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"Wendell Ferguson is recognized by his peers as one of the top pickers in the country and
known best as having one of the quickest wits in the game. A talented and
funny guy to say the least." (Country Music News)
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 Fergusons' 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" 6 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". To quote
Ferguson "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.
"The man writes sharp, witty and head-spinningly brilliant tunes. He's a cross
between Roger Miller and Ray Flack. He has more in common with Mark Twain than Shania"
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.
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