Nov 28 – More 78s From The Crates on Roy’s Record Room
The 78s from the crates series continues this week with mighty fine sides from the Dixie Hummingbirds, the Blue Ridge Playboys, Varetta Dillard, Clyde McPhatter, the Roy Milton Sextet, Mel Torme and more.
That’s Sunday, November 28th, 1 PM, Mountain, for more 78s from the crates on Rooooy’s Record Room, the show that continues to revolve. Fifteen years and counting.
To learn more about the show, click on the RRR tab.
Celebrating Five Decades of Roy
Our boy has hit the 50 year mark in the entertainment biz, and is getting a fair bit of media attention. Check out these articles.
The Georgia Straight (October 16, 2021)
https://www.straight.com/music/roy-forbes-celebrates-50-years-from-bim-to-edge-of-blue
The North Shore News (October 16, 2021)
https://www.nsnews.com/local-arts/roy-forbes-celebrates-50-years-in-the-music-business-with-two-north-vancouver-shows-4520471
Stir (October 17, 2021)
https://www.createastir.ca/articles/roy-forbes
The Vancouver Sun (October 20, 2021)
https://vancouversun.com/entertainment/local-arts/after-50-years-in-the-music-biz-forbes-has-the-memories-and-a-k-tel-record-to-prove-it
Roy Interviewed on CBC’s ‘Hot Air’
Interview on CBC’s ‘Saturday Night Blues’
On November 7th, 2020, Roy was interviewed by host Holger Peterson about life for him in the pandemic and the release of his latest CD ‘Edge of Blue’. You can check out the podcast on the CBC Radio site here:
https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-154-saturday-night-blues/clip/15816433-hour-1
The interview starts about 28 minutes and 15 seconds from the beginning.
Vancouver Sun Article – August 8, 2016
Read a recent article in the Vancouver Sun by Francois Marchand about Roy’s recent revelation HERE.
CFMA Nomination for Producer of the Year
Roy got an early Christmas present this year…a Canadian Folk Music Awards nomination for Producer of the Year for his new album ‘Edge of Blue’. Since 1985, Roy has produced or co-produced all of his own albums as well as records by other artists. He is tickled to get the nod for this area of his work from the CFMA ‘Producer of the Year’ jury.
The awards will be held virtually on April 9th and 10th, 2021. Find out more here: folkawards.ca
AMI TV Documentary on Roy
Back in August, 2019, AMI TV’s Rob Simpson and Tim Testor came to Vancouver to spend a few days hanging out with Roy, gathering material for a documentary on the singer.
Roy’s episode of “Rhythms” features quite a bit of footage of his mid-August outdoor Vancouver CBC Nooner concert along with an extensive interview. They even got in a visit to a record store!
Go HERE to view it online.
‘Straight Outta Dawson’ on CBC-TV
Roy performed for the first time with opera singer Ben Heppner and soul singer Tonye as part of CBC Music’s special show ‘Straight Outta Dawson’. “There is no Dawson Creek sound,” said Forbes. “The three of us are very different. But the fact that [Dawson Creek] had a little something to do with all three of us is pretty interesting. There’s more stuff going up there as well that people don’t know about.”
You can read more about the show HERE. It aired on September 23rd, 2017.
BC Entertainment Hall of Fame Induction
On July 28, 2017 The BC Entertainment Hall of Fame (BCEHOF) announced its 2017 BCEHOF inductees. These seven new Star Walk Stars and two Pioneer Stars will join the 275+ previous inductees who have been recognized for their significant contribution to the province’s entertainment industry and cultural landscape.
The BCEHOF is divided into two prestigious categories: Star Walk and Pioneers. The Star Walk inductees are individuals who have enhanced the province’s cultural profile, both locally and on the world stage. The 2017 Star Walk inductees included Roy in the music category.
Roy was formally inducted at his old stomping grounds the CBC, at his Musical Nooner concert there on August 24th. His fans and friends joined in on the celebration.
Roy’s star was unveiled on the Walk of Fame on Granville Street near the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Vancouver. The ceremony will take place on Monday, September 25 at 3pm.
Read the entire press release HERE.
Check out Roy’s Facebook page for some photos of the occasion.
An Article in The Salmon Arm Observer
In conjunction with the recently held Salmon Arm Blues and Roots Festival in Salmon Arm, BC, the local paper did an article on Roy. You can view it HERE.
CBC.ca Article – August 8
Here’s an article from the CBC News web site by Rafferty Baker about Roy’s return to the Vancouver stage at the CBC Nooner series HERE. You can also see more pictures of the event on Roy’s Facebook page.
Roy’s Recent Interview with NXNW’s Sheryl Mackay Now Available for Listening
We’re finally able to provide a link to Roy’s recent interview with Sheryl MacKay (pictured with Roy) on CBC’s North by Northwest program. Roy talks to Sheryl about a recent event that has led to big life changes for him. You can go HERE to listen to it.
A Live Performance on Roundhouse Radio
Roy performed Mince Meat Tart on a special Christmas edition of Live from Railtown with Terry David Mulligan. Watch The YouTube video as Roy is joined by Sheri Ulrich, Shaun Verreault, Barney Bentall and Craig Northey for a very special performance of Mince Meat Tart. Terry even joins in with all the fun!
Check it out HERE.
