Guitar courtesy of Chris Davis. Jen Merritt photo.

Tom Lockwood is pleased to announce that Wendell Ferguson is his special guest for the Saturday Night Music Club on Saturday, December 5, 2009 at 8pm.

What do you give an overweight, asthmatic 7-year-old boy for Christmas? Model airplane? Etch-A-Sketch? Erector set? Well lucky for us, Wendell Ferguson’s’ folks gave him a guitar. From the first time he heard Chet Atkins’ recording of “Mister Sandman” he was hooked, and only one thing ever held his interest…the guitar. He’d already been taking lessons for 3 years when The Beatles came on the scene and he was soon hard at work lifting their licks, along with Ventures, the Stones, Les Paul and of course the aforementioned Mr. Atkins.

Fast forward to today. Wendell has won the Canadian Country Music Association’s “Guitar Player of the Year” 7 times, along with 3 more wins for “Back-up Band of the Year,” plus a Ontario Country Performer and Fan Association award for “Career Musician”. Ferguson says, “Not bad for a guy who hasn’t worked a day in his life”.

Years of touring, radio and television appearances and recording with some of the biggest names in both the country field (George Fox, Duane Steele, Shania Twain, The Wilkinsons, The Dixie Chicks, Chely Wright, Deana Carter, Gary Allen, Patty Loveless, Tracy Byrd…) and the folk arena (Gordon Lightfoot, Sylvia Tyson, James Keelaghan, Katherine Wheatley, The Arrogant Worms, Quartette, Jane Siberry, Vance Gilbert, Brent Titcomb) have given his songwriting a unique perspective.

In 1999, Wendell decided to step out on his own to reveal both his notorious sense of humour and his notable guitar work with the release of his CD “I Pick, Therefore I Jam.” The album garnered rave reviews and was nominated in the CCMA’s “Vocal Collaboration of the Year” category for his duet with Prairie Oyster’s Russell deCarle. It was also listed in RPM’s Top 100 Albums of 1999 and Country Music News’ “Best of the Year”. Ferguson now makes his living splitting his time between performing his own hilarious act and being a sideman/session player for everyone and their aunt.

Tickets to see this modern-day legend are $25, and member discounts are available.  To reserve your seat, call 519.354.8338, come in to 75 William Street North, or log on to www.cktickets.com.