Trineer, Dougie

Websites:  No
Origin: Calumet, Québec, 🇨🇦
Biography:

aka Dougal Trineer
Born: January 19, 1940 Calumet, Quebec

Dougie Trineer's first paying gig was as a 7 year-old pianist performing with his mother Hannah Trineer, a gifted fiddle player, at a Saturday Night Square Dance at "Campbell's Hall" in Bell Falls, Quebec. By the time Dougie Trineer was 16 years old he was making a name for himself on stages in the Northeast USA where he first performed as a guitarist/vocalist in the band Duke & The Swingbillies, with the act seen regularly on a TVshow aired on WCAX out of Burlington, Vermont. At the time Dougie Trineer was also working the Montreal, Quebec scene with another young up-and-coming star and Calumet neighbour, Ronnie Prophet. When Prophet left to pursue his career in the USA, Dougie Trineer formed his own band, The Hackamores, which also featured noted Canadian fiddle player Paul Menard. In the late 1950's Trineer moved briefly to Maine (USA) and joined on as a member of a country band headed-up by Dick Curless.

As a recording artist Dougie Trineer released numerous albums and singles. His first album "Lonesome - Doug Trineer Sings Country Ballads" was issued in 1963 on Point Records (P-221). A follow-up album by Doug Trineer & The Hackamores, released in 1965 on Point Records (P-249) featured songs popularized by Roger Miller and Buck Owens. The album also included Trineer's own composition "(Please Don't Let Me Stop) My Lovin' You". A 1966 album on Point (P-265) was entitled "Golden Country Hits"; while a 1966 album billed under the name Doug Trineer was entitled "The Green Beret - The Songs Of Men At War" released on Point (P-273). All of the songs on the "Green Beret" album were written by U.S. Army Sgt. Barry Sadler.

Dougie Trineer's last album for Point Records, "Straight From The Heart" (P-301) was released in 1967 and featured 10 of his original songs including his first nationally charted single, "Don't Speak To Me Of Loneliness" b/w "Has Anybody Seen A Heartbeat" (Apex#77034). The A-side had a ten week run on RPM Charts peaking at #5. An additional single release, "I Wonder If I'll Ever Smile Again" b/w "Two Sides To A Story"(Rodeo #3328) charted #46 in 1969, marking Dougie Trineer's only other trip to the national charts.

Following his extensive stint with Point Records Dougie Trineer signed on with Rodeo/Banff. His first album for the label was a gospel collection, "The Little Grey Church On The Hill" (SBS-5295). The album's title track b/w "Evening Prayer" was released as a single (Rodeo#5295) and re-issued on Melbourne(#3292).Among other noted singles were "Look Up To Jesus" b/w "Dancer The Cheerful Reindeer" (Rodeo #3358); and "Two Shades Of Blue" b/w "What You Gave To Me" issued on the Melbourne Records label.

During his lengthy recording career Dougie Trineer also released numerous albums and CD's for the french language market in his home province of Quebec, including his "Sur Demande - By Request" collection released on Paysanne Records (P-2005). Trineer was also featured with three selections on a multi-artist album "Sad Songs & Waltzes" released by the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. (LM-449).

Dougie Trineer was also a prolific songwriter and producer. His songs were recorded by Diane Leigh (Two Shades Of Blue), Orval Prophet (Too Late For The Wedding) and by Canadian artists Ron McMunn, Scotty Stevenson, Hugh Scott, Angus Walker, Jerry Hatton and others. Perhaps his most recognized song was "More Often Than Once In A While" (co-written with Michael O'Reilly) recorded by O'Reilly and by Nashville Bluegrass legend Del McCoury. Nashville artist Kathy Dee also recorded Trineer's song "The Shadow Of A Girl" (Decca). As a record producer Trineer handled sessions for Canadian artists June Eikhard, Graham Townsend, Ron McMunn, Ralph Carlson, Irwin Prescott, Mike Graham and many others.

TRIVIA NOTE: Canadian country star Terri Clark counts Dougie Trineer among her early musical mentors. While living with her grand-parents in Montreal, Clark would often be visited by Trineer who would come to their home to participate in jam sessions with her grand-parents who performed professionally on the Quebec music scene in support of Nashville touring acts.