Fourth Time is the Charm - September 25, 2008
Fourth time is the charm for local musician
The Brampton Guardian
Tuesday September 2 2008
By LORI SHERMAN
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BRAMPTON - From her melodic speaking voice to the CDs stuffed in her bag, even when not performing, it isn't hard to tell Gayle Ackroyd is a musician.
In fact, almost every day of Ackroyd's life has been filled with music.
Now this local talent is preparing for her fourth album release - a mixture of original and cover adult contemporary tunes that she feels is destined to hit radio charts.
Her love of music began, of all places, on a dairy farm in north Brampton. There, in her family's red brick house, she began playing piano and writing songs.
As a teenager, she took on guitar lessons at a local music store. That's where she received a lucky break and her love of singing and songwriting really started to bloom.
"One day I was waiting for my guitar lesson when somebody wandered into the store looking to buy a guitar. I said 'well this is a nice one' and I sat down and started playing it. That's when the boss who owned the place offered me a job there."
At 16, Ackroyd became a salesperson for the Quartet Music Centre in Brampton. She grew as a musician and, that same year, formed a band called The Villagers.
"We all lived in Peel Village," chuckled Ackroyd. "We mostly did covers - Proud Mary, Joy to the World. That sort of thing."
A government grant allowed The Villagers to play local gigs at shopping centres and retirement homes.
She admittedly wasn't earning a lot of money, but from that very first gig until now, Ackroyd has supported herself through music.
"I've always been doing this professionally.”
Ackroyd's music covers a variety of genres, with influences from blues, country, gospel and rock and roll.
Between recording sessions and gigs, Ackroyd also teaches piano, guitar and singing lessons in the evening at Long & McQuade in Brampton.
Ackroyd has traveled with her music - songwriting in Nashville, The Caribbean, Europe and even seeing some of her blues songs hit the music charts in Europe and the States.
Her crooning skills have allowed her to perform with Jimmy Rankin of the Rankin Family, she had a speaking roll with some of Hollywood's elite like Rob Lowe, Lou Diamond Phillipes and was a Stand In for Nicole Kidman. She was personally invited by the late Jeff Healey to play with him and his band at Healey’s Roadhouse in Toronto.
"That was so great. He was so nice to me and gave me the most wonderful introduction. I'd been on the scene in Toronto for so many years, so he'd known of me for some time."
It hasn't always been easy, she admits. But this new album, mixed with the recent flux of concert gigs and her past successes, has Ackroyd geared up now more than ever.
"It's mostly about family, love and belief in one’s self," said Ackroyd of her new album, which has been two years in the works. "Mostly it's about things that happen to me in my life. Something hits me and I feel inspired. I have to run home and grab my guitar right away."
She has also started pitching songs to other artists. At the moment, Ackroyd is pitching to last year's Canadian Idol finalist Tara Oram; who she helped select material last year for the next round of auditions during her trying out stage.
"I ‘m just trying to stay in the game by performing, writing and recording and I'm getting a lot of positive response so when that happens you really feel like you're doing something right."
Ackroyd's next local concert will be at the John Elliot Theatre in Georgetown on October 4, where she will be performing material from all of her albums.
Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at www.town.halton-hills.on.ca/theatre or by calling the box office at 905-877-3700.
Ackroyd's albums can be purchased online from iTunes or CD Baby.
For more information visit www.gayleackroyd.com
The Brampton Guardian
Tuesday September 2 2008
By LORI SHERMAN
Print this article
Email this article
BRAMPTON - From her melodic speaking voice to the CDs stuffed in her bag, even when not performing, it isn't hard to tell Gayle Ackroyd is a musician.
In fact, almost every day of Ackroyd's life has been filled with music.
Now this local talent is preparing for her fourth album release - a mixture of original and cover adult contemporary tunes that she feels is destined to hit radio charts.
Her love of music began, of all places, on a dairy farm in north Brampton. There, in her family's red brick house, she began playing piano and writing songs.
As a teenager, she took on guitar lessons at a local music store. That's where she received a lucky break and her love of singing and songwriting really started to bloom.
"One day I was waiting for my guitar lesson when somebody wandered into the store looking to buy a guitar. I said 'well this is a nice one' and I sat down and started playing it. That's when the boss who owned the place offered me a job there."
At 16, Ackroyd became a salesperson for the Quartet Music Centre in Brampton. She grew as a musician and, that same year, formed a band called The Villagers.
"We all lived in Peel Village," chuckled Ackroyd. "We mostly did covers - Proud Mary, Joy to the World. That sort of thing."
A government grant allowed The Villagers to play local gigs at shopping centres and retirement homes.
She admittedly wasn't earning a lot of money, but from that very first gig until now, Ackroyd has supported herself through music.
"I've always been doing this professionally.”
Ackroyd's music covers a variety of genres, with influences from blues, country, gospel and rock and roll.
Between recording sessions and gigs, Ackroyd also teaches piano, guitar and singing lessons in the evening at Long & McQuade in Brampton.
Ackroyd has traveled with her music - songwriting in Nashville, The Caribbean, Europe and even seeing some of her blues songs hit the music charts in Europe and the States.
Her crooning skills have allowed her to perform with Jimmy Rankin of the Rankin Family, she had a speaking roll with some of Hollywood's elite like Rob Lowe, Lou Diamond Phillipes and was a Stand In for Nicole Kidman. She was personally invited by the late Jeff Healey to play with him and his band at Healey’s Roadhouse in Toronto.
"That was so great. He was so nice to me and gave me the most wonderful introduction. I'd been on the scene in Toronto for so many years, so he'd known of me for some time."
It hasn't always been easy, she admits. But this new album, mixed with the recent flux of concert gigs and her past successes, has Ackroyd geared up now more than ever.
"It's mostly about family, love and belief in one’s self," said Ackroyd of her new album, which has been two years in the works. "Mostly it's about things that happen to me in my life. Something hits me and I feel inspired. I have to run home and grab my guitar right away."
She has also started pitching songs to other artists. At the moment, Ackroyd is pitching to last year's Canadian Idol finalist Tara Oram; who she helped select material last year for the next round of auditions during her trying out stage.
"I ‘m just trying to stay in the game by performing, writing and recording and I'm getting a lot of positive response so when that happens you really feel like you're doing something right."
Ackroyd's next local concert will be at the John Elliot Theatre in Georgetown on October 4, where she will be performing material from all of her albums.
Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at www.town.halton-hills.on.ca/theatre or by calling the box office at 905-877-3700.
Ackroyd's albums can be purchased online from iTunes or CD Baby.
For more information visit www.gayleackroyd.com