A Message from Roy – My Next Chapter
Hey, all. Some of you already know, but for those who don’t, I have some hard news to share. After an accident on December 22, 2015, I have lost the vision in my only eye.The last seven months have been a series of surgeries and visits to the Eye Care Centre in Vancouver where my doctors made a valiant effort to save my sight. My heartfelt thanks to them for their wonderful care and kindness. As well, Lydia and I would like to thank family and friends who have kept us surrounded by love and support through
Despite this setback I have not been idle. With the help of my daughter, Suzannah, I continue to keep my CKUA radio show “Roy’s Record Room” on the go (big thanks, Suz). And now, armed with a couple of new songs, I am ready to hit the stage again. I look forward to being on the road again very soon! Please come by after a show to say hi.
– Roy
An Article About the Return to Dawson Creek
Here’s an interesting article from the Alaska Highway News leading up to Roy’s 2015 concert in Dawson Creek.
Roy Forbes returns to the Peace Region this weekend
It doesn’t take much for Roy Forbes to launch into stories about home.
The Rolla-born musician, who plays Dawson Creek Saturday, brims with tales of the early days of rock n’ roll in the Northeast.
On the phone from North Vancouver Wednesday, he recalls practice sessions in a Pouce Coupe shack and a late-night trip down the Alaska Highway after a show in Fort St. John in the dead of winter.
“We had two guys in the bed [of a truck] with quilts over the equipment,” he said.
Forbes left for Vancouver at 18 and went on to become one of the region’s best-known cultural exports — a frequent performer at folk festivals and rock clubs, as well as a radio presenter.
On Feb. 14, he plays the Calvin Kruk Centre in what organizers hope will be the first of a regular concert series.
Since his first album 1975, Dawson Creek has featured prominently in both Forbes’ music and his story.
“It’s certainly more interesting to talk about that growing up in the suburbs, I think,” he said of his upbringing.
Roy’s 40th Anniversary Celebration!
Forty years ago, at the age of eighteen, Roy journeyed to Vancouver from Dawson Creek to make a life making music. In the fall of 2011, he celebrated ‘forty years a music guy’ with a series of concerts around the province of British Columbia. The shows were all solo – a guy and his guitar. Roy pulled out songs from all through his long career, including a few oldies that he hadn’t played in many years.
Go HERE to read a journal about how it all went down.
Roy Adds Two More to His Already Impressive List of Covers
The folks just keep on covering Roy’s tunes
Suzie Vinnick recently included Roy’s ‘Crazy ‘Bout Lovin’ Me’ on her superb new blues release, ‘Me ‘n’ Mabel’. This is the fourth Roy tune this great gal has covered over the past few years. Go HERE to see Suzie’s web site, and HERE to see her singing ‘Crazy ‘Bout Lovin’ Me’ on YouTube.
Denise Withnell (of ‘Cowboy Celtic’ fame) has a nice smoky version of Roy’s ‘Let Me Make It Up To You Tonight’ on her new CD, ‘Rose Petal Pie’. Go HERE to hear her fine CD.
“Snap Crackle Pop” on CBC Radio One
After thirty-plus years with the CBC, my pal and SCP co-host Paul Grant retired in the summer of 2009. He’s taking some well deserved time to do whatever the heck he wants and I know that all of us wish him well. We out here on the West Coast really miss his warm and knowledgeable presence on the CBC. He’s one of the good ‘uns!
Paul and I managed to slip in quite a few editions of Snap Crackle Pop over thirteen years. From our first national broadcast on Radio One in September, 1996, to the most recent show in January, 2009, the two of us spent many a happy hour spinning those records, unravelling the roots of today’s music and sharing our finds with all of you. I learned a lot about making radio from Paul during our run of ‘Snaps’ and I want to say ‘Thanks, buddy’.
As my good friend Bill Henderson wrote, back in the early 70s, ‘If there’s no audience, there just ain’t no show’. And, folks, you SCP fans have been the BEST audience a radio show could have. I treasure the e-mails I’ve received from you over the years, sharing your own musical finds, memories, information, mis-information corrections and tips for some great batches of records that have now become a part of my collection. And those supportive face-to-face comments in airport bookstores, restaurants, post-offices and coffee shops; at after-concert CD signing sessions and on street corners all across Canada – all have been much appreciated. Thanks for being there for SCP.
At this point, I can’t say what the future of Snap Crackle Pop will be with the CBC. If it’s meant to continue at some point, I’m in! If not, it’s been a great run.
Honours for Roy and a Concert in Dawson Creek
The press release from Dawson Creek says …
Northern Lights College, along with the City of Dawson Creek and the Kiwanis Performing Arts Centre joined forces to make June 8-9 an unforgettable weekend tribute for acclaimed singer/songwriter Roy Forbes.
The festivities kicked with Forbes receiving an Honourary Arts Degree from Northern Lights College. The degree was conferred on Friday, June 8th 2008 during the Convocation ceremonies at the North Peace Cultural Centre in Fort St. John.
Then, on Saturday, June 9th, the City of Dawson Creek recognized Forbes with a street-naming ceremony that took place at 2 pm. Mayor Calvin Kruk officially unveiled ‘Roy Forbes Drive’ – 11th Street from 96th Avenue to 97th Avenue.
The weekend was capped off on Saturday evening with a fundraising concert at the Kiwanis Performing Arts Centre, with half of the proceeds going to the KPAC fundraising initiative.