The song he performed in the Pros and Prose category. The song is called Dayton Free. It tells the story about a slave who writes a letter to his former master. You can read the letter and the history surrounding it here and here. It's a great story well told in song.On top of that, J.R. played a baritone ukulele I'm a sucker for that instrument and it's not something you see every day.
Both the performance and the song were worthy of one of the top prizes (2nd) in the contest.
Extended journeys through the American South gave Shore a taste of where his music came from. Having the opportunity to rub shoulders with Buddy Miller, Chip Taylor and Guy Clark gave Shore the inspiration to spread his own wings wide and carve his own path. After two years in Nashville, playing such venues as The Bluebird Cafe, Mercy Lounge and The Basement, Shore was ready to return back to his home turf, Calgary, Alberta, and ply his songwriting trade in some familiar digs.
What have you been listening to lately? What is on your iPod, CD player, turntable these days?
I'm currently in the midst of a decade-long stretch of really digging Texas singer-songwriters. The new tribute to Guy Clark, This One's For Him, is chalk full of amazing songs and performances. Jerry Jeff Walker is also getting steady play, mostly on my turntable. Viva Terlingua is my current Jerry Jeff favourite.
What is the record (okay maybe two or three or four or more ) that influenced your music the most?
Currently, what’s your favourite record to listen to on the road?
I actually love the fidelity of car speakers playing music really loud. When I'm in the car on my own these days, I'm listening to a lot of the new Felice Brothers Celebration Florida and the new Tom Waits Bad as Me. Both are very well produced albums with a lot of instrumental nooks and crannies. Perfect for the car.
Which of your records is your favourite?
I think the album I just recorded is my favourite. It's a beast of an album with 12 originals and eight covers. It'll be out sometime in winter 2013. It was a great chance for me to put my material up alongside some of my biggest influences like Gram Parsons, Neil Young and The Grateful Dead.
What’s the record you bought that you wish you didn't?
I've got my fair share of albums I've listened to, only a time or two. To be honest, none come to mind specifically, so they must be pretty forgettable
Follow JR Shore on twitter @jrshore
Like JR Shore on Facebook
Email JR Shore jrshore45@gmail.com
J.R. is not a newcomer to the business, nor is he new to winning prizes in this particular contest (see bio and video below.) Here's his contest winning entry from a previous contest - 2010 in the Beaver Tales category.
excerpt from J.R.'s website bio
At the crossroads between Nashville Tennessee, Austin Texas and Calgary Alberta, lives the musical soul of J.R. Shore.
Shore is equal parts storyteller, social commentator and performer. His songs provide a glimpse into years gone by, as well as present day characters with melody and lyrics that have audiences hanging on every line.
A multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, Shore began his musical career in the early 90's with the Grateful Dead inspired, Hiway 2. Original projects, Sgt.Singalong and the Military and Panama Red followed, with Shore developing greater and greater depth in his writing and performing. In 2004, Shore and his wife relocated to Music City, U.S.A. He seized the opportunity to see first-hand, what it takes to write and play with some of the best in the business.
excerpt from J.R.'s website bio
At the crossroads between Nashville Tennessee, Austin Texas and Calgary Alberta, lives the musical soul of J.R. Shore.
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| Kinky Friedman and JR |
A multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, Shore began his musical career in the early 90's with the Grateful Dead inspired, Hiway 2. Original projects, Sgt.Singalong and the Military and Panama Red followed, with Shore developing greater and greater depth in his writing and performing. In 2004, Shore and his wife relocated to Music City, U.S.A. He seized the opportunity to see first-hand, what it takes to write and play with some of the best in the business.
Extended journeys through the American South gave Shore a taste of where his music came from. Having the opportunity to rub shoulders with Buddy Miller, Chip Taylor and Guy Clark gave Shore the inspiration to spread his own wings wide and carve his own path. After two years in Nashville, playing such venues as The Bluebird Cafe, Mercy Lounge and The Basement, Shore was ready to return back to his home turf, Calgary, Alberta, and ply his songwriting trade in some familiar digs.
