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2023
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JOYCE BOONE - Born February 9, 1967, Joyce has sung all genres of songs from deep in her soul for over 43 years. Her one true love is Country Music as it feels like home. Joyce’s musical ability started at a very young age when she used to make up songs about everything she saw - trees, birds, animals, her favorite people and anything that tickled her fancy. She was always singing, acting and dancing.
Joyce began her professional music career with a country band at the tender age of 13 and has recorded a CD titled Country Memories for You. Joyce has a way of pulling you into the songs she sings as she feels every word she sings and writes.
In early 2003 Joyce entered and won the NB Country Vocal Idol in Woodstock and won the prestigious Kidd Baker Award, becoming the first to receive this title and award.
Shortly after winning this award Joyce’s music career was stopped dead in its tracks with the diagnosis of thyroid cancer and the news she may never sing again as the tumor was attached to the right side of her vocal cords that controls your higher register. With sheer will and determination Joyce wasn’t going to let that happen, if at all possible. Two surgeries later, over a year of recovery time and voice therapy, she was back at music stronger and more determined than ever to continue with her music career. She went full time music for the next 20+ years.
In 2013 Joyce entered the contest called I am the Voice - Atlantic Canada and won first place. She has also won many Saint John Music award titles such as, Female Artist of the Year, Soloist of the Year, Band of the Year and the prestigious Local Legend award.
Musical influences include: Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, John Prine, Marion Kellow and Randy Vail, to whom she owes a deep heartfelt thank you for giving her a start in the music business and he nominated her for NB Country Music Hall of Fame
These days you can find Joyce playing solo & duet shows and guest appearances around the greater Saint John and Fredericton area. Be sure to check out and join her Facebook page, Joyce Boone Music.
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WANDA GRANT -
Wanda Grant has music in her blood. The Minto, New Brunswick singer/musician has been making music since she was a child. Born on July 28, 1968, Wanda first started singing in public at the age of six. By age nine, her father had taught her to play guitar and she taught herself to play bass a few years after that. Before she was even a teenager, Wanda started recording her music (age 11) and making television appearances.
From 1984 to 1986, while in high school, Wanda played in a band called, Circle North, with four other musicians from the Minto area.
Competing in several competitions over the years, Wanda has many trophies to her credit. In 1994, she won the Bud Country Talent Search in Fredericton, competing against performers from across the Atlantic provinces and the state of Maine.
Wanda is one of the original members of the New Brunswick Country Showcase, which was originally known as the Capital City Jamboree. Starting in 1981, 11 year old Wanda was a regular guest and from 2003 to 2013 she sang back-up and lead vocals with the Showcase band.
Wanda was inducted into the Minto Country Music Wall of Fame in 2007 and became a board member in 2017. In 2018, she became part of the Christian Community Church worship team in Minto. She and two other members of that team formed the trio, Seventh Sound, playing many venues across the province until one of the members moved.
Over the years, Wanda had the honor of sharing the stage with several Canadian artists and a vast number of NBCMHF members. A highlight of her music career was when in 2013, she sang back-up vocals for good friend and NBCMHF member Joan Kennedy as well as Newfoundland based singer Tonya Kennedy at the East Coast Music Awards in Fredericton.
In 2018, she recorded a CD titled, Keeping it Country, where she covered 10 of her favorite country songs by artists such as Reba McEntire, Martina McBride and Jo Dee Messina.
Wanda also served as entertainment chair for the New Brunswick portion of the IWK Telethon in Fredericton from 2001 until 2006 when it was moved to Saint John.
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TOM HOYT -
Tom grew up in the rural community of Prince William, NB with the exception of a one-year stay in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the mid-1960s. His inspiration to music came from his grandmother, who played fiddle and his father, who played guitar.
When he was 21, the Messer boys wanted to start a band but were too young to have a driver’s license and asked Tom if he would be their manager. Danny Messer taught Tom how to play guitar and with the addition of Mike Dunlop as drummer and lead singer, November Chill was formed.
