Inductees: 2025
CHRIS CUMMINGS - Multiple CCMA & JUNO Award nominee Chris Cummings has been a successful singer and songwriter since 1994. With more than 30 years in the business, he has achieved an impressive sixteen Top 20 radio singles in Canada, with 9 of those songs charting in the Top 10 and two reaching all the way to #1. In addition, he had five #1 videos at CMT Canada.
His career CD sales as an artist top 165,000 units. As a writer, his songs appear on over 1.5 million units sold and have been recorded by notable American music stars Alabama, Ricochet, Bobby Bare, Daryl Singletary, and David Frizzell.
His debut album Somewhere Inside released on Warner Bros. Nashville label. The first single, “Waited”, peaked at number 3 on the Canadian Country Music Charts; a position it held for 3 weeks. Follow up single “Sure Enough”, became his first #1 single starting a streak of 3 more singles charting in the top 10 (“Somewhere Inside” #9, “Almost Always” #10, “Kind of Heart” #1) The CD was Certified Gold with over 70,000 units sold.
Chris' sophomore CD, Lonesomeville, spawned two top 5 hits. His next CD was the uniquely titled, Ooh That Could Cost Him The Gold, Bob , which contained three top 10 singles. Chris' most recent project called Give Me Tonight features the hit single “Leavings Not An Option” (a co-write with Don Schlitz).
Chris has been nominated for JUNO Awards, numerous Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMA), East Coast Music Awards (ECMA) and won the top prize for Outstanding New Artist at the RPM Awards.
INDUSTRY RECOGNITION
JUNO - Nominations
2001 - Best Country Male Artist - Chris Cummings
1999-Best Country Male Vocalist - Chris Cummings
1997- Country Male Vocalist of the Year - Chris Cummings
CCMA - Nominations
2004 Songwriters' of the Year - Chris Cummings/Rod Lewis – “Lucy Got Lucky”(Chris Cummings)
2002 Album Design of the Year - Ooh, That Could Cost Him The Gold, Bob -Patrick Duffy (Chris Cummings)
2002 All Star Band - Keyboards - Brian Burn (Chris Cummings)
2002 CMT Video of the Year - Chris Cummings – “Cowboy Hats”
2002 Single of the Year – “Cowboy Hats” (Chris Cummings)
2000 Male Artist of the Year - Chris Cummings
1998 Rising Star - Chris Cummings
1997 Rising Star - Chris Cummings
ECMA - Nominations
2007- Country Recording of the Year "Who Says You Can't?” by Chris Cummings
1997- Male Artist of the Year - Chris Cummings
Other Achievements
The song - Twentieth Century - was co-written by Chris and Don Schlitz. The song was recorded by American Country Music Legends, Alabama.
The song received a Grammy nomination for Alabama for Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal at the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards.
Chris Cummings' debut album, Somewhere Inside, released in 1996, achieved GOLD certification in Canada.
Chris Cummings contributed to Ricochet's debut album released in 1996. He co-wrote the song “From Good to Bad to Worse to Gone” which is featured on the album titled Ricochet and was certified Gold by RIAA.
The compilation album, New Country 3 (17 Hot Country Hits), released in 1996, features Chris Cummings' song "I Waited". This album includes tracks from various country artists.
Chris Cummings contributed to the soundtrack of the movie Servitude (2011). His song "Heart Like a Stone" from the album Give Me Tonight is featured in the film. Additionally, his single "Till I See You Smile" was chosen for the movie's soundtrack. ​​
​MARK DOWNEY - Mark Downey was born and raised in St. Stephen, New Brunswick, growing up just outside the town limits on Valley Road. He is the youngest of five boys born to Donald and Lois Downey. While attending St. Stephen High School, Mark began working in the grocery business, first with Save-Easy and later with Atlantic Superstore, where he was eventually promoted to Bakery Manager.
After graduating from SSHS, Mark decided to start his own mobile DJ business, Tempo-Lite Sound & Light Show, which became a success. Over the years, he DJ’d hundreds of corporate and private events, specializing in weddings. His love for music and sound equipment grew, and one of his ambitions was to work on the radio.
In the spring of 2001, Mark made the bold decision to leave his full-time career at Superstore when Acadia Broadcasting (formerly New Brunswick Broadcasting) launched a country music radio station in St. Stephen. Throughout his career in radio, Mark has held many titles, including Morning Show Announcer, Program Director, and Operations Manager.
Soon after the launch of 98.1 The Tide, Mark developed a weekly program called Home Brew, dedicated to showcasing local musical talent from Charlotte County. Over time, the program expanded to feature artists from across New Brunswick.