What have you been listening to lately? What is on your iPod, CD player, turntable these days?
I'm currently in the midst of a decade-long stretch of really digging Texas singer-songwriters. The new tribute to Guy Clark, This One's For Him, is chalk full of amazing songs and performances. Jerry Jeff Walker is also getting steady play, mostly on my turntable. Viva Terlingua is my current Jerry Jeff favourite.
The music of The Band probably figures most centrally into my influences. I was bringing in songs by The Band with my first band in Edmonton in the mid-90s, and today I'm part of the Front Porch Roots Revue's, Tribute to The Band. The true songwriter approach from Robbie Robertson, combined with incredibly skilled and heartfelt performances from the rest of the band, and the rhythm section...you just can't say enough about their influence on roots music today. Lyrically and stylistically, they captured the weirdness and beauty of the deep south that I've always been fascinated by myself.
What was the first record you bought?
My older sisters exposed me to a lot of their music before I bought anything myself. I remember listening to a lot of Elvis Costello and Squeeze as a kid. I think the first album I ever purchased was David Bowie's Lets Dance. I haven't listened to it in a while now. I think it would still stack up pretty well without feeling overly dated.
What was the first record you bought?
My older sisters exposed me to a lot of their music before I bought anything myself. I remember listening to a lot of Elvis Costello and Squeeze as a kid. I think the first album I ever purchased was David Bowie's Lets Dance. I haven't listened to it in a while now. I think it would still stack up pretty well without feeling overly dated.
What’s your favourite cover tune? (Song and covered by whom?)
The new album of covers of Shel Silverstein poems and songs is fantastic (Twistable, Turnable Man - A Musical Tribute to the Songs of Shel Silverstein). John Prine sings a terribly sad song about his guitar not writing any new songs, called This Guitar is For Sale. It pulls right at the heartstrings of any songwriter. That's probably my favourite cover right now.
What is the record that you count as a guilty pleasure?
The new album of covers of Shel Silverstein poems and songs is fantastic (Twistable, Turnable Man - A Musical Tribute to the Songs of Shel Silverstein). John Prine sings a terribly sad song about his guitar not writing any new songs, called This Guitar is For Sale. It pulls right at the heartstrings of any songwriter. That's probably my favourite cover right now.
What is the record that you count as a guilty pleasure?
I don't tend to feel too guilty about what I listen to. One of the things I love is the mainstream country artists who have covered some of Darrell Scott's material, like Travis Tritt and The Dixie Chicks. They are great tunes, and their ability to cross over into the mainstream is an interesting feat.
Long Time Gone from the Dixie Chicks 2001 record Home
Long Time Gone from Darrell Scott's and Tim O'Brien's 2000 record Real Time
Long Time Gone from the Dixie Chicks 2001 record Home
Long Time Gone from Darrell Scott's and Tim O'Brien's 2000 record Real Time
Currently, what’s your favourite record to listen to on the road?
I actually love the fidelity of car speakers playing music really loud. When I'm in the car on my own these days, I'm listening to a lot of the new Felice Brothers Celebration Florida and the new Tom Waits Bad as Me. Both are very well produced albums with a lot of instrumental nooks and crannies. Perfect for the car.
Which of your records is your favourite?
I think the album I just recorded is my favourite. It's a beast of an album with 12 originals and eight covers. It'll be out sometime in winter 2013. It was a great chance for me to put my material up alongside some of my biggest influences like Gram Parsons, Neil Young and The Grateful Dead.
What’s the record you bought that you wish you didn't?
I've got my fair share of albums I've listened to, only a time or two. To be honest, none come to mind specifically, so they must be pretty forgettable
Follow JR Shore on twitter @jrshore
Like JR Shore on Facebook
Email JR Shore jrshore45@gmail.com
