On June 3rd 1973, thirteen people (including myself) met at the Horseshoe Tavern at 368 Queen Street in Toronto, to discuss the possibility of starting an association for Country Music in Canada. On that day, 12 of us went on to become the original board of directors and the founding members of the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA). I served on the Board for several months but finally had to relinquish my position because of a heavy tour schedule which took me all over Canada and other parts of North America. To learn more about me, you can read my story below, or pick up a copy of my book. My music is available on most social media platforms including YouTube.
My Story
Born and raised on a small farm in Hassetts, Nova Scotia, the youngest of eight children, at an early age Brent developed a love and appreciation of music from his mother.
With his first guitar in hand and his older brother Robert teaching him a few chords, by the age of seven Brent knew he wanted to make music his life and the first steps were taken on a path that would reveal an incredible talent and lead to a long and successful career.
One-night stands in the Maritimes in their early teens, with fellow Afro-Canadian and lifelong friend Harry Cromwell, started a journey which was to prove Brent a pioneer in many facets of the music industry, an accomplished musician, consummate entertainer and recipient of numerous coveted awards from his peers.
Following the Birch Mountain Boys, the ‘Brent & Harry Show’ was formed. Two LPs were recorded during that time – ‘Country Special’ and ‘More Country with Brent & Harry’. “The Birch Mountain Boys” were one of the first groups to play and perform live bluegrass music in Canada.
In the following years, Brent worked with Don Messer’s Jubilee, CBC TV, The Maritime Playboys, CHAU-TV Carleton, Quebec, and The Marcel Martel Show CHLT TV Sherbrooke, Quebec. He also toured extensively and made regular television appearances. Settling into a solo career, he recorded ‘Soft Soft Shoulders and Dangerous Curves’ which was a significant hit in the Toronto area and led to numerous releases including the Nashville recordings of ‘Back Home in Georgia’ and ‘Till I Can’t Take it Anymore’, many of which made the national charts.
Other charted songs include ‘I Took Me a Trip Back Home’, ‘Holiday On Georgian Bay’, and ‘I Wish You were With Me Tonight’.
In 1973, Brent, was one of the founding members of the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) and served as one of the Board of Directors for a two year period. He received a nomination for one of his songs in the ‘Outstanding Performance Category’ by the CCMA 1978. In 1976 he won first place in the Bon Soo Fiddle Championship in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. In 1995 he was presented with the Condor/Marathon Music Certificate of Merit in recognition of his contribution to Country Music in Canada. On September 14, 2013 he received the honour of being inducted into the “Nova Scotia Country Music Hall of Fame”.
Brent made his acting debut in the movie ‘Steel Kiss’ in the role of Mr. Slaight in 1995 and performed and acted in ‘Café of Romance’, a live musical which ran for 10 days at the Scarborough Village Theatre, Toronto, Ontario. He recently completed a 8-part mini-series with CBC-TV of African-Nova Scotian folklore, titled ‘Studio Black’, based on the 1923 writings of Arthur Fauset. In a more recent role he played a refugee in one of the last series of the “The Mist” (all episodes created/written by Stephen King).
In recent years, turning more to his love for gospel music, his fans and followers will be delighted to hear that Brent is working on more Gospel music consisting of originals and some of his favourite covers.
On March 7, 2015 Brent received the prestigious “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the African Nova Scotian Music Association. Brent continues to delight audiences wherever he plays. His outstanding talent and sheer love of music transcends to all listeners who have the opportunity and privilege of attending a performance given by this true Nova Scotian gem.
After years of travelling, Brent’s journey brought him back to his roots and Nova Scotia where he made his home for awhile but to be closer to his immediate family he now lives in Ontario again since 2018.