By Sheila Phibbs
The Haldimand Press
DUNNVILLE—Earlier this fall, long-time country musician Ollie Strong was honoured with the 2022 Hank Smith Award of Excellence by the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA). While he may not be as familiar as some in Haldimand, his sister – Edna Richardson of Dunnville – certainly is and the gift of music is something she shares with her award-winning brother.
According to the CCMA website, the Hank Smith Award of Excellence “recognizes an individual who has gone above and beyond their current job in contributing his or her time and talents for the advancement of Canadian country music nationally.” Smith was the founding President of the Academy of Country Music Entertainment, which preceded the CCMA.
Richardson says that her brother went on a tour of Europe with Smith. She describes Strong as a background musician; his main instrument is a steel pedal guitar, but she says, “He can play anything with strings.” Strong has played on albums for Canadian artists and performed on The Tommy Hunter Show for several years. This award recognizes all he has done to promote country music.
Like many professional musicians, Strong developed his talent at home in Bolton, Ontario, with his family and Richardson a part of his musical beginnings. Richardson refers to their family as “The Strong Connection”. She was the youngest and they all played an instrument. She says, “That’s where it all started, in our living room.”
As Richardson was a teenager, Strong, who was five years older, played in a group called The Humber Valley Ranch Boys – but there was something missing from the band. Richardson laughs as she recalls, “They had their band but not an upright bass, so he bought a bass and said to me, ‘You learn to play it!’”
Richardson, who was 15 at the time, did as her brother asked. She notes that they are both self-taught musicians; she already played guitar and piano and she learned the bass by ear. The band did have to change its name and became known as The Humber Valley Ranch Boys and Edna.
Richardson chuckles at the memory and says, “That was the start of his career.”
She had fun being in the band; she remembers playing a New Year’s Eve party for $100 and thinking “that was a lot!” But for Richardson, music is not a business. She says, “Being paid has never been a high priority, but a nice bonus. It’s hard to put a dollar sign on the enjoyment I received.”
Eventually, Strong pursued music as a profession. Richardson met her husband, Keith, in Junior Farmers. She says, “My attention veered from music to agriculture.” Marriage would bring her to the farm in Haldimand where she and Keith have lived for over 50 years.
Music has remained an important part of Richardson’s life and a gift she has shared with others. She directed the Celebration Seekers Youth Choir from 1970 to 1990. Known for its musical worship services, the choir chose a theme each year travelling to different churches to perform it. Richardson says, “It was a really great youth activity.”
Since 1997, Richardson has played bass in the band BreeZee Creek, which currently includes local musicians John McKay, Bill Smith, Bruce Everets, and Al Penrose. The band has entertained audiences throughout the county and Richardson says, “I enjoy seeing people enjoy it. You can play so much better when people are enjoying it.”
Enjoyment is essentially what music is about for Richardson. She describes it as relaxation and enjoys the challenge of learning new country tunes. She says, “That saved me during the pandemic.”
But the true value of music goes deeper. She believes, “There’s a story in music; the meaning of a song is important to me. It’s a ministry in many ways.”
Whether in the living room with her family, on the stage with the band, or just on her own, Edna Richardson continues to share her gift of music, passing along the message in every song.
