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Page THE HERALD Wednesday February 22 1989 Its Coda the West Country pickers a Lifer By BRIAN MacLEOD Herald Staff Country and western music fans who dropped by the Hollywood Tavern in last weekend surely enjoyed the group de jour called Coda the West Band leader Wendell Ferguson who enjoys fast country picking on his guitar gave the collection of freelance musicians the group jour description because of their nature Depending on the event there could be three four or five members and theyre always changing except for himself vivacious keyboard artist and fellow vocalist Helen Kameka and base guitarist Mark Dineen At the Hollywood last weekend drummer Mike Billard and steel guitar player Burke Carroll joined in Wendell and his partner David Fern own the Orchard recording Studios in At Orchard famed country stars such as Car roll Baker Stompin Tom Connors Al Cherney and Jane Siberry have put their notes on tape Wendell who describes as a session guitarist actually played on Siberrys last album The Walking But Coda the West Coda means the end of a song has backed many well known country musi cians concerts throughout southern Ontario and it was those gigs which enticed Wendell and the rest of the band out of the studios and back in front of the lights and thirsty crowds I never lost the itch to play says Wendell even though hes stuck mainly to studio work since 1980 I m a lifer I think Ill crawl on stage when Im 80 and do my last gig The 34 year old Streetsville native grew up listening to Hank Williams mainly because of his parents taste for the old country classics But its the fast moving country music which has captured Coda the Wests attention now Faster contemporary music is mixed with old clunkers to keep all types of country enthusiasts pleased Coda the West mixes in some originals to test the crowd but youd never know theyre originals unless we told you says Wendell Having worked with seasoned pros like George Hamilton two- time country Vocalist of the Year Marie Bottrell and fiddle player has kept Wendell in touch with the contemporary country scene And playing Ron and Bob Hollywood Tavern gives the band a chance to play in front of a hometown audience says Wendell Roy His own mentors are Buchanan and Larry Carlton Wendell doesnt want to return to the road but earning anywhere from to a night fast country pickin is alright with him for the near future Coda the West has a series of venues coming up in southern On tario including an appearance at the Sherway Inn with Marie trell at Highway and Browns Line March The band plans to bring group de jour to Georgetown May Country singer Wendell Ferguson demonstrates some fast country picking during his band Coda the Wests performance at the Hollywood Tavern on Fri day The band which is made up mostly of freelance session musi was a hit with the country folk at the Hollywood Wendell co- owns Orchard recor ding studios which have played host to some wellknown country singers over the years Coda the West will return to Georgetown In May Herald photo TgpS 232 Quelph Street Georgetown MountalnvlawRd NEW PHONE No 877241 8 HOWIE Tudy ft Eitutr ClaMtfUonOty fiU ACCESSORIES FOR HOME AUTOMOTIVE RECORDS TAPES N Unit NOW OPEN MONDAY PM Fish Chips Licenced Under LL B O Georgetown Market Place Georgetown 8770239 NOW SEHVINQ BEER AND WINE Going Out For Your Business Come In And Check It Out MORE GREA TSA VINGS A T GREA T PRICES Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday QUELPH STREET ST PLAZA GEORGETOWN Corner of and Mountalnvlew Rd The Georgetown Choral Society provided two Enchanting Even on the weekend with special concerts St Georges Anglican Church hall The Society had as much fun as the audience ling renditions the past In eluding a Roaring Twenties set Herald photo WATCH THIS SPACE FOR ALL KIWANIS EVENTS AFTER FIVE THINGS TO DO PLACES TO GO FOR YOUR LISTENING AND DANCING PLEASURE MAIN ST S 8773388 MODERN EQUIPMENT FOR MODERN MUSICIANS BEAT THE FEBRUARY BLUES SALE iiliiiiiiSF CHARVEL ROLAND LUDWIG YAMAHA MARSHALL ENSONIQ TAMA ALESIS GUILD TAKAMINE BCRICH RANDALL IBANEZ ROCKMAN BOSS ADA RICKENBACHER GULLIED C Studio A SlUDIO HOW 1 TRACK I I LOW PRICES GREAT SERVICE Open Monday to 00 am 900pm Saturday West Brampton Ontario L6T