Meghan Patrick, The Reklaws Lead CMAO Awards Noms

By FYI Staff

Meghan Patrick and The Reklaws lead the just-announced list of nominees for the 2020 CMAOntario Awards, with six apiece. They’re followed by the James Barker Band, with five nominations, and Tim Hicks and Tebey, with four each.

The 8th Annual CMAOntario Awards are scheduled to take place Sunday, October 4 at London's Centennial Hall.

Hosted by Jason McCoy and Jennifer Campbell, the 8th Annual CMAOntario Awards, presented by Slaight Music with support from Ontario Creates, will celebrate the talent and achievements of Ontario’s country music industry across 19 categories including the Impact Award, Nielsen Compass Award, and Holly and Steve Kassay Generous Spirit Award.

Announced as the recipient of the  2020 Impact Award is Carroll Baker, an ambassador of Canadian country music.

“The CMAOntario is thrilled to be honouring Carroll,” said CMAOntario President Steve Kassay. “Her presence and career achievements have helped pave the way for country singers in this country. It’s about time Carroll’s career takes the centre stage spotlight.”

Known as Canada's First Lady Of Country Music, Carroll Baker epitomizes every value that has made country music the enduring form that it is: honesty, reality, genuine feeling, hard work, love, family, friendship and respect for others.

With a career spanning more than 40 years, she has achieved more than 20 number one records, 12 of which were consecutive. Baker was the first Canadian Country music performer to be awarded gold record certification and has since received Gold and Platinum records in certified sales in both Canada and Australia. Her catalogue comprises more than fifty recorded compositions, including, Tonight with Love, Why I Had to Pass this Way, It's My Party, It's Late I Have to Go, Hooked on a Feeling,  Love Triangle and Dreamin' Ain't Cheatin'. Her composition I'm An Old Rock 'N Roller was a country chart hit in 1984 for Tom Jones. 

Baker is an inductee of the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame and Nova Scotia Country Music Hall of Fame; recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from both the Province of Nova Scotia and Province of Ontario; multiple winner of Juno, CCMA and SOCAN/BMI awards; and in 2009, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada.

The Final Nominees for the 8th Annual CMAOntario Awards are:

SINGLE OF THE YEAR sponsored by Pure Country 106

If You Met Me First - Eric Ethridge

Keep it Simple - James Barker Band

Old Country Soul - The Reklaws

What A Song Should Do - Tim Hicks

Wild As Me- Meghan Patrick

ALBUM OF THE YEAR 

Big Deal - The Western Swing Authority

Cain - Andrew Hyatt

Freshman Year - The Reklaws

Singles Only - James Barker Band

Wild As Me - Meghan Patrick

SONGWRITER(S) OF THE YEAR sponsored by SOCAN

Jessica Mitchell – Somebody Gonna Get Hurt, recorded by Jessica Mitchell featuring Tim Hicks

Meghan Patrick, Jordan Rager, Michael Whitworth – Wild As Me, recorded by Meghan Patrick

Stuart Walker, Jenna Walker, Brad Rempel, Ben Stennis – I Do Too, recorded by The Reklaws

Tebey Ottoh, Kylie Sackley, Matt Rogers – The Good Ones, recorded by Tebey & Marie Mai

Tim Hicks, Emma-Lee, Karen Kosowski – What A Song Should Do, recorded by Tim Hicks

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR sponsored by Spring Tree Farm

Genevieve Fisher

Jessica Mitchell

Leah Daniels

Meghan Patrick

Nicole Rayy

Tianna Woods

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR sponsored by ECAO/IBEW

Aaron Allen

Andrew Hyatt

Eric Ethridge

Jade Eagleson

Jim Cuddy

Tim Hicks

GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR sponsored by Country 103

James Barker Band

Jess and Tay

The Abrams

The Reklaws 

The Western Swing Authority 

ROOTS ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR sponsored by Skelton Truck Lines

Jessica Mitchell 

Kelly Prescott 

The Abrams

The Redhill Valleys

The Western Swing Authority 

FRANCOPHONE ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR sponsored by Desjardins

Edouard Landry

Kristine St-Pierre

Les Rats D’Swompe

Reney Ray

Stef Paquette

RISING STAR AWARD sponsored by Slaight Music 

Aaron Allen

Alli Walker

David Boyd Janes

Dustin Bird

Kelsi Mayne

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR sponsored by MNP 

Feels Like That - The Reklaws

If You Met Me First - Eric Ethridge

Keep It Simple - James Barker Band

The Good Ones – Tebey & Marie Mai

ToGetHer - Leah Daniels

Wild as Me - Meghan Patrick

FANS’ CHOICE sponsored by Ontario Creates

Jade Eagleson

James Barker Band

Meghan Patrick

Tebey

The Reklaws

Tim Hicks

RECORD PRODUCER(S) OF THE YEAR sponsored by Metalworks Recording Studios

J.R. Hutt – Giselle Sanderson, Jamie Warren, Rebekah Stevens, Sean Hogan, Tianna Woods

Jason Barry – Amanda Jordan, Charlie Major, Josh David, Western Swing Authority, Billy Ray Cyrus

Jeff Dalziel – Aaron Allen, The Abrams, Dan Davidson, Chris Labelle, Ryan Langdon

Mark Schroor & Erik Fintelman – David Boyd Janes, Robyn Ottolini, Emily Clair

Tebey Ottoh & Danick Dupelle – Tebey & Marie Mai

INDUSTRY PERSON OF THE YEAR sponsored by Seeds CPA

Dave Woods, In the Country

Johnathan Smalley, Rock N Horse

KT Timmermans, Country 103/Manitoulin Country Fest

Ron Kitchener, RGK Entertainment

Shannon Ella, Pure Country/Complete Country

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (LARGE MARKET)

CHKX KX 947, Hamilton

CJBX Pure Country 93, London

CJKX KX96, Oshawa

CKBY Country 101.1, Ottawa

CKDK NEW Country 104, Woodstock

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (MEDIUM MARKET) sponsored by Lucknow’s Music in the Fields

CFCO Country 92.9, Chatham

CHCQ-FM Cool 100.1 FM, Belleville

CICS Pure Country 91.7, Sudbury

CJQM-FM Country 104.3, Sault Ste Marie

CKXC Country 93.5, Kingston

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (SMALL MARKET) 

CHAW Country 103, Little Current

CICX Pure Country 106, Orillia

CJDL-FM Country 107.3, Tillsonburg 

CKYC Country 93, Owen Sound

CKYY Country 89, Welland

Voting for the awards is restricted to CMAOntario members, with the exception of the Fans' Choice award, which is open to both public and membership voting. Eligible members will have the opportunity to vote on the final ballot as of today up until May 6, 2020. 

Music fans can cast their votes for the Fans' Choice award between May 1 - May 31, 2020 at https://cmaontario.ca/awards/voting/

The CMAOntario Awards Show will close out the CMAOntario Festival & Awards Weekend in London, October 1 - 4, 2020.