Born in Plattsville, Ontario the second of ten children born to Elva & Lee Davidson at the age of twelve performed for dances and was paid $7.00 per night, Gerald took piano lessons befor picking up the Guitar. Gerald played piano in his dads band for about two years befor singing and playing guitar until he was twenty one. Gerald performed vaudeville shows at the Capital Theater in Woodstock, with Tommy Hunter in the late 50's and 60's.
Gerald also played on all the local T. V. stations, CFPL-London, CKCO-Kitchener, CKNX-Wingham, and CKVR-Barrie and most local radio stations. Gerald became a regular on Circle 8 Ranch, on CKNX-Wingham in the late 50's. he also performed with Al Cherney on Western Round Up, a show that was also done in Wingham. he performed on many of the CKNX Barn Dances.
Gerald entered all of the singing contests across Ontario and won them all at some point and time. he entered a contest at CKFH radio in Toronto and won. The prize was a recording contract and to appear on the WWVA Jamboree in Wheeling West Virginia. Gerald entered the Canadian Open Signing Contest in Simcoe, Ontario and took first place in 1975 and 1976.
Back in the 60's Gerald joined Wayne Riehl and Len Love under the name "The Country Versatiles". they worked six nights a week between clubs, shows
and dances. From 1979 to 1986 The Country Versatiles had there own TV show called "Good Time Country" on CKNX-Wingham. Good Time Country won the CAN-PRO award in 1979 and 1980.
Gerald had the privilege to work with Grand Old Opry Stars like; David Houston, Red Sovine, Mac Wiseman, Stone Wall Jackson, Carol Baker, Tommy Hunter, Dallas Harms, Myrna Lorrie, Diane Leight Jack Kingston and Gary Buck. also had the opportunity to work with Shania Twain in her earlier years, as she was a guest on "Good Time Country." In 1999, Gerald had the privilege ofworking with Steve Smith at the International Steel Guitar Convention in St. Louis, Missouri. Steve is one of the top steel guitar players in Canada. In the past year, Gerald had the opportunity to sing on the Opry Star Spotlight at the Ernest Tubb Theater, Nashville, Tenn. with Vern Gosdin which was broadcast live over 650 WSM radio station. Gerald was also a special guest at the Nightlife Dinner Theater in Nashville Tenn In October 2002 the Barn Dance Historical Society presented Gerald with the Barn Dance Pioneer Award which is one of Canada's Largest Travelling Barn Dance. Gerald was also a special guest at Pearls Dance Hall Fort Worth Texas with Leona Williams Gerald has recorded three C.D. which can be purchased by contacting him.
Gerald is still performs around the country, as this is a part of his life that he finds most fulfilling.
GERALD DAVIDSON.
Ashley Giles
Ashley was born in Kirkton, Ontario. She started classical violin lessons with Dini Westman from Stratford Ont when she was eight years old. About a year later, in addition to the classical, Ashley started taking fiddle lessons from Gerry Smith from Exeter, Ont.Since Ashley started music, she has had the opportunity of competing and performing fiddle and violin around Canada and the U.S , winning many awards for her accomplishments. In 2008, Ashley started teaching fiddle to family and friends and soon after, the general public. In 2010 Ashley and fellow students of Dini Westman were accepted to play at Walt Disney World in Florida on the main stage. Ashley has also won the Doris Westman Trophy for the "Most Promising Fiddler" eight times since 2007, and won the trophy for "Most Promising Violinist in Stratford" in 2012. Ashley has been accepted and participated in OMFA provincial finals for violin in 2010, 2911 and 2012. In 2015, Ashley came out fifth in the open fiddling class at the Grand North American Old Time Fiddle Championships in Alberta. In June of 2016,Ashley opened her own music teaching studio in Kitchener, Ont. called A to G Music. Ashley plays in a classic country dance band called, The Country Versatiles, and is apprenticing as a violin maker with Henry Reidstra while completing her Bachelor of Music degree at Wilfred Laurier University in Waterloo Ont. Ashley is studying viola under Christine Vlajk
George Webb
Born in B.C. music was a strong hobby through school and university. He came to Toronto in the late 60's and started a 25-year career with IBM.That's a great way to support a musical habit. Full credit goes to the late John Brdar for his patience, natural teaching ability and setting up my first gig as a guitar player. In 1973 we played the Horseshoe tavern in Toronto. I bought a pedal steel in 1977. I don't know why I waited so long. Through the 80's and 90's I managed to balance an engineering career, an active family life and still be a musician about once a month. most of the music was for dances and I've been fortunate to see much of Southern Ontario as a musicion and play with many fine peope. It's my experience that people who come to hear live country music are the most friendly and dedicated fans. Whether you're a steel guitar fan or not, take the time to say hello.
Gord Ogilvie
Gord was born in Montreal Quebec. He started taking singing lessons at the
age of 8 and started playing the guiter at the age of 11. By the late sixties he
had his own group, playing folk music in the clubs and coffee houses of
Montreal. During this time he was writing much of the material he was
performing. In the early seventies he learned to play the bass guitar and started
backing up numerous groups in Southern Ontario. He toured extensively
throughout Ontario playing different types of music including country, bluegrass,
rock, blues, and folk. One of the noteable groups was " Hot Off The Press" a country/bluegrass band that produced an album and had two successfil singles from that album. After two years with Hot Off The Press, Gord joined the seven time Juno Award winning group " The Mercey Brothers",
replacing brother Ray on the bass guitar. The band toured throughout Canada and the United States and, while Gord was with the band, was nominated twice for Juno Awards and Canadian Country Music Association Awards for Best Country Group " While with "The Mercey Brothers", the band represented Canada at the
Interational Fanfare Show in Nashville, Tennessee and at the World's Fair in
Knoxville, Tennessee. He began playing bass for '' The Country Versatiles'' in 2004 and helps fill out the sound with his vocal harmonies. Over his musical career, Gord has had the opportunity to
work with such noteables as George Jones, Tanya Tucker, Crystal Gale, Freddie
Fender, The Jordenaires, and Tommy Hunter to name a few, Currently, Gord lives in Kitchener with his daughter.
