ - it looked like a wonderful time despite the reason for it. Tom would have been very happy to know how well it all went..

charlene

03-16-2013, 07:19 PM

outside the Horseshoe.

lighthead2toe

03-16-2013, 10:07 PM

Thanks so much Char.

So many wonderful memories here.

I'm gonna' make it a point to go to the Horseshoe Tavern when we move to Toronto next month and have a "Moosehead" (if they have it there) in Tom's memory. It will be a very special event for me.

Let me know if anyone can connect and we'll share some stories.

But like many of Tom's friends have shared stories along the way, I want to share the best one I had with Tom and it was the very first time I got an invite to his place, although I had known him for a while at this point.

He was there with his family to greet my family and I when we arrived and I was quite excited.

The Connor's home is located in a beautiful setting and I asked Tom to show me around which he gladly and proudly obliged.

I could see there was a treehouse which he had built for Tom Jr. and friends, and of course my kids just loved that. Lots of open space to run and play.

There was also a pond on the property where a paddle boat was available for the kids to ride in and in the winter they played hockey there.

My big highlight that day was meeting the family dog named "King" which was a pure bred Newfoundlander and it was the biggest Newfoundland dog I'd ever seen. I just loved that dog and I think the dog sensed it!
It probably weighed as much as I did.

King was kept in a huge area which had to be fenced in because Tom didn't want him getting out and crossing the busy road. I think King had a girl friend across the way he was anxious to visit.

As we walked on and away from the area where King was I could hear him making short "yelping" sounds which made me look back and seeing that sad face I just had to go back and give him another big hug!

So on we go and back down to connect with the other friends arriving for a fun day.

I recall it being a beautiful Ontario summer's day and my kids were anxious to go out in the paddle boat with Tom Jr. so I was on the dock getting the life jackets secured on the kids before putting them in the boat; when bang!

Out of the blue I didn't know what hit me but around my waist were these two web footed paws and I very quickly was being thrust toward to the end of the dock looking into about eight feet of water with that dog wrapped onto me.

King had broken out of his area and obviously had taken a liking to me and wasn't about to let go. I had visions of being down there in eight feet of water with that web footed Newfoundlander wrapped around me and not about to let go any time soon!

To the rescue comes Tom just a' stompin'.

He unraveled that dog post haste and I recall he seemed a tad embarrassed and I was too of course being at his place for the first time.

He scolded King and took him back to the "doghouse."

Off to the sideline was "Big Joe Mufferlaw" laughing so hysterically that he nearly collapsed and fell into the pond himself.

Big Joe never let me forget that one I'll tell ya!

Apart from being the most unsatisfying act of eroticism I would ever encounter, that would have to be at the top of my Stompin' Tom stories.

03-16-2013, 10:26 PM

Wonderful and 'goofy' story!

The man in the pond is a Newfie

...make that two Newfoundlanders

Big Joe and Tom should be tuning up about now

Cheers, Ron (get ALL your stories on paper)

charlene

03-17-2013, 10:23 AM

LOLOL!!! omigawd I can just see it...That dog had to weigh as much or more than you RJ! THose Newfs run 130-160 pounds... good grief....There's a song in that story for sure!

lighthead2toe

03-18-2013, 11:35 AM

"The King and I"

charlene

03-18-2013, 12:48 PM

April 10 2013 @ the @HorseshoeTavern A TRIBUTE TO STOMPIN TOM CONNORS! Lineup Details TBA. No Cover

03-18-2013, 05:49 PM

oh, the one Tom planned himself was so perfect (minus a segment or two perhaps) and a wonderful ending ...well, i certainly thought Mark Laforme's 'I am the Wind' was quite rich and moving

the modest non-commercial Cogeco broadcast is repeated for a few weeks still

Hugh's has had Tom tributes before and I imagine they will live on

there were other STC tributes that week ...North Bay, Maritimes, etc

celebrating him can go on forever but i say they should now leave it alone

that all said, whatever's fine with the family is of course, fine with the country:) thanks for the scoop, as always... nothing gets by our leader:kiss:

I like to remember the Shoe as it was...ie) earthy country (pre-renos/rock/punk)

btw, maybe nervy Bidini will crash Gord's 75th and be able to coax him out of his decade of songwriting exhale! :cool:

charlene

03-20-2013, 09:16 AM

comic:

charlene

03-20-2013, 10:14 AM

nice shout out on 22 Minutes last night: http://www.cbc.ca/22minutes/videos/clips---season-20/stompin-tom-1.html

Hopefully they'll put it up on YouTube..

