Many Maritime musicians are reflecting on the legacy of Canadian icon Stompin’ Tom Connors after he died Wednesday at the age of 77.
“If you remove Stompin’ Tom from the Canadian equation, things just wouldn’t be the same,” says Pictou County singer-songwriter Dave Gunning.
It’s a rare Canadian who can’t sing along with at least a few of Stompin’ Tom’s tunes, which celebrate all things Canadian, from hockey to P.E.I. potatoes.
His friends describe him as humble and a gentleman, a patriot and the people’s poet. Now they are recalling fond memories of the Canadian country legend.
“We talked for awhile and decided we liked each other enough to meet the next day, and on top of that, he had a guitar,” says friend and recording artist Steve Foote. “He had enough cords to back himself up and I liked him.”
Many local artists say it was Stompin’ Tom’s music that influenced them to pick up the guitar and write. They say they were drawn to his words and the creative way in which he wrote about life in Canada.
“I remember when I got my first guitar,” recalls P.E.I. singer-songwriter Lennie Gallant.
“I was 12 or 13 and my cousin, who was a huge Stompin’ Tom fan, packed me off and we went into Charlottetown and saw Stompin’ Tom playing at Old Home Week and I’ll never forget it.”
Pictou County’s George Canyon says he will always try to bring the memory of Stompin’ Tom into his show.
“I got to meet Tom and it was such an honour to meet a Canadian legend, and more importantly, a true proud Canadian that made his mark in the industry worldwide, but who also made his mark in Canada, and lived in Canada, and wrote songs about Canada,” says Canyon.
“As a songwriter, I try to pull from the way Tom has always written songs.”
Longtime radio personality Frank Cameron says the creative way in which Stompin’ Tom wrote his songs is what made people love him.
“He was a hero in Ontario long before he moved there because he wanted to convey to people of all stripes in Canada that ‘I’m singing about your country buddy, and I want you to hear this,’’ says Cameron.
Self-proclaimed ‘superfan’ Jason MacLean says he is still inspired by his music.
“Some people are proud of their sculptures, their proud of different parts of their town, and Stompin’ Tom would write a song about it and it would become a part of the town, like Tillsonburg,” says the Saint John resident.
“He travelled around Canada and gave all these places gifts.”
“It’s a true loss, that our industry experienced losing Tom,” says Canyon. “But I know he’s gone to be with his Father and he’s probably already a member of the choir.”
Stompin’ Tom is survived by his wife Lena as well as two sons, two daughters, and several grandchildren.
A celebration of his life will be held Wednesday in Peterborough and will be open to the public.
In lieu of flowers, the Connors family has asked that donations be made to a food bank or homeless shelter in memory of Stompin’ Tom.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Suzette Belliveau
