Shirley Mae Carr

C.C.M.R. regrets to announce the passing of Shirley Mae Carr on Wednesday, June 17th, 2009. We send our most sincere condolences to brother Jim Carr and the family. Shirley is survived by her loving daughter Wendy and Wendy’s children Sean, Matthew and Danielle. Shirley is also survived by a son Joe and his children Amanda and Michael. Shirley has only one surviving sibling, that being brother Jim Carr of Dunsford. She also leaves several nieces nephews, great nieces and nephews, including very special nieces Debbie (Guy) McCloskey, Janey (Earl) Coish, Rhonda (Luigi) Minoia and special nephew James Jr. (Nathalie) Carr. She was a special friend to Lori Gayle and Thelma Graham.

Shirley Mae started singing music at a place called the Log Cabin, located in the west end of Toronto. That is where she learned to play guitar by watching everyone else. She then joined the “Western Sweethearts” and they played the night clubs in Toronto and the United States. They also toured down to the East Coast of Canada with Dusty Owens from Wheeling, West Virginia. She played on shows with such stars as Hank Snow and Jean Sheppard, Billy Walker and Grandpa Jones. She recorded for the Arc Record Label in the sixties.

Shirley Mae enjoyed her music and played whenever she got a chance and had recently teamed up with her brother Bill. Bill did not work in music as Shirley Mae did as he was a truck driver for many years. After he retired he played for the senior homes in the Lindsay and Bobcaygeon areas.
They performed together and were a delight to listen too with their magical acoustic guitar sounds and clear traditional country music vocals. The Classic Country Music Reunion Executive, Board of Directors, and members extend our most heartfelt sympathy to the family. We had certainly all been looking forward to seeing Shirley Mae and Jim sing on the Friday night show at C.C.M.R. this year.

GET WELL LORRIE GALE

C. C. M. R. sends out Get Well wishes to Lorrie Gale who was booked to appear on the Main Stage this year, on Friday evening. She has unfortunately had to cancel this year’s appearance.

Long before the Dixie Chicks, Farmer’s Daughter, Lace and other all-girl acts that are now so much in vogue in country music, there was “The Rhythm Sweethearts”, a Toronto based quartet.

Lorrie joined “The Rhythm Sweethearts” in 1959 and toured in Ontario, Quebec and parts of northern United States on the country club circuits. The Rhythm Sweethearts also toured with country performers like Dusty Owens and Lee Moore; guested on WWVA, Wheeling, West Virginia and were the house band at Toronto’s famed Horseshoe Tavern for 1 ½ years. They also played the Silver Dollar in Toronto for a year and a half.

We certainly hope that Lorrie’s health improves and we could have her back on our show another year. Get well Lorrie.

Friday Evening, July 31st, 2009 - 6:30pm

Hosted by Al Traynor

Saturday Evening, August 1st, 2009 - 6:30pm

Hosted by John Lester

Sunday Morning Gospel Show, August 2nd, 2009 - 11:00am

TBA

*Featuring many of your favorites

Sunday Evening, August 2nd, 2009 - 6:30pm

Hosted by Johnny Burke

(Program subject to addition or change without notice.)

Main Stage

Sound & Lighting: Doug Deveaux
Backup Band: "CCMR All Star Band" - under the leadership of Tim Sanders.

The C.C.M.R.'s address is:
P.O. Box 74, Lindsay, Ontario, Canada. K9V 4R8
Phone: 705-878-3102

ANY ENTERTAINERS WISHING TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE MAIN STAGE ON THE
2010/2011 REUNION & JAMBOREE, PLEASE FORWARD YOUR INFORMATION TO THE CLASSIC COUNTRY MUSIC REUNION INC., ENTERTAINMENT COMMITTEE, AT THE ADDRESS ABOVE.