Information/Write-up
Rick Neufeld is a Manitoba folk and country songwriter whose music forms one of the most vivid and enduring musical portraits of prairie life in Canadian songwriting. Raised on farms around Boissevain and Deloraine, Manitoba, Neufeld grew up immersed in the rhythms of rural communities, seasonal labour, and small-town geography—elements that would later define his songwriting voice. His work is notable not for abstraction or symbolism, but for its specificity: named places, real histories, and everyday prairie experience rendered with clarity and restraint.
After completing Grade 12 at Mennonite Collegiate Institute in Gretna, Neufeld moved to Winnipeg to study architecture at the University of Manitoba. During this period, his direction shifted decisively toward music. Following a Simon & Garfunkel concert at UMSU, Neufeld met Paul Simon—an encounter that crystallized his decision to leave architecture and pursue songwriting full-time. He began performing regularly in coffeehouses across Manitoba and beyond while supporting himself with drafting work, including a period at Dominion Bridge.
In late 1967, Neufeld travelled to Europe, where a chance encounter in Munich led him to Richard Hahn, son of Canadian composer and publisher Bob Hahn. Upon returning to Canada in 1968, Neufeld spent time in Montreal at the Hahn household, where Bob Hahn became an early mentor and publisher, encouraging Neufeld to focus intensively on songwriting. This relationship proved pivotal in shaping Neufeld’s early career and professional footing.
Neufeld’s best-known song, “Moody Manitoba Morning,” emerged during this period and quickly took on a life of its own. Issued on Warner Bros. Records in 1970, the song became closely associated with Manitoba’s Centennial celebrations and was widely adopted in schools, choirs, and community events. Its national profile expanded dramatically when The Bells recorded a hit version, making it one of the most recognizable Manitoba-themed songs in Canadian popular music. Over time, it has come to be regarded as an unofficial anthem of the province.
Between 1971 and 1978, Neufeld released a small but cohesive body of recordings that solidified his reputation as a prairie storyteller. His debut album, Hiway Child (Astra, 1971), introduced a laid-back folk sound rooted in travel, reflection, and rural imagery. A series of Astra singles—including “Country Princess,” “Hiway Child,” and seasonal releases—kept his work present on Canadian radio during the early 1970s.
His RCA Victor album Prairie Dog (1974) marked a step into a broader studio environment, featuring contributions from Burton Cummings, Bill Wallace, and Garry Peterson of The Guess Who, along with longtime collaborator Terry Bush. Despite the larger production context, Neufeld’s songwriting remained grounded in prairie themes, with songs such as “The Great Canadian Auction Sale” and “Souris River Valley Ups and Downs” reinforcing his commitment to regional storytelling.
Neufeld’s final album, ManitobaSongs (1978), released on his own Prairie Dog Records label, stands as the definitive document of his work. Recorded live in Brandon in 1975 with a Manitoba-based ensemble, the album presents a suite of songs that function almost as a musical map of the province—Brandon, Flin Flon, Pukatawagan, The Pas, and the legacy of Louis Riel—captured in a communal concert setting. It was his last album release and remains his most complete artistic statement.
In addition to recording and touring, Neufeld was active in Canadian broadcasting. He hosted the CBC television program The Songsingers and later co-hosted On The Road with Colleen Peterson, further establishing his presence as a representative prairie voice within the national folk landscape. A career highlight included performing at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.
Although Rick Neufeld’s recording career was relatively brief, his songs have had lasting cultural impact, particularly within Manitoba. His work preserves a distinctly local perspective at a time when few Canadian songwriters were documenting prairie life with such focus and authenticity. Today, his recordings stand as an essential chapter in Manitoba’s musical heritage and in the broader story of Canadian folk songwriting.
-Robert Williston
Musicians
Rick Neufeld: vocals, guitar
Dale Russell (Portage La Prairie, Manitoba): lead guitar
Donn “Fiddler” Zeuff (Ste. Anne, Manitoba): fiddle, banjo, dobro, mandolin, harmonica
Mark Rutherford (Winnipeg, Manitoba): keyboards, flute
Kim Russell (Portage La Prairie, Manitoba): bass
Jim Hillman (Winnipeg, Manitoba): drums, percussion
Songwriting
All songs written by Rick Neufeld
Production
Produced by Rick Neufeld and Colin Bennett for Prairie Dog Productions
Arranged by Dale Russell (Portage La Prairie, Manitoba)
Recorded live at the Westman Centennial Auditorium, Brandon, Manitoba on May 23, 1975
Remote 16-track recording by Road West Studios, Winnipeg
Engineered by Glenn Axford and Colin Bennett
Concert sound by Yamaha
Artwork
Jacket design and photography by Inland Graphics, Winnipeg
Notes
Privately issued on Prairie Dog Records, ManitobaSongs documents Rick Neufeld performing his Manitoba-centred repertoire in a live concert setting with a regionally based ensemble. The album preserves definitive performances of songs closely associated with Manitoba history, geography, and community life.
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