Willie P. Bennett

William Patrick "Willie P." Bennett (26 October 1951 – 15 February 2008) was a Canadian folk-music singer-songwriter, harmonica player, and mandolinist. Bennett was part of the 1970s folk music scene in Canada, and wrote and recorded many original songs. As well as performing as a solo artist, he was part of several well-known Ontario bands.

Life and career Born in Toronto, Bennett was first recorded by folksinger David Wiffen, who released a cover of "White Lines" in 1973. Bennett released his first album, including his own recording of the song, the following year.

As solo performer, he recorded seven albums. In the early 1990s, Bennett was a member of Toronto-based Pat Temple's band, the High Lonesome Players, playing live and appearing on their albums. In 1991 he joined Fred Eaglesmith's band, the Flying Squirrels, with whom he toured and recorded,

Bennett also played harmonica live and on recordings with Joe Hall, Doug McArthur, Sneezy Waters and many other country and folk artists.

Bennett co-wrote the song "Goodbye, So Long, Hello" with Russell deCarle. The song was recorded by deCarle's band Prairie Oyster, released as a single in 1990.

Bennett returned to prominence in 1996, when Stephen Fearing, Colin Linden and Tom Wilson formed Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, a supergroup named for Bennett's 1978 album, and recorded a tribute album featuring Bennett's songs.

During a 2007 Victoria Day weekend concert in Midland, Ontario, Bennett suffered an on-stage heart attack; he continued playing to the end of the concert, but after that was forced to stop touring.

He died of another heart attack on 15 February 2008, at his home in Peterborough, Ontario. At the time of his death, he was recording an album and was planning on rejoining Fred Eaglesmith on tour. His sister inherited his music rights.

Tributes

David Essig, producer of Bennett's first three albums, paid tribute to him in the song "Willie P", released on the 2009 album Double Vision (with Rick Scott). Canadian country singer Corb Lund wrote a song for Bennett on his 2009 album Losin' Lately Gambler, entitled "It's Hard to Keep a White Shirt Clean". Canadian songwriter Ian Tamblyn's 2009 album Gyre included a song he wrote for Willie called "Hurricane Heart". Americana songwriter Kenny Butterill wrote a song for Willie, "Wille We Miss Ya", released on his 2014 release Troubadour Tales.

In 2010, Bennett was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Association's Canadian Country Music Hall of Honour during the Canadian Country Music Awards. The award was accepted by his mother, sister and nephew.

The annual Fred Eaglesmith Charity Picnic in Aylmer, Ontario has hosted an annual Willie P. Bennett Memorial Hangover Run every year since 2010.

In 2014, the "Willie P. Bennett Legacy Project" was launched online, providing a space to share stories and new versions of Bennett's songs and to start a memorial award in his honour.

Awards

1990 Canadian Country Music Association – Song of the Year, for "Goodbye, So Long, Hello" (co-written with Russell deCarle) 1998 SOCAN – Song of the Year: Most Played Country Songs of 1997, for "One Way Track" (co-written with Russell deCarle) 1999 Juno Award – Best Solo Roots And Traditional Album, for Heartstrings 2010 Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame – Inducted as Artist

Discography

Singles Year Single CAN Country Album 1979 "Lace And Pretty Flowers" / "This Lonesome Feelin' " — Blackie and the Rodeo King 1989 "The Lucky Ones" / "Ain't Got No Notion" 19 The Lucky Ones "Train Tracks" / "Goodbye So Long Hello" —

Albums Year AlbumLabel 1975 Tryin' to Start Out Clean Woodshed Records 1977 Hobo's Taunt Woodshed Records 1979 Blackie and the Rodeo King Woodshed Records 1985 The Lucky Ones Self-Released 1989 The Lucky Ones Duke Street Records 1991 Collectibles (Anthology) Dark Light Records 1993 Take My Own Advice Dark Light Records 1998 Heartstrings Bnatural Records

