About The Performers
- Gene Watson
International
Country Music Legend
www.genewatsonmusic.com
YouTube Video: Gene Watson - "Paper Rosie" - Lisa Brokop
Canadian Country
Super Star
www.lisabrokop.com
YouTube Video: Lisa Brokop - "Take That" - Amos Garrett
Juno Award winning blues guitarist
www.melmusic.com/amos_garrett/Amos Garrett is widely considered to be one of the world’s most influential electric guitarists. Guitar Player magazine calls him “one of the most lyrical and original guitarists playing today.” His single note solos and melodic figures are so distinctive that it is virtually impossible to mistake them for anyone else’s. Although best known for his work with Maria Muldaur (his solo on “Midnight At The Oasis” is a classic), he has also appeared on stage and on recordings with Anne Murray, Ian and Sylvia, Paul Butterfield’s Better Days, Jesse Winchester, Geoff Muldaur, Elvin Bishop, K.D. Lang, Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell, Stevie Wonder, and many others. Amos won a Juno Award for “The Return of the Formerly Brothers” (Stony Plain) with the late Doug Sahm andpianist Gene Taylor, and has led the “house band” at the Edmonton Folk Festival for two decades. Amos’ CDs include “Amosbehavin’,” “I Make My Home In My Shoes,” “Third Man In,” and “The Amos Garrett Acoustic Album,” all issued by Stony Plain Records. They don’t make musicians like Amos Garrett any more. He has a wicked dry sense of humour and understands guitar licks that sound simple but need 40 years of hard work to pull off with the class that he consistently delivers. Amos likes to stay close to home (in Turner Valley, Alberta) but tours frequently in places like France, Japan and Scotland.
- Rev. Elvis
Winner of the International Elvis Gospel Festival
www.therevsings.com
YouTube Video: Rev Elvis - "How Great Thou Art" - Recorded live at The Rev Elvis & Friends Blue Christmas 2008
YouTube Video: Rev Elvis - "Maybe It's Time" - Recorded live at The Rev Elvis & Friends Blue Christmas 2008Rev. Bruce Reinhold Elvis Sheasby was born in Vancouver, B.C and has always had a love for Rock & Roll, Elvis Presley’s music, the Gospel and the pioneering Spirit of the West. His motto is “Having faith is Fun!” At Age 16, Bruce sang “Jailhouse Rock” on “The Gong Show.” Recently he performed “Peace in the Valley” at the world renowned “Crystal Cathedral.” In 1997, he hosted and won “The International Elvis Gospel Festival” in the small town of Vauxhall, Alberta, as a church fundraiser, which received International News coverage. It was at that time that he was dubbed “The Rev. Elvis” by a Toronto Sun reporter. He has a CD “The Rev Sings a Tribute to the King – Maybe It’s Time” including his original songs and hits of Elvis Presley. Rev. Sheasby, B.A., M.Div., is also an ordained minister and the Founding Pastor of the Spiritual Community Church of the West (SCCW), a non-denominational, federally incorporated and registered charity; with a mission to bridge good news beyond walls and boundaries, in a way the builds partnerships and makes our community and world a better place. As Executive Producer of Blue Christmas Productions, a division of SCCW, his goal is to lift up performing arts as a way to share God’s love and support worthwhile causes in our community. This will be Rev. Elvis’ 16th annual Blue Christmas and he is most excited to be returning to host this event for the third year at the Jack Singer Concert Hall; with an incredible line up of talent and the greatly appreciated support of community sponsors.
- Tony Rino
"Calgary's Pavarotti"
www.tonyrino.com
YouTube Video: Tony Rino - "O Holy Night" - Recorded live at The Rev Elvis & Friends Blue Christmas 2008Tony Rino’s passion for spirited music began in his teens. Singing as a “hobby,” Tony has become an entertainer, fundraiser and recording artist. He has performed for dignitaries including the Prime Minister of Canada, Italy’s Ambassador to Canada, and the Roman Catholic Bishop of Calgary. He sang with the Calgary Opera Chorus and has also made TV and radio appearances as the Singing Chef. Tony sang National Anthems for eight seasons at over 200 home games for the Calgary Flames and has performed Anthems at many other sporting events including the Calgary Stampeders, Calgary Hitmen, Calgary Cannons, and Calgary Vipers home games. Tony’s charitable performances have benefited Project Rachel, Saint Vincent de Paul, L’Arche, Development & Peace, The Mustard Seed Street Ministry, The Annual Bishop’s Appeal and many others including The Canadian Cancer Society, Rotary International, The Royal Canadian Legion and VoicePrint. Tony’s second CD “Prego” was released in 2006, with a portion of sales being donated to charities. Prego is a collection of sacred tenor favourites and traditional Italian songs. His debut CD “Grazie” sold out in 2005, generating over $13,000.00 in funds for charities. Tony's music is available on iTunes.
- The Travelling Mabels
a refreshing new sound
www.thetravellingmabels.com - David Church
North America’s Top Tribute to Hank Williams
www.davidchurch.net
YouTube Video: David Church - "Hank Williams Tribute" - Dwain Sands & the Good Luck Charms
Alberta’s finest musicians
www.myspace.com/dwainsands
YouTube Video: Dwain Sands & the Good Luck Charms - "I Saw the Light" - Recorded live at The Rev Elvis & Friends Blue Christmas 2008Dwain Sands is an Alberta entertainer whose roots are planted in traditional country and rock ‘n’ roll music. He began his musical career by playing the piano in his father’s weekend dance band at age twelve and by sixteen had his own band that travelled throughout north-central Alberta. Dwain currently owns and operates The Loft Recording Studio in Black Diamond, where he has worked with many of Canada’s finest artists including, Amos Garrett, Ian Tyson, Cindy Church, Donna Kay, Paul Rumbolt,The Rev. Elvis, Willie P. Bennett, Spider Robinson, Jake Peters, Billy Cowsill, Myron Szott, Nathan Tinkham,The Sheep River Rounders and Brent McAthey. Dwain still loves to perform live and remains true to his traditional roots, delivering a variety of timeless numbers from Lefty Frizell to Billy Joel.
The Goodluck Charms
Dwain Sands, Piano
Neil Gorrey, Drums
Julian Kerr, Bass
Ralph Buschmeyer, Guitar
Donna Kay, Vocals
Rob Levesque, Vocals
Sue Levesque, Vocals
Kelly Vance, Vocals - Artist Elite Dancers
Calgary’s top dancers
www.dancewithfrance.ca/artistseliteinternational
YouTube Video: Rev Elvis & Artist Elite Dancers - "A Little Less Conversation" - Recorded live at The Rev Elvis & Friends Blue Christmas 2008 - Calgary Arts Academy Children Dancers
Will knock your socks off
www.calgaryartsacademy.com
YouTube Video: Rev Elvis & The Calgary Arts Academy Dancers - "It Takes a Whole Village/Dance with the Spirit" - Recorded live at The Rev Elvis & Friends Blue Christmas 2008