Nova Scotia’s South Shore is home to many musicians, three of whom have been inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame — Hank Snow, Carroll Baker, and now musician, mentor, and promoter Joe Wood.
He was once a touring musician but transitioned in the 1980s to a record industry entrepreneur behind RDR Music Group.
“Forty-six years in the business and you don’t do it because you want an award, you don’t do it cause you’re trying to make a lot of money, you do it because you love it. And to have that happen is icing on the cake,” says Wood on the recent award.
He says he was in Halifax last May when he got the call about the Hall of Fame induction and was so shocked he didn’t tell anyone for six weeks.
“I just said, let’s keep this quiet, make sure it’s not a bad joke, but it’s for real, and it was quite an honour. I mean, to be used in the same sentence as Carroll and Hank is pretty amazing,” he says.
Considering the award, Wood took a moment to reflect on his career with CTV Your Morning Atlantic’s Brianne Foley.
In his 21-year promoting career, he’s worked with Lennie Gallant, Jimmy Rankin, the late Myles Goodwyn, Jess Moskaluke, and Garth Brooks.
On working with independent Canadian artists, he says the country punches above its weight.
“I mean, historically, we have some of the best songwriters in the world. We don’t have to play second fiddle to anybody,” says Wood.
He says he enjoys working more behind the scenes, helping artists rather than being on stage himself.
“Lennie called me about six weeks ago, Lennie Gallant, and said, ‘I’ve got a new tune (and) I’d like to get it out.’ We heard it, it was great. I took a shower two days later, as I was getting in the shower, I heard it on the radio,” he says.
“That’s a thrill, I know it’s a thrill for him, it’s a great thrill for me to hear my clients on the radio.”
While it’s been some time since he was a touring musician, he gives credit to the artists he works with today.
“I’ve got to give my kudos to them, it is not an easy process and it’s incredibly competitive,” he says, noting how long the process can be from having an idea to hearing it play on the radio.
“It’s great to walk them through the process, it’s great to work with young people,” says Wood. “I always say I’m successful when they don’t come back.”
He worked with Gord Bamford, Tenille Townes, and Brett Kissel when they were just starting, heard them play on the radio, then elevated their careers to the point where they could sign to major labels.
“We were all part of the same team, the winning team,” he says.
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