Richard Francis Nolan (February 4, 1939 – December 13, 2005)"Corner Brook honours Dick Nolan". The Compass, Jul 13, 2018 was a Canadian musician, from Newfoundland. Nolan was known for performing Newfoundland folk music in Toronto night clubs. During his 50-year career he released more than 40 albums and recorded over 300 tracks. He is particularly known for his song "Aunt Martha's Sheep".
Early life Nolan was born in Corner Brook.Media Sense: The Folklore-popular Culture Continuum. Popular Press; 1986. . p. 77. As a teenager, he performed in a local band, the Blue Valley Boys, and sang on a Corner Brook radio show."The Legendary Dick Nolan". ownhome Magazine, Mar 26, 2008 Priscilla Boutcher, the former Mayor of Corner Brook, was Nolan's sister.
Career In the 1950s, Nolan moved to Toronto, where he played with local bands and worked at several jobs. He began to record albums of the music of Johnny Cash and other country songs, earning him the nickname "The Johnny Cash of Newfoundland". His Blue Valley Boys, which included Corner Brook native Roy Penney, performed regularly at the Horseshoe Tavern, backing up visiting country singers.
In the 1960s, he switched his focus to traditional Newfoundland music and released many albums.Last Post. Vol. 5. Canadian Journalism Foundation.; 1975. p. 44–45. One album, Fisherman's Boy, contained Nolan's signature song Aunt Martha's Sheep and went platinum in just three months. Another signature song of his was I's the B'y.
Two more gold albums followed; furthermore, he had a hit song in 1972 with "Home Again This Year".Glenn David Colton. Newfoundland Rhapsody: Frederick R. Emerson and the Musical Culture of the Island. MQUP; March 2014. . p. 162. That year, he was the editor for the folk song collection Newfoundland Songs, published by the Bennett Brewing Company.Newfoundland songs and ballads in print, 1842-1974: a title and first-line index. Memorial University of Newfoundland; 1979. p. 41. He continued to release albums of country music and Newfoundland folk songs regularly for many years."Singing legend Nolan dead at 66". CBC News, Dec 13, 2005
Nolan appeared at the Grand Ole Opry and national television programs, was nominated for a Juno Award, and hosted his own television series. In November 2005, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Music Industry Association of Newfoundland and Labrador.
In 2009 Dick Nolan was posthumously awarded the Dr. Helen Creighton Lifetime Achievement Award by the East Coast Music Association.
Discography
Albums Year Album 1962 I Walk the Line Home of the Blues Dick Nolan Sings On Stage at the Drake Echoes of the Atlantic Atlantic Lullaby 1964 Truck Driving Man 1966 I'se the B'y What Catches Da Fish 1967 Atlantic Christmas Moving Out 1968 I Want to Live Be True Newfoundlanders Folsom Prison and Other Johnny Cash Songs Lukey's Boat Newfie Hits 1970 Country Duet 1972 Fisherman's Boy Home Again This Year 1973 Happy Newfoundlanders 1974 Happy Anniversary Newfoundland Folk Songs of Newfoundland 1975 Dick Nolan 1976 A Country Song 1977 Best of Dick Nolan 1980 Side by Each Dick Nolan's Greatest Hits of Newfoundland 1984 Welcome Aboard
Singles Year Single CAN Country Album 1965 "Golden Rocket" 2 Truck Driving Man 1967 "The Fool" 5 Moving Out 1972 "Home Again This Year" 9 Home Again This Year 1973 "Me and Brother Bill" 88 Happy Newfoundlanders
References
External links Official Website Dick Nolan at The Canadian Encyclopedia, accessed August 31, 2019 http://www.heritage.nf.ca/articles/arts/dick-nolan.php http://collections.mun.ca/cdm/ref/collection/cns_enl/id/4199