Bill Houston
In 1971 the first IMAX film "North of Superior" was screened at Toronto's Ontario Place. Shown on a six story, curved screen audiences were awestruck by its unparalleled clarity of images. Partnered, in perfect harmony, with these incredible visuals was the song Ojibway Country written and performed by Bill Houston.
In the decade following, Bill composed material for several films, documentaries and commercials, established a music publishing company, developed his own small record company, Lone Wolf Productions Ltd., and released his own full length album The King of White Otter Lake. The title track from this album tells the tale of Jimmy McQuat, a persistent and ingenious man who built a castle on White Otter Lake near Ignace, ON. Jimmy became a legend and the song became Bill Houston's most published and reproduced work. "The King of White Otter Lake" even made it into public school songbooks where it is used to teach, not only music, but geography, history and comparative literature.
In spite of his success in Toronto, Bill realized his heart and the roots of his music, the land and the people he most frequently wrote about, were in the north. He missed his Northwestern Ontario home and decided to return. Marriage, two children and full time work grounded Bill in Thunder Bay. However, he continued to write music and play with local musicians whenever he could.
In 1997, together with George Gregorovich and a host of other talented Thunder Bay musicians, Bill released an 11 song CD, North of Superior. Bill was quickly booked all over Northwestern Ontario and into Northern Minnesota. People were eager to hear Bill's stories celebrating the beauty and the heritage of their region and to welcome Bill back to the stage. Bill continued to play for appreciative audiences in the region at house concerts, fundraisers, cafes, schools and festivals. But with only a small portion of the over 400 songs he has written available to the public Bill decided it was time for another CD.
The result was Bring Back the Music, a 14 song CD, released in the summer of 2006. With a diversity of styles from ragtime to lullaby and topics from historic rail lines to prescription drugs this wonderful collection once again illuminates the incredible songwriting talent of Bill Houston. Backed by renowned musicians such as Chris Whiteley, Anne Lindsay and Grit Laskin and utilizing the skills of award winning producer Paul Mills, this CD has found enthusiastic acceptance among folk aficionados and new-comers alike.
"His music is open and clear and somehow, uniquely Canadian country - even Canadian north country - in feel. He's among a long line of Canadian songwriters in the contemporary folk tradition; people like Ian Tyson, Gordon Lightfoot and Joni Mitchell."
- Richard Flohil, The Canadian Composer
