By Tiffany Williams
Editor
Cowboy George Canyon is very excited to be playing at this year’s Ponoka Stampede and is looking forward to performing in Alberta.
Canyon got his first big break on the USA Network/CMT Canada television show Nashville Star and was the Canadian breakout from the show.
His current album released in late 2007 Classics has many great hits that influenced him when growing up such as the Theme from The Dukes of Hazzard, Folsum Prison Blues, Kiss an Angel Good Morning and Ring of Fire.
Canyon is currently recording his new album in Chicago with the first single out in July and the new album in the fall.
“I’ve been working with Richard Marx and Nicklebacks Chad Kroger. Kroger is a true Alberta cowboy and I had a lot of fun working with him. He writes a lot of country but he can’t sing it. He knows good music and is a really good writer.”
Canyon says that he hopes to preview some of his new music at the Ponoka Stampede but doesn’t want to let the cat out of the bag for all of the songs.
Canyon has been trying to play at the stampede for awhile and his schedule has finally allowed him to play.
“I’ve been excited and trying to play there for the last two years, talking with my management and I’m really glad it finally worked ,” said Canyon. “It’s a very popular rodeo, plus it is home in Alberta, any chance I get to play in Alberta, I jump at it more than my management. They try to rein me in if I had my way I would do shows everyday.”
This year’s Ponoka Stampede theme, Salute to the Armed Forces really hit home with Canyon who is an honorary Colonel of 14 Wing Greenwood Nova Scotia. He has also traveled to perform in Afghanistan. He also has a very touching tribute song to military called I Want You to Live, which he recorded after a trip to visit troops in Afghanistan.
“I was going to be in the military since I was a kid until I got diabetes. I was so choked up at the ceremony. Being asked to be part of the Canadian Forces is the biggest honour that you could ever bestow on me,” said Canyon.
He is an active Colonel who has all of his uniforms, a registration number and marches with them as often as he can. He says that it is a dream come true for him.
Canyon thinks that this year’s theme is awesome and that the men and women who are serving make an ultimate sacrifice
“It is a real amazing experience when you see it with your own eyes. The job that our men and women are doing in Afghanistan we have so much to be proud of and a lot of time we don’t get to see it,” said Canyon. A lot of times we only hear about the bad stuff and they have a lot of accomplishments there. It has been a great experience getting to witness that.”
Canyon will hit the stage on June 26 after the chuckwagon races.