Mark also worked closely with fellow Acadia broadcaster Bob Henry, who hosted a weekly Classic Country show on sister station Country 94 in Saint John. Bob often highlighted local artists on his show, and when Bob retired in 2014, Mark took over as the new host of the Weekend Jamboree.
In late 2024, Mark and his wife, Tanya, relocated to Saint John, NB, where Mark continues to work for Acadia Broadcasting, with his voice heard across New Brunswick every week.
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​​​​ANDRE "COCO" MCGRAW - Born in 1959 in Moncton NB, André grew up in a musical family. His parents, Hector and Lea McGraw, had a band called, McGraw and the Beltone. In his early teen years, he joined and played bass with his parent's band. He started playing guitar at the age of eleven and at age of fourteen was already in a band playing gigs.
At eighteen he decided to pursue a full-time career as a pedal steel guitarist, which he did professionally for seven years. His career has taken him touring across Canada, the United States and in later years a tour to France.
Some of his greatest accomplishments were to open for Johnny Paycheck, Kitty Wells, Alan Jackson, Brooks and Dunn and many more. He also performed for a season on the TV show, Country Centreville. Coco has contributed to many studio recording sessions since 1979, playing pedal steel & dobro, for many artists including: Johnny Comfort, Denise Murray, Brian Mallory, Divorcees and Flo Durelle, to name a few. He backed up many Nashville artist like Ben and Marty Haggard, Ken Mellons, Wesley Dennis, Micheal Twitty, Dion Pride and Mickey Gilley, etc.
Coco operates his own Evergreen Recording Studio and keeps very active in his musical career today, currently with the Country Boys and side gigs and sessions.
OLAND MONEITH - Oland Monteith from Nackawic N.B. is a singer-songwriter and entertainer. Over the years he has played numerous venues and fundraisers.
While visiting Nashville in 1991, he headlined at the Nashville Palace after winning a talent show. He has performed on television, and has had airtime on some radio stations.
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Throughout his musical career he has contributed to recording projects as a studio musician, and has recorded his own album entitled, Oland Monteith Sings Country Gospel and a country album entitled, Keeping it Country. He wrote a special song dedicated to our men and women in uniform deployed to Afghanistan entitled "I Am a Soldier".
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Early in his career he joined a well known southern, country gospel group. During this venture he was recorded a number of times, some of which were recorded in Nashville, which exposed him to the inner workings of the recording industry.
Now as a solo artist, he loves to perform, and enjoys the interaction with his audiences. His music has touched many with his heartfelt performances.
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​​​​ANNA THIBODEAU - Born in Minto, NB, Anna is the daughter of Ernest and Margaret Daigle. At age 6 Anna got her start singing at kitchen parties at her parents' home. Her uncles, Ronnie Vautour (HF), and Ernest Hebert (Minto CMWF), were instrumental in the development of her musical abilities. Anna’s first stage performance was at the age of 12 with Jocelyn McNeil (HF) at a variety show.
In 1998, Anna started a travelling karaoke company, providing aspiring singers the opportunity to shine, encouraging people to find their confidence on the stage. Anna has performed at weddings and requested to perform at many funerals, providing solace to families.
After meeting her husband Gary, they moved to Shediac, NB where in 2009, Anna became the lead singer in a duo band named Double Impact with her music partner, guitarist/bassist Guy Mazerolle.
Double Impact expanded into a full band in 2012, adding drummer Danny Mazerolle and lead guitarist Kevin Daigle. They renamed themselves Jacked Up and toured New Brunswick. Anna also stepped in as temp backup singer for Donnie and the Cadillacs, rose to co-lead singer and even sang backup on their single “Cabane a Joe”. Anna took a hiatus from the band in 2015 but played solo at fundraising events and variety shows (ie Fredericton City Police benefit & Minto Community Resource Telethon).
Anna has become a regular at many country shows including: The Pure Country Show in Marysville and The NB Country Showcase at The Playhouse in Fredericton, as well as jamborees and fundraising events.
Anna and Gary moved back to Chipman in the summer of 2019. Anna was soon approached to restart her karaoke show, bringing music to people who would normally not have the opportunity to showcase their talents. Now settled into their home on the Salmon River, Anna is thrilled to be reconnected to her music family in the Minto-Chipman area.
During the 2020 Covid pandemic lockdowns, Anna performed weekly on Facebook Live where she played requests of viewers.
In 2022, Anna had the great honour of receiving the Joey Knight Humanitarian Award and was inducted into the Minto Country Music Wall of Fame.
Currently, Anna is a member in a duo with Reg Gallant (HF), (sometimes a trio with Allion Inch (HF) on fiddle) playing many venues, including dedicated shows in Lorneville, St. Martin’s, Titusville, Fredericton and Oromocto. Anna still operates her karaoke company, performs at fundraisers, festivals, private events and nursing homes, continuing her musical endeavours.