Compilations Year Album Label Details 1979 Collage Bytown BFFTF 1 Includes "White Line" (from Tryin' to Start Out Clean) 1979 Live at the Nervous Breakdown Nervous Breakdown Productions NB001 Includes "Has Anyone Seen My Baby Here Tonight" recorded live in London, Ontario, with Mendelson Joe, (mislabeled "Storm Clouds" on LP cover) 1981 Touch the Earth CBC LM 473 Includes "My Pie", recorded live in CBC Studio 4S in Toronto, 1974 2001 Festival to Go: All Canadian Sampler Vol. 2 Festival Distribution FDI 003 Includes "Restless Wind" (from Heartstrings) 2006 Hope: The Design Hope Songwriters Project Design Hope Includes the original song "Solitaire" 2014 Live From Dollar Bill's: Bootlegger's Legacy Not on label Includes "Tryin' To Start Out Clean", "Come on Train", "It's Not The Love You Give Me", recorded live in Kingston, Ontario

With The Dixie Flyers

Willie was a full time member of this bluegrass band, playing on harmonica what would generally be considered the fiddle part.

Year Album 1975 Light Medium Heavy 1976 Cheaper to Lease 1977 Just Pickin

Pat Temple and the High Lonesome Players

Primarily on harmonica, but also mandolin and harmony vocals.

Year Album 1990 Stone Boat 1991 Connecting Lines 1994 Cold Cuts

With Fred Eaglesmith

Willie played with Fred for 23 years, live & in the studio, playing acoustic & electric mandolin, harmonica, and singing backup & harmony. He was a full time member of Fred's backing band through various iterations and also worked as road manager.

Year Album 1987 Indiana Road (as Fred J. Eaglesmith) 1990 Wooden Wheels in Hagersville (single-only release, as Fred J. Eaglesmith & The Flying Squirrels) 1991 There Ain't No Easy Road (as Fred J. Eaglesmith & The Flying Squirrels) 1993 Things Is Changin (as Fred J. Eaglesmith & The Flying Squirrels) 1994 From the Paradise Motel (live, as Fred J. Eaglesmith & The Flying Squirrels) 1996 Drive in Movie 1997 Lipstick, Lies and Gasoline 1999 50 Odd Dollars 2001 Ralph's Last Show (live, as Fred Eaglesmith & The Flying Squirrels) 2002 Falling Stars and Broken Hearts 2003 Balin (as Fred Eaglesmith & The Flathead Noodlers) 2003 The Official Bootleg Series, Vol. 2 (live, with The Smokin' Losers & The Flathead Noodlers) 2005 There Ain't No Easy Road (DVD release of documentary film, includes four tracks performed live by Fred Eaglesmith and The Flying Squirrels) 2006 Milly's Cafe 2006 Pickin' In The Pines: Live At The 2005 Great Northern Picnic (live concert DVD, as Fred Eaglesmith And The Flying Squirrels) 2007 Live Below Sea Level (live concert DVD, as Fred Eagelsmith and band) 2008 Tinderbox

