A new compact disk, called "from the Parlour... A Prince Edward Island collection," was unveiled today by Guernsey Cove Parlour Productions. Premier Binns and Tourism Minister Greg Deighan attended the launch along with Gordon Belsher, who compiled and mastered the collection, and Richard Wood fellow-featured artist. Tourism PEI was involved in the development of the collection and intends to use it in various marketing endeavours, promoting the Island through song.
The CD is comprised of a compilation of cuts from Island artists who have previously either won or been nominated for East Coast Music Awards. The impressive lineup includes Richard Wood, Lennie Gallant, Barachois, Maxine MacLeod, Jive Kings, Este Mundo, Jericho Road, Roy Johnstone, Jamie MacKay & The Great Beyond, Rik Barron, Acadilac, and Theresa Doyle.
"We are here to celebrate the unveiling of a new Prince Edward Island collection of music," noted Premier Binns. "Our Province is rich in its diversity of musical styles and traditions. This new CD is an excellent example of the different styles and techniques that make Island music and musicians so popular."
The collection covers a diverse musical landscape - examples of traditional folk with a fresh outlook, new country, instrumental, big band, and spiritual music. It makes for a wonderful program, flowing from the opening "kick" of Richard Wood's fiery fiddling to the lovely lullaby by Theresa Doyle at the end.
Cover artwork features an illustration by Dale MacNevin of a quilt draped over a parlour chair with PEI images on the squares. Inside the CD jacket, photos, bios and contact information for all the artists are provided.
The Department of Tourism will feature the recording in the province's Visitor Information Centres (VIC) this year and is anxious to show off some of the best of the Island's musical culture. Minister Deighan noted that, in addition to being played at the VIC's, the music will be used in a national in-store promotion with 'Tabi' stores across Canada, included in media kits for the upcoming East Coast Music Awards, provided to individuals involved with familiarization tours with the Department of Tourism, and in other marketing strategies which will be unveiled at the Tourism Marketing Authority Marketing Plan Launch which will be held March 6th at the Confederation Centre of the Arts. "All of these activities provide us with more ways to market our Island as a great place to visit," noted Minister Deighan. "We might be a small Island but we have a large variety of talent."
"Everyone I've approached about this project has been very enthusiastic," says Gordon Belsher who compiled and mastered the collection. "Everybody wins here... The artists will receive a general royalty along with promotion of their own CD's and shows, and the listener gets a terrific album. I'm very proud to recognize and support the ongoing work of all these world-class artists based in Prince Edward Island."