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2024

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JASON BARRY - 

Jason Barry is an award-winning producer, writer, post-production audio engineer and musician collecting dozens of Canada's largest music accolades including: Junos, Canadian Country Music Awards, Canadian Music Awards and SOCAN Awards. 

 

He has produced and recorded an impressive collection of Canada's largest acts including Dean Brody, Charlie Major, Gord Downey, Michelle Wright, Jason Blaine, Blue Rodeo, Terri Clark, Tenille Arts.  All of these artists recorded by his multi-award-winning Barrytone Studios. 

 

Jason has also recorded many of the world’s most celebrated artists, from Taylor Swift and Keith Urban to Lyle Lovett and Steve Earle.  

 

As a songwriter, Jason has penned an arsenal of hits, scoring multiple top 10 Canadian hits with artist like Dean Brody, Jamie Warren, Duane Steel. 

 

He is one of a select few that can boast a "two thumbs up" shout out from Don Cherry during the iconic Coach’s Corner, for his own song, “Yes I Can”, written specifically for Special Hockey International. 

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Jason Barry has spent many years working in the post audio world, mixing award winning television shows for Corus Entertainment.  He is also known for writing and performing several award-winning jingles and themes for radio and television, including “Jingle of The Decade” for a Waterloo, Ontario based company.  

 

Jason Barry is currently the second guitarist in Canadian history to be inducted into the CCMA Musician Hall of Honour, which is proudly displayed at the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in Calgary. Jason recently has a mass production signature guitar series from Cithara in his honour.     

 

Jason has toured the entire world as a guitarist and music director for many elite artists. He started his journey born deaf in Miramichi NB, where he was recently awarded the Certificate of Distinction for his contribution in music production by the City of Miramichi.  

 

 

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BRIAN MALLERY -

Born in Port Elgin, NB, on August 13, 1971, Brian has been performing since the age of 6. 

 

In 1997 he released his debut album, Focused, recorded in Nashville, Tennessee. His second album, Message From Above, was released in 2004 and was recorded at Studio Belivo in NB.  That album was nominated for the ECMA Country Recording of the Year - 2005 and received fantastic reviews from all over the world. 

 

Unfortunately, in 2006, Brian was involved in a car accident that threatened to end his musical career. However, through pure love of country music and a drive that wouldn’t let him give up on his dreams, he won the battle. 

 

Brian was back on the scene in 2011 with a third album titled, Living My Dream, recorded in Nashville with Grammy nominated producer, Greg Cole, and featuring some of the best studio musicians in Nashville and duets with 2 Nashville artists Daryle Singletary and Ken Mellons.   This album received rave reviews across the country and opportunities were pouring in from France, Norway and here in Canada.  Along with opening shows for many Nashville artists, he would continue to record 7 more studio albums. 

 

In thanks for the support from the Acadian and Francophone community through the years, Brian released the French album, Vivre La Musique Country, in 2013. 

 

After being asked to perform as part of a remembrance tribute following the funeral of the great George Jones by his daughter, Georgette, Brian recorded another album featuring a duet with her.  The track was the hit song of her parents’, “Golden Ring”.  This kicked off the idea of a 31-day tour with Brian, Georgette Jones and Sammy Kershaw through the direction of Dirt Road Records and East Shore Productions. 

 

He was involved in many promotions of artists in Canada and abroad and has always vowed to KEEP IT COUNTRY in honour of the country music legends who have influenced his career. 

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PHILIP MCGEEHAN -

Philip was born in Toronto in 1954 and was raised by his aunt and uncle in Maple Grove, New Brunswick.  It was here that he spent a lot of time with his great uncle, Vance Gallagher, who played the violin. Phil has fond memories of watching The Don Messer Show with him and listening to his uncle Vance play. 

 

His mother bought him his first guitar when he was 12 years old. With the help of a Don Wickett guitar book and friends from school who were also learning to play, Phil soon wound up in his first band, Brandy.  His first gig with them was at the Napadogan Legion.  Soon after that first show, he started playing in Merle Gullison’s band, Country Rock. 

 

Over the years he has been in several bands and has backed up many singers including: One Way Rider Band, Larry Kennedy, Ron Dupuis, Al Dupuis, Jerry McCarty, Joan Kennedy, Joey Knight, JR Vautour, Julian Austin, Fred Goodwin, Chris Logan, Danny Dobbelsteyn and more. 

 

Philip is a member of the New Brunswick Country Showcase Band and The Pure Country Show Band.  In 1999 he was awarded a Certificate of Merit from the Province of New Brunswick.  In 2015 he was inducted into the Minto Country Music Wall of Fame and in 2019 received a Pioneer Award from the New Brunswick Country Music Hall of Fame. 