In the early 1980’s, Tom was asked by Danny Messer along with Kevin Neilson and Daryl Dunster, to join the band, Midnight Special as rhythm guitar and back-up singer. The band stayed together for over 10 years and played all around the province of New Brunswick.
In 1992, Jim Burns asked Kevin Neilson to take over the New Brunswick Country Showcase. Kevin approached Tom to assist in the venture and Tom became co-producer for a few years before taking over as producer. Over the next 25 years, under Tom’s guidance, the New Brunswick Country Showcase, with its home base at the Fredericton Playhouse, produced several shows per year, toured the province of New Brunswick, started a country music festival called Maritime Countryfest and helped launch the careers of several professional country artists.
Tom is married to Barb Harrison-Hoyt. They have 2 sons, 2 daughters and 1 granddaughter.
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JAMES (SAM) JOHNSTON - James Samuel Johnston was born on June 16, 1949, the youngest of four siblings of Jim and Bernice Johnston. He was raised in Durham Bridge and still resides there and is married to Charlene with one son, Philip. Sam started singing about age 8 at schools and local variety shows in the area. One of his first songs sung was “Crazy Arms”. He developed a love for country music at an early age listening to the radio broadcast Western Swing and his cousins next door. One of those cousins, Wayne Estey, taught him to play guitar.
With encouragement from another relative, Bill Lamey, he started singing on the Capital City Jamboree in 1984 and traveled with the show to many venues in the Maritimes. He also performed with Aubrey Hanson, Diamond Trio, NB Country Showcase and other shows in the area. In May 2002, he became a member of the group, Classic Country with Debbie Patterson, Bill Stewart, Keith Munn and John Jeffries. The group played monthly shows and other venues until spring of 2014.
Besides recording a CD with this group, Sam also recorded a single, “Stepping Out Together”/”Too Many Bridges”, written by Bob Cleghorn, and a country gospel CD, At the Altar.
Sam’s musical influences were Mel Tillis, Merle Haggard, Webb Pierce, Ray Price and numerous other country singers. Sam has played with various bands through the years and sings whenever asked.
Often accompanied by Charlene, he still sings at shows, benefit concerts, nursing homes, fairs, churches and other venues. He also enjoys singing harmony whenever possible.
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TIM WALLACE - Originally from Fredericton but now living in Saint John, Tim has played drums for over 40 years in a variety of bands in both the Fredericton and Saint John areas.
Born in Fredericton in 1958, Tim learned to play drums and guitar at an early age. He played drums in his father’s country band called, The Wallace Trio. Tim played in bands while attending high school in Fredericton, 1974-1976. In 1978, he joined The Knights of Sound band with David Nielsen. He was with this band for four years and played for local dances and shows. Tim also played drums for local country shows at the Fredericton Playhouse including the Capital City Jamboree with Jim Burns, Al Sherwood and Joan Kennedy.
After moving to Saint John in 1980, Tim continued his music journey playing drums for some well-known Saint John musicians including: Delbert Worden (Harbour Lights band), Dan Gallant (Thunder Hill band), Gene O’Connor, Marc Durelle, Reg Gallant (Yesterday’s Wine band), Eddie Bertin, Sam Aucoin and Steve Lyons. Tim has also been in the recording studio several times playing the drums on a couple of CDs for Garth Jones and other local musicians.
Tim also played in both the Fredericton Concert Band and Saint Mary’s Concert Band and played many concerts with these orchestras including Saint Mary’s Band 100th anniversary concert at the Imperial Theatre in Saint John.
Although Tim has played other styles of music, he prefers to play country music. He is currently playing in the Country Jammers Band with Felix Bennett and the Silver Lining Band. These bands play for dances and open mics in the Saint John area. Tim also continues to play for country shows in the area like the Saint John Exhibition show, the KV Old Boy’s show and the Classic Country Show in Cambridge Narrows with Terry Ferris.
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Inductees: 2023
