Happenings on the Scene – Getting reacquainted with a Manitoba songstress

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This article was published 02/12/2010 (5668 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Part 1 of a 2-Part Special

 

Since her pre-school days in Roblin, Manitoba, Tara Lyn Hart (Mohr) recalls wanting to be a singer. In fact it was at the tender age of five that she began singing songs for family and friends around the house. Those sometimes impromptu performances would eventually evolve into 80 dates a year by the time she was in junior high school and then ultimately into a recording artist while still in her late teens!

The pace really started to pick up in Hart’s career when she entered and won a contest through which she was able to record two demos to be distributed to Canadian country radio.

Hart worked with Danny Schur, who was Chantal Kreviazuk’s manager at the time. Schur passed her recordings to Sony Music Canada’s Mike Roth, which led to a recording contract with Epic Records shortly after her 18th birthday and two weeks before her wedding.

In 1998, Hart was named Billboard magazine’s "Most Likely to Succeed." The whirlwind start to her recording career didn’t stop there. In fact, it intensified.

Hart’s self-titled debut album was released in the fall of 1999. The lead single, "Stuff That Matters," soared up the Canadian country singles chart, eventually peaking at an impressive No. 6.

At the 2000 Juno Awards, Hart was nominated for Best Country Female Artist, and the all-genre Best New Solo Artist. In April 2000, she was invited to perform on the Grand Ole Opry.

Hart won three awards at the 2000 Manitoba Association of Country Arts Awards — Female Vocalist, and both Song of the Year and Video of the Year for "Stuff That Matters."

Throughout the first few years the music industry accolades kept on coming.

In June of 2000, Hart won two awards at RPM’s Big Country Awards — Outstanding New Female Artist and Canadian Country Video of the Year for "Stuff That Matters." When the nominations were announced for the 2000 Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Awards, Hart had six nominations, the most for any artist. She won the FACTOR Rising Star Award at the September, 2000 ceremony. She picked up two more nominations at the 2000 Prairie Music Awards — Outstanding Country Recording and Outstanding Album by a Major Label.

At the 2001 Juno Awards, Hart was again nominated for Best Country Female Artist. She also picked up a nomination for Female Vocalist of the Year at the 2001 CCMA Awards, competing against Lisa Brokop, Terri Clark, Carolyn Dawn Johnson and Michelle Wright.

Meanwhile, her album continued to spawn successful singles such as "Save Me," "I Will Be Loving You" and "What He Used To Do." Hart capped off 2001 with a SOCAN award for "Save Me," a song she co-wrote with Hal Draper and David Quilico.

In June 2003, Hart began work on her second album. The first single, "Happiness," was released in September. However before the album was complete, Hart decided to walk away from her music career to spend more time with her husband and stay home with their three children.

Recently she made the decision to delve back into her singing career and just this week released her first Christmas CD.

Next week in Happenings, we’ll feature an exclusive interview with Tara, to catch up and see how she filled in that six-year gap and what her plans are for the future.

 

The Parth:

Out F’Sync is back for a more festive show on Dec. 18 to celebrate the Yuletide season, featuring your favourite hits from the ’90s to today, along with some seasonal selections to really make your spirit tingle. Out F’Sync is Rory Graham, Colin Evans and Cameron Tataryn.

Also, in support of our local businesses, there will be a $5 cover charge to help support Parthenon Pizza and their generosity as they continue to let us play. Doors open at 8 p.m. for the all-ages show.

 

Clancy’s:

* Dec. 16 — Onanole City Limits

* Dec. 17 — Misty Street

 

The 40:

* Dec. 3 — An evening with Clubbing Fraggles & Friends

* Dec. 4 — Brandon University Jazz Recital featuring the Cam Wilkes’ group at 8 p.m. followed by Neon Blunt and Take With Audio

* Dec. 9 — Econoline Crush with special guests FUGR; tickets $15 available now at the front desk of the Trails West Motor Inn.

 

Houston’s:

* Dec. 3 — Pop Vegas (from Winnipeg) will set the party tone with plenty of great dance tunes from the ’80s, ’90s and now.

 

 

Alana Levandoski headlines dinner/concert fundraiser for harvest sun music fest

 

A ‘Dinner and Concert’ in benefit of the Harvest Sun Music Fest will be held Saturday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. at the Viscount Cultural Center, Mountain Ave., in Neepawa.

The concert will feature Alana Levandoski, with special guests Rob Waddell and Logan McKillop.

This is going to be a great evening that would make for a fantastic staff Christmas party, or simply a great opportunity to catch an excellent concert and eat some amazing food.

On the menu? Chicken breast grilled to perfection and smothered with creamy champagne and mushroom sauce, served with locally grown oven roasted potatoes and vegetables, homemade biscuits and for dessert — a decadent cream cheese and dark chocolate brownie. There’ll be a cash bar

Tickets are $45 per person, with a group rate (10 persons or more) of $40. Limited seating available

Deadline to RSVP is today.

 

Frank McGwire is a radio personality and booster of the music scene in Brandon and Westman.

» franko1@mts.net