Artist / Band

Wade Hemsworth

Origin Brantford, Ontario, 🇨🇦

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Biography

I was born and raised in Brantford, Ontario, a small city nestled some forty miles north of Lake Erie in the western portion of what was once called Upper Canada. Sweet and simple old airs such as "Go Tell Aunt Mary / Susie / Rhodie" or "Turkey in The Straw" were a natural heritage. The only French song we knew was "Alouette." It was not until the coming of World War II when I was shifted from home ground to war stations in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia that I first heard true, homegrown folksongs in modes and patterns which I had not known, and, of course, there was la chanson canadienne which I heard from my French-speaking comrades. It was an enlightening time and I stress it here because, since then, traditional folk forms have been an ever-abiding source of interest and motive. But, of much more import, has been the ongoing interplay of musical lore and support that I have had with friends and co-musicians."
-Wade Hemsworth, from the CD jacket, The Songs of Wade Hemsworth

Wade Hemsworth passed away on January 21st, 2002. The recent outpouring of affection for the man, and the celebration of his music, show what a remarkable contribution he has made to our cultural landscape.

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Folk Songs of the Canadian North Woods (1955)

Showing 10 of 12 tracks

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Donkey Riding

#1 Side 1 01:36
The Shining Birch Tree

#2 Side 1 02:43
Envoyons d'l'avant

#3 Side 1 01:29
The Jam at Gerry's Rocks

#4 Side 1 03:31
Aidal O'Boy

#5 Side 1 02:25
The Franklin Expedition

#6 Side 1 01:24
V'la l'bon vent (Voila le bon vent)

#1 Side 2 02:25
Ye Girls of Old Ontario

#2 Side 2 02:47
Peter Rambley

#3 Side 2 01:23
The Bride's Lament

#4 Side 2 02:01

The Land of the Muskeg (1991)

9 tracks

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The Black Fly Song (vocal Wade Hemsworth with Kate & Anna McGarrigle)

#1 Disc 1 Side 1 04:01
The Log Jam Song (vocal Wade Hemsworth)

#2 Disc 1 Side 1 02:32
Foolish You (vocals Kate & Anna McGarrigle)

#3 Disc 1 Side 1 03:19
The Log Driver's Waltz (vocals Kate & Anna McGarrigle)

#4 Disc 1 Side 1 03:07
The Land of the Muskeg (vocal Murray McLauchlan)

#5 Disc 1 Side 1 04:49
The Story of The I'm Alone (vocal Wade Hemsworth)

#6 Disc 1 Side 1 07:29
My Mother Is the Ocean Sea (vocals Kate & Anna McGarrigle)

#7 Disc 1 Side 1 03:56
The Wild Goose (vocal Wade Hemsworth)

#8 Disc 1 Side 1 02:46
The Complete Wade Hemsworth Radio Show

#1 Disc 2 Side 2 52:28