The awards and accolades continue for Gord Bamford as his current CD Honkytonks and Heartaches was recently named Album of the Decade by Canadian Country Music News.
Larry Delaney, Country Music News publisher and editor, said from the 120 albums he had to choose from, Honkytonks and Heartaches was “an easy pick.
“The main criteria is really, ‘What is best?’” says Delaney of how he made the selection. Delaney is considered an expert on Canadian country music, its performers, and songwriters.
“We try to dedicate a lot of our coverage toward real country or traditional country. With the new age of country music a lot of our top albums are not necessarily country,” Delaney said.
“Personally I’ve always been a big fan of Gord’s vocal delivery. It’s very country,” explained Delaney. “However, I think there might have been five or six number ones or at least top 10 singles that came out of that particular album, which is pretty significant on its own.”
Lacombe’s Bamford said receiving an award such as Album of the Decade, validates the role he plays of country singer/songwriter.
“I’ve tried to stay true to my country roots,” says Bamford. “I want to write about life, love and how I experience it. To have Honkytonks and Heartaches named Album of the Decade will ensure its longevity. I think any artist strives to have a country album that will be relevant 20 years from now.”
Delaney says the biggest strength of Canadian country music, going back to the days of Ian Tyson and Gordon Lightfoot, is songwriting.
“Gord is right amongst the top songwriters that we have,” says Delaney. “His song writing, especially since he’s hooked up with (Nashville songwriter) Bryon Hill, has been top notch.”
Bamford received an award from SOCAN (The Society of Composers Authors and Music Publishers of Canada) in November 2009. Stayed ‘Til Two was awarded as one of the top three Country Music songs that achieved the greatest number of performances on domestic radio in 2008. Bamford co-wrote the song with Hill.
Bamford is set to release his fourth CD, Day Job that will hit retail markets on April 6. Of the 13 songs on the CD Bamford wrote all but two. He also co-produced the CD with Nashville singer-song writer Byron Hill. Canadian radio stations received the first single, Day Job, on Feb. 8,.
Bamford kicks off his Canada-wide tour promoting Day Job by opening for Martina McBride on March 16 in Saint John, N.B., and March 17 in Halifax, N.S.. A full listing of the Canada-wide tour schedule is available at www.gordbamford.com.