 

Since 2017 he has been the music director of the Nashwaak Music Festival.  He still teaches guitar lessons and has had many students over the years.  

 

 The community is important to Philip, so he has taken part in fundraiser events throughout his career and continues to participate where possible.

to participate whenever possible. 

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JOSELYN MARY THERESA JOY MCNEILL - 

The youngest child of 18 of musical parents Cecilia (McDonald) and Harry McNeill, Joselyn’s love of performing began at age 8, with Holy Rosary Church choir in Minto, NB.  At 12 she sang at her 1st country show with the Vautours. By age 15 she was writing songs and at 16, spent a season out west with her brothers Dave and Vernon’s band, Noah’s Arc.   

 

She recorded her song, “I Will Never Be Lonely No More”, in 1980 with Wanda Grant, which led to singing on the Aubrey Hanson radio show. 

 

During the 80’s, Joselyn began writing gospel music and directed a youth folk choir.  She started doing fundraisers and in 1984 began teaching guitar and voice.  Joselyn has held song writers circles for artists of all ages to show how important and therapeutic writing is.   She recorded a cassette in the 90’s with special needs youth from Minto Elementary School, produced by her brother, Dave McNeill. 

 

Her volunteer work has been recognized by awards including, The Queen’s Jubilee Medal, the Joey Knight Humanitarian Award, Minto Citizen of the Year and the Minto Country Music Wall of Fame. 

 

After being crowned Maritime Open Country Music Queen in 1987, Joselyn performed at the Nashville Palace(where Randy Travis began), the national Ralph Emery Show, and had a private audition on the legendary Grand Ole Opry stage singing her original, “Can You Hear Me Lord”.   

 

She has performed as a single act across Canada, from the Alaska border to Newfoundland.  Joselyn’s appearances include the Tommy Hunter Show, The Fredericton Playhouse, The Pure Country Show and Rogers TV.   

 

Joselyn plays many instruments and has played rhythm guitar for NB artists such as Dave McNeill, Joey Knight and her sister Lorraine’s band, Hooked on Country.   Joselyn, her daughter Jolene and sister Lorraine have planned a new trio, “Female Legends”, performing original songs and using Joselyn’s multi-instrumental skills. 

 

Joselyn is very thankful to her mother, brothers and sisters, daughter Jolene, Sister Fernand, Ardith Armstrong and Jerry Thibodeau for their inspiration and believing in her.  

 

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RIK REESE -

GO NUTS with Rik Reese!  Born in Campbellton, NB, as a child he remembers thumbing straight to the musical instrument section of the Sears Christmas catalogue.  As a teen, he spent hours practicing guitar and was first mentored into live performing when he became lead guitarist for The Best Family Band of Campbellton, filling the big shoes of NBCMHF inductee, Brenda Best.   Forty years later, Rik Reese has become one of Eastern Canada’s most renowned country music singer/songwriter/entertainers.   

 

Having performed shows across Canada, Las Vegas, Chicago, Tampa, Maine, Cuba, and as far away as Switzerland, Rik Reese is known to simply deliver a musical good time.  Rik has been featured on the front covers of FHM and Forbes Magazine and reviewed by Maverick Magazine UK.   His music airs internationally and is a mix of distorted rock guitars and throwback country.   His album was selected as one of the Top 12 Country Albums of the Year by Canadian Country Music News alongside Ian Tyson, George Canyon and Doc Walker, to name a few.   Three official singles released and charted on Canadian country music radio still receive national and international airplay today and his music is available on all streaming platforms.    His original music is featured on the motion picture soundtrack for, No Stranger Than Love.  He has had various television performances including the national program, The Candy Show.   Rik proudly holds the record for the most consecutive years performed at the Cavendish Beach Music Fest (PEI) and is a repeat performer at numerous Canadian festivals including the Big Valley Jamboree during two Alberta tours.  He has had multiple national and international award nominations and has opened for the likes of Toby Keith, Big & Rich, Eric Church, Ricky Skaggs, The Roadhammers, Joe Diffie, The Kentucky Headhunters, The Stampeders and Nazareth.    

 

From his first Sears catalogue guitar to a crowd performance of 28,000 people, Rik’s love for country music is evident in his stage presence, fan connection, community benefit appearances and his pride of representing NB Country Music.  Using his signature two-word slogan on the back of his guitar, Rik Reese encourages people to get out, enjoy live music and GO NUTS! 

 
www.RikReese.com 

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