Other contributions Year Album Artist Details 1976 Sisteron Doug McArthur Harmonica 1977 Sad Songs & Waltzes Bob Webb, Dougie Trineer, Frank Penner, Ross J. Allen Harmonica on "Long Distance Call (Free Beer)", "Sad Songs And Waltzes", "Midnight Rider" (with Bob Webb) 1977 Larger Than Life Denis LePage Lead vocal & additional lyrics ("John Henry, The Gambler"), harmonica 1978 The Doctor Is In Denis LePage Harmonica ("Dalrymple", "Gravel Run", "Over The Rainbow") 1978 Hard Rock Miner Glen Reid Harmonica, band member 1979 Denis Lepage & Station Road Denis Lepage & Station Road Harmonica 197? Musician at Large Richard Knechtel Harmonica 1980 It's High Time Coyote Harmonica 1981 Sings Hank Williams Sneezy Waters Harmonica 1985 Fire in the Snow Terry Christenson Harmonica 1986 The Immortals Colin Linden Backing vocals 1987 Summer Heart Terry Christenson Harmonica 1990 Different Kind of Fire Prairie Oyster Co-wrote "Goodbye, So Long, Hello" with Russel deCarle 1990 Violet And Black Scott Merritt Harmonica 1992 On The Lam Rick Kane Backing Vocals, Mandolin, Bass Guitar, Harmonica, Percussion; co-producer, engineer & mastering. 1993 Drinking with the Poet Scott B. Sympathy Harmonica 1994 Antarctica Ian Tamblyn Harmonica on "The Penguin Came From Pittsburgh" & "The Bloodvein" 1995 Straight Line Katherine Wheatley Mandolin, harmonica on "Main Street" 1995 Hear Them Callin' Kevin Head Harmonica & vocals on "Turn On Your Love Light", mandolin on "Flea Market Romance", harmonica on "Full Moon" 1995 The Stars Above Tim Harrison Harmonica 1996 High or Hurtin''' Blackie & the Rodeo Kings Vocals, harmony vocals, harmonica, mandolin 1996 Slightly Haunted| Lynn Miles Harmonica on "I Always Told You The Truth", "Long Time Coming", harmonica & mandolin on "The Ghost of Deadlock" 1996 She & She & She| Bird Sisters Harmonica 1996 Lonely City Cowboy| Riki Gee Mandolin, harmonica 1997 Blue Plate Special| Prairie Oyster Harmony Vocals "She Won't Be Lonely Long", "In The Summertime"; Co-wrote "One Way Track" with Russell deCarle 1997 Flying Jenny| Linda McRae Harmonica 1997 Industrial Lullaby| Stephen Fearing Co-wrote "Coryanna", Harmonica on "So Many Miles Away", "Dog on a Chain" 1997 What Do You Hear In These Sounds| Dar Williams Mandolin, vocals on "I'm Wilder Than Her" (with Fred Eaglesmith) 1998 Painter Passing Through| Gordon Lightfoot Harmonica on "Uncle Toad Said" 1999 Handle with Care| Paul McKay & the Perfect Strangers Lead vocals ("Bless This World'", "Back to the Country", "Maybe It's Crazy", "Wildwood Lullaby"), harmonica ("Back to the Country") 1999 Kings Of Love| Blackie & the Rodeo Kings Harmonica & vocals ("Patience Of A Working Man"), mandolin ("Lean On Your Peers", "Red Dress"), harmonica ("If You Have To Choose") 2000 Rough but Honest Miner| Richard Wright Harmonica (member of Wake Up Jacob Band) 2001 Walk On| Terry Tufts Harmonica, Jew's harp 2002 Jazz: All Over The Map| Paul McKay vocals on "Maybe It's Crazy", "Wildwood Lullaby" 2003 Dirty Rotten Shame| Stephen Hogg Backing Vocals, Harmonica, Mandolin, Jew's Harp 2003 Just a Songwriter| Kenny Butterill Mandolin 2005 The Canadian F̶i̶d̶d̶l̶e̶ Violin| John P. Allen Guitar & harmonica on "Lace and Pretty Flowers" 2005 Sweet Relief| Lynn Jackson Harmonica, mandolin 2005 Roger Marin Jr| Roger Marin Jr Harmonica; Co-wrote "It Breaks My Heart" with Roger Marin Jr. 2006 I'm a Mountain| Sarah Harmer Harmonica on "How Deep in the Valley" 2006 Hope: The Design Hope Songwriters Project| Various Artists Mandolin on Linda Duemo track "Circus Life", harmonica on Dan Medakovic track "Fine Line'" 2007 Lovers Find Reasons| Lindsay Jane 2007 Anywhere| Paul O'Toole Mandolin on "Creepy Coated Love Song" 2007 High Roads| Roger Marin Harmonica 2007 Redneck Lullaby| J.P. Riemens & the Bar Flies Harmonica ("Indian Girl", "Small Town Inertia"), backup vocals ("Redneck Lullaby") 2007 I Dreamt I Had a Recurring Dream| Wally High and the Non-Prophets Co-wrote "Angels in Prison (Biting at Angels)"; mandolin, harmonica, guitar, backing vocals on multiple tracks 2008 Evening Bird| Paul McKay & the Perfect Strangers Lead vocals on "Just Another Kid in Graceland" 2015 Day For Day'' Pat Temple Co-wrote "Back In Style" with Pat Temple

