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Dick (Richard Francis) Nolan. Singer-songwriter, guitarist, b Corner Brook, Nfld, 4 Feb 1939, d Carbonear, Nfld, 13 Dec 2005. In his early teens Nolan sang on local radio and in 1954 he gave his first CBC broadcast. In 1958 he moved to Toronto, where he performed in various nightclubs, eg, backing US country stars at the Horseshoe Tavern with his Blue Valley Boys in the 1960s. Recording for Arc Sound, he made 11 LPs, including albums of songs by Johnny Cash, as well as Newfoundland, Maritime, Christmas, and country material. (See Michael Taft's A Regional Discography of Newfoundland and Labrador 1904-1972, St John's 1975). Some were recorded in duet with his daughter Bonnie Lou Nolan or with Marlene Beaudry. The songs 'Golden Rocket' (by Hank Snow) and 'The Fool' were popular in this period.
Nolan returned to Corner Brook in the late 1960s, and appeared on TV, and at the Bella Vista nightclub, and elsewhere. In 1972 he began to record for RCA (BMG). His first LP, Fisherman's Boy (CAS-2576), included the song 'Aunt Martha's Sheep,' composed by Nolan and a fellow islander, Ellis Coles of Carmanville. Written in the traditional ballad style but with contemporary references in its lyrics, it would be Nolan's biggest hit, and was followed 1972-4 by such singles as 'Home Again This Year' and 'Me and Brother Bill.' Nolan returned in 1973 to Toronto where he performed in restaurants and nightclubs catering to Newfoundlanders. He appeared on CBC TV country music shows and in Nashville at the Grand Ole Opry. The most successful of his more than 25 LPs released by Arc Sound, RCA, Pickwick, and Boot include Fisherman's Boy, Home Again This Year (RCA CASX-2603), and Happy Newfoundlanders (RCA KCL1-0012). His songs have been published by Bay Music and Dunbar Music. In 1992, Nolan performed on the album Singers for Fishermen, a musical response to the closure of the Newfoundland cod fishery. Later recordings included the 1994 gospel album Family Bible, Pretty Girls of Newfoundland (1996), Down By the Sea (1998), Christmas Morn in Newfoundland (with Eddie Coffey, 1998), and Newfoundland Good Times (1999). Nolan returned to Newfoundland in 2004 to take up residence and, in November of the following year, was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Music Industry Association of Newfoundland and Labrador. A retrospective compilation entitled The Best of Dick Nolan was released posthumously in 2006. Nolan was the first Newfoundlander nominated for a Juno award (country male vocalist of the year, 1975), the first to perform at the Grand Ole Opry, and the first to receive gold and platinum records. Fisherman's Boy (1972) sold more than 100,000 copies, while Home Again This Year (1972) and Happy Newfoundlanders (1973) sold over 50,000 copies each. In a prolific recording career, he recorded over 40 albums, which have collectively sold more than 1 million copies. Although rich in local colour and responsive to folk music traditions (as evidenced by a highly personalized rendition of "I'se the B'y"), Nolan's music was by no means exclusively aimed at a Newfoundland audience. His commercial successes, notably "Aunt Martha's Sheep," captured the imagination of listeners across North America, and he shared the concert stage with country stars such as Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, and Stompin' Tom Connors, among others. His songs are sometimes criticized (unfairly perhaps) for perpetuating stereotypical notions of Newfoundland, yet there can be no denying the magnetic appeal of his rich baritone voice nor his lasting impact on Canadian popular culture. Nolan enjoyed unprecedented popularity amongst expatriate Newfoundlanders, and in his home province he is remembered as a pioneer who helped open pathways for future generations of musicians on the international stage.
Author
Revised: Glenn D. Colton
Bibliography
McKinley, Edith. 'Making it in Corner Brook with help from Aunt Martha's Sheep,' Canadian Panorama, 10 Mar 1973 McGuirk, Henry. 'Dick Nolan: fisherman's boy... country boy,' Country Music News, vol 6, Jun 1985 Porter, Stephanie. "Dick Nolan country," The Independent, St John's, Nfld, 26 Jun 2005 Stacy, Jean Edwards. "Singing legend dead at 66," The Telegram, St. John's, Nfld, 14 Dec 2005 Sullivan, J.M. "Dick Nolan, musician, 1939-2005," Globe and Mail, 15 Dec 2005 The Western Star, Corner Brook, Nfld, 14 Dec 2005 White, Dave. "Semi-retired in South River: Newfoundland country legend Dick Nolan working on his memoirs," The Compass, Trinity and Conception Bay, Nfld, 23 Aug 2005
Links to Other Sites
Dick Nolan Country
The website for Dick Nolan, legendary Newfoundland, maritime, and country music recording artist, singer, and song-writer. Features a biography and detailed discography.
Dick Nolan
An obiturary for Dick Nolan, one of Newfoundland’s most revered musicians. From the “Country Music News” website.
Dick Nolan
A profile of Dick Nolan, the great Newfoundland and Labrador singer-songwriter. From the “Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage” website.
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