03-20-2013, 05:54 PM

nice shout out on 22 Minutes last night

that was funny, and touching

wait! ...we have white smoke... a new stompin tom

Stompin Jon - Sudbury Saturday nite - 2011.MOV - YouTube

lol

03-21-2013, 02:42 PM

nice shout out on 22 Minutes last night: http://www.cbc.ca/22minutes/videos/clips---season-20/stompin-tom-1.html

Hopefully they'll put it up on YouTube..

i still can't find it on youtube.... and this is an earlier one, i suppose:whistle:

http://www.cbc.ca/22minutes/videos/clips---season-20/stompin-tom.html

charlene

03-24-2013, 06:41 PM

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/ken-dryden-on-why-we-stand-on-guard-for-stompin-tom-and-don-cherry/article10179356/

Ken Dryden on why we stand on guard for Stompin’ Tom and Don Cherry

I left Toronto early, and parked across the road from the arena. I stayed in my car to read, and soon began to watch. People walked by me in twos or fives, it seemed – a husband and wife; a family – almost all in blue jeans, almost no one alone. They crossed the road and, the arena not yet opened, joined a line that already extended along the length of the building, ran across its parking lot, and was beginning to snake down a sidewalk on Roger Neilson Way. It was cold; the snow whipped horizontally across the open spaces. The ceremonial service for Stompin’ Tom Connors at the Peterborough Memorial Centre was still more than three hours away.

Nearly an hour later, as I walked toward the arena, a woman in her late 50s approached me. She was from Edmonton, she said. She had flown overnight; her brother, who was with her, had picked her up in Toronto. I met two guys, also in their late 50s, from Vancouver. They had done the same and were going back the next day. They could have spent their money going to Mexico, one of them said, but those memories and stories would last only a few weeks. Besides, he said, this would be the last Stompin’ Tom concert they’d ever see.

During the concert, when a town name was mentioned, from one darkened part of the arena or another there would be a cheer. That was their town; they had come. Tillsonburg, Sudbury, Huntsville, even Skinners Pond itself. From mines and fields, bars and hockey rinks they had come. More cheers. From love and life gone bad; above all, from a gritty, unabashed pride in Canada. They had all come.

It was, as Stompin’ Tom’s family and friends wanted, a celebration – of Tom, his life, and Canada.

I had seen this crowd before, in Iqaluit, Whitehorse and Shaunavon, Sask. It was when CBC’s Hockey Day in Canada and Don Cherry were there. The excitement was over the top, through the roof, unimaginable. The great Hockey Night in Canada had come to their town. Their kids were being showcased; their stories were being told across the country. They mattered. Former NHL stars were in their midst, wandering their streets and arenas as if they were locals themselves. But it wouldn’t have mattered more if the Great One himself had been there. Nothing was really anything until Don Cherry arrived.

The people loved him. They cheered, they whistled. They laughed at his clothes and bluster. They nodded agreement at his lessons and homilies. They burst with pride at anything and everything Canadian he evoked. He is a hugely controversial figure. All those things he says about European players, women, and the French. His “rock ’em sock ’em” message in a time of concussions and change, that intimidates and overwhelms any other HNIC message, that discourages other ways of playing, that allows other countries to advance faster than Canada has. All this may be mostly true. But all this is missing their point.

Don Cherry is about being full-out, no holding back. He’s about loving, hating; loyalty, friendship, teamship. He’s about heart-on-your-sleeve, tattoo-on-your-backside patriotism. He’s about saying, doing – wearing – whatever he wants. He’s about noticing the little guy that no one else notices. He’s about thumbing his nose at smart-dressing bosses – CBC, NHL. He’s the lunch-pail star who doesn’t look like a star or talk like a star. He’s the star his fans would want to be. And to them he’s not just about hockey. He might be all wrong about hockey. It’s all this other stuff. That’s why they love him. That is their point.

Tom and Don can be polarizing figures. They are what they are.There is no arm’s-length irony about them. They bear-hug everything. Good-bad, black-white, nuance is for the convictionless. And in their straight-between-the-eyes patriotism, they have come to monopolize so many of the symbols of Canada – the land, hard work, hockey, winter, arenas, bars, the military – leaving little room for those who feel just as strongly but who express their feelings differently. Many have come to resent them for this. In resenting them, they dismiss Tom and Don as simplistic and out of touch. In turn, Tom and Don have seen their critics as smug and soft.

Yet, a few decades ago, when Canadian hockey and Canadian music were being abandoned by many as too rough and unsophisticated, Tom and Don were reminding people about – were in their faces about – an essence that is Canada and Canadian that needs always to be expressed.

Stompin’ Tom Connors and Don Cherry met only a few times, not often enough to be friends. But Don was a fan of Tom’s; and Tom was a fan of Don’s. And Tom’s fans – those 5,000 Canadians in that rink in Peterborough – are Don’s fans; Don’s fans are Tom’s fans.

Even to those who think differently, Tom and Don matter.