Cover versions Song Artist Album Year Andrew's Waltz Blackie & the Rodeo Kings Kings of Love (also on the 2009 compilation Swinging From The Chains of Love) 1999 Claire Lynch North By South 2016 Blackie & the Rodeo King Blackie & the Rodeo Kings High or Hurtin| 1996 Caney Fork River Old Man Luedecke My Hands Are on Fire and Other Love Songs 2010 Come on Train Blackie & the Rodeo Kings High or Hurtin| 1996 Country Squall Blackie & the Rodeo Kings High or Hurtin| 1996 Crying The Blues Audrey Auld Tonk 2013 Don't Blame Your Blues On Me Blackie & the Rodeo Kings Let's Frolic Again 2007 Don't Have Much to Say Sneezy Waters You've Got Sawdust on the Floor of Your Heart 1978 Driftin' Snow Blackie & the Rodeo Kings High or Hurtin| 1996 Faces Blackie & the Rodeo Kings High or Hurtin| 1996 For the Sake of a Dollar Blackie & the Rodeo Kings with Russell deCarle High or Hurtin| 1996 Goodbye, So Long, Hello Prairie Oyster Different Kind of Fire (also released as a single, 1990) 1990 Has Anyone Seen My Baby Here Tonight Blackie & the Rodeo Kings High or Hurtin''' 1996

Prairie Oyster Different Kind of Fire (CD versions only, also b-side to US single release of Goodbye, So Long, Hello, 1990) 1990 Pat Temple Day For Day| 2015 If You Have to Choose Blackie & the Rodeo Kings Kings of Love| 1999

Scott B. Sympathy Neil Young Street| 1990 Blackie & the Rodeo Kings High or Hurtin 1996 John Henry The Gambler Tom Wilson Live at the Acoustic Grill| 2010

Binder Brothers Binder Nation| 2006 Blackie & the Rodeo Kings High or Hurtin 1996 John P. Allen Canadian Fiddle (violin) 2005 Sneezy Waters You've Got Sawdust on the Floor of Your Heart| 1978 Maybe Grandfather Jay Linden Ordinary Sunrise| 2023

Colleen Peterson Beginning to Feel Like Home| 1973 Colleen Peterson CBC Radio Canada International Broadcast LP (cat no. LM 410) 1976 Garnet Rogers Garnet Rogers| 1984 Blackie & the Rodeo Kings High or Hurtin 1996 Stan Rogers From Coffee House to Concert Hall| 1999 My Pie Washboard Hank Human Beans| 2016 Patience of a Working Man Blackie & the Rodeo Kings Kings of Love| 1999

Blackie & the Rodeo Kings High or Hurtin 1996 Doug Cox & Sam Hurrie Old Friends 2017 Red Dress Blackie & the Rodeo Kings Kings of Love| 1999 Sometimes it Comes So Easy Blackie & the Rodeo Kings Let's Frolic Again (also on the 2009 compilation Swinging From The Chains of Love) 2007

Colleen Peterson Colleen| 1977 Blackie & the Rodeo Kings High or Hurtin 1996 Step Away Blackie & the Rodeo Kings with Emmylou Harris Kings & Queens| 2011 The Lucky Ones Blackie & the Rodeo Kings Kings of Love| 1999

Blackie & the Rodeo Kings with Vince Gill Kings And Kings| 2016 Denis Lepage & Station Road At the Cowboy Arms Hotel| 1980 Tryin' to Start Out Clean Colleen Peterson Colleen (also on the 1994 compilation What Goes Around Comes Around) 1977 Turnkey Blackie & the Rodeo Kings High or Hurtin 1996

Blackie & the Rodeo Kings High or Hurtin' (also on the 2009 compilation Swinging From The Chains of Love) 1996 Billie Hughes Horton, Bates & Best – The Last Catch 1981 David Wiffen Coast to Coast Fever (also released as a single in 1974) 1973 Doug Seegers A Story I Got To Tell| 2019 John Starling Long Time Gone| 1993 Jonathan Edwards Rockin' Chair (also b-side of the single Favourite Song 1976) 1975 Peter Pringle Peter Pringle| 1976 Pure Prairie League Can't Hold Back (re-released on 2022 compilation Live! Takin' The Stage / Just Fly / Can't Hold Back) 1979 The Seldom Scene Live at The Cellar Door| 1974 The Seldom Scene Remains To Be Scene| 2025

Blackie & the Rodeo Kings BARK| 2003 Matt Andersen Coal Mining Blues| 2011 Russell deCarle Trio Live at Loud Mouse Studios| 2014 You Care Kenny Neal One Step Closer'' 2001