I have been writing songs and playing guitar since I was a teenager going to high school in Burford Ontario Canada during the legendary 1950’s Country Rockabilly era and the dawning of Rock ’n Roll when Elvis took the world stage by storm with his hit, “Heartbreak Hotel”.
Living now in Paris Ontario, known as “The prettiest little town in Ontario”, within a stone’s throw of my country roots so to speak, I found it the perfect place to embark on my life-long dream to record an album of my original material and to begin writing my novel.
In April I was honoured to receive the Golden Kayak Award at the 2008 IAIA (International Academy of Independent Artists) Awards for Best Country Song 2007 for the “The Cowboy Song”.
In addition to including three number one hits, my debut album “No Looking Back” was number one in the U.K. for three consecutive weeks on the album chart at LoneBoy Music. It has been in the Top 10 on the LoneBoy album chart for three months.
“The Cowboy Song” and “The Restless Wind”, both went to # I on the IAC Music Country Chart and to # 1 on the Cashbox Country Chart.
“All Through The Night” went to # 1 on the IAC Music Easy Listening/Soft Rock.
Also on my debut album are two songs for which I received Honor Awards in Lyric Writing in The Great American Song Contest - “Hello, I’m Johnny Cash” - my tribute to the legendary ‘Man in Black’, and “I Got My Ragtop Down” - a 1950’s rockabilly inspired song. My lyrics for “Hello, I’m Johnny Cash” also were a Finalist in the American Songwriter Magazine Lyric Contest in Nashville Tennessee.
I was honoured to be one of the artists named on the July 1st front cover of CASHBOX MAGAZINE under the headline: "These are a few of the awesome Indies gracing our Independent Charts every week"
I am backed on my album by a multi-talented line-up of musicians, including international recording artist Ray Lyell on acoustic and bass guitar, keyboard, harmonica and backing vocals, ex Helix member Gary Borden on lead guitar, Ken Baird on piano and Steve Petrie on pedal steel guitar and fiddle. Steve performed for a number of years with legendary Canadian Country Recording Stars, Stompin’ Tom Conners and Tommy Hunter.
Vocalist Paula Tessaro shares lead vocals with me on “You Just Turned My Life Around”. The song has been featured on playlists on various radio stations.
Favorable reviews of my debut CD “No Looking Back” have been written at CD Baby in the U.S., and in the December 2007 issue of the Country Home Online Magazine for Country Music in Germany an at LoneBoy Radio in London England.
The respective links are:
http://cdbaby.com/cd/neilwyoung
http://www.countryhome.de/recordnews/lamitschka/dezember2007/recordnews_dezember_2007.htm
http://www.loneboystore.t83.net/#/nolookingback/4526730427
The following two reviews were written by Rockabilly Hall of Fame Member Bobby Lawson:
“A great CD, these are eleven great songs, beautifully written and sung. Neil puts his all in these songs, from the heart and from the soul. I recommend this CD and Neil w Young to everyone who likes it country.” - Bobby Lawson, Member: Rockabilly Hall Of Fame
“Neil's CD “No Looking Back” is a real musical treat. All the songs are masterfully written, and you know Neil is writing from the heart having lived some of the things that he sings about. The musicians and backup singers that Neil chose for this CD are certainly the very best. Beautifully produced and great song arrangements make this a must have CD.” - Bobby Lawson, Member: Rockabilly Hall Of Fame
My greatest inspiration and influences came from the music and songs of those many legendary singers that I listened to and loved all through my teen years - artists such as Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Ricky Nelson, Buddy Holly, The Everly Brothers, Roy Orbison, Sonny James, Fats Domino, and so many others too numerous to name here
My debut album was produced, arranged, programmed, engineered and mixed by Ray Lyell and recorded at Rayne Records, Hamilton Ontario and mastered at Grant Avenue Studio in Hamilton, the world renowned Grant Avenue Studio co-founded by Daniel Lanois.
A Western Ontario Secondary School Honour Athlete and graduate of Burford District High School and of Waterloo Lutheran University (now known as Wilfred Laurier University), I also hold a hard earned PhD and Masters Degree from the University of Life. I purposely spell my full name, “Neil w Young”, with my middle initial “w” always appearing in the lower case with no period following it.
I am happy to let my debut CD album 'No Looking Back' begin to carve out my own niche and place in the world of music and to have others get enjoyment from my songs as I continue living my life-long dream.
What more could I ask than to have so many others enjoy my music. Music is for the soul … my wish is that mine touches others
Genres:
Alternative Country
Setup Requirements:
None Listed