Have you ever sat in a kayak, canoe or boat out on the water and just drifted revelling in not knowing where you would end up?
Songs are like that too.
The "Lake Erie" song is an original song collaboration of Essex County writers inspired by Lake Erie.
As the regional co-ordinator for the Songwriter's Association of Canada'a Regional Writer's Group in Leamington, I have met some great local songwriters. Last May I hosted an "In The Round" evening at the Bank Theatre and Meeting Place in Leamington. I have had many people ask about learning to write a song so the second half of the evening was meant to be an exercise in writing a chorus or perhaps a verse. The group that remained consisted of 30 people and we wrote an entire song about Lake Erie. We got together this past December and recorded the song with Ed Evereart at Stonehedge Productions in Kingsville. Ed was great to work with and he opened his studio up to all 13 of us in the choir on the second day of recording. Check out the photos below to see how much fun we had!
We are all very proud of our collaboration and hope you will support us in sharing the song with others about one of our great lakes. You can download your own copy now for the cost of .99 cents but you can give more if you are so inclined with many thanks.
Thanks to my Friends for bringing your talent to this creation and for helping create this wonderful experience and collaboration.
Written by:
Francine Honey, Denis Bastarache, Dale Butler, Justin Latam, John P. Moran, Jacqueline Cadarette, Bernadine Reeb, Michael Honey, Bonnie Reynolds, Alice Hesselrode, Robert Hubbard, Bakhus Saba, Bill Hutchinson, Audrian Hutchinson, Janet Hutchinson, Nick Tiessen, Philip Scott Poli,Glen MacNeil , Ursula Tiessen, Lorraine Maurice, Mariette Preyde, Cathy Coonan, Darlene Caille, Rick Latam, Travis Latam, Jessica Klassen, Michelle Taves, Dave Taves, Andrew Taves, Evan Davis
Download the "Lake Erie" Song
"LAKE ERIE"
Francine Honey - lead vocals and piano
Denis Bastarache - lead guitar and rhythm guitar
Dale Butler - rhythm guitar and mandolin
Justin Latam - rhythm guitar
John Moran - bass guitar
Background Vocals: Robert Hubbard, Alice Hesselrode, Dale Butler, Michael Honey, Bill Hutchison, Jacqueline Cadarette, Bonnie Reynolds, Bernadine Gillis Reeb, Francine Honey
Recorded at Stonehedge Productions, Kingsville, ON
Produced by Francine Honey & Ed Everaert at Stonehedge Productions
Cover Photo: Michael Honey
Video Recorded by Bakhus Saba
Video Produced by Ed Everaert at Stonehedge Productions
The Making of the Lake Erie Song
How it all started
In The Round
We did 5 minutes of object writing and then each table gave 2 lines.
The musical team would come up with ideas while the lyrics were being thrown up on the board.
We threw all ideas on the table
Moved some lyrics around.
3rd verse and some confusion
Order at last and an actual entire song! All in one night.
Day 1 - Recorded Lead Vocal and Music Live Off the Floor
Ed Everaert at Stonehedge Productions
Bakhus Saba and Dale Butler documenting our work on video and photos
Denis Bastarache on lead guitar
Francine Honey on piano
Dale Butler on guitar
Dale Butler on mandolin
John Moran on bass
Justin Latam on guitar
Justin's guitar - yup he did play it.
Denis Bastarache overlaying some electric guitar
Francine recording vocals
Day 2 - Ed opened his studio for all 13 members of the "Lake Erie" choir
The sopranos - Bernadine Gillis Reeb, Jacqueline Cadarette, Alice Hesselrode, Francine Honey
The middle section - Jacqueline Cadarette, Alice Hesselrode, Robert Hubbard, Bonnie Reynolds and Bill Hutshison
The bass section - Robert Hubbard, Bill Hutchison, Michael Honey and Dale Butler
Lake Erie Single - Photo by Michael Honey
The Leamington Regional Writer's Group hosted a "Songwriter's In the Round" evening of music. After the performances ended, the co-ordinator Francine Honey led the group of audience members who were interested in the song writing process through the creation of a song on the subject of "Lake Erie". An entire song was written during this session.
The Leamington Regional Writer's Group hosted a "Songwriter's In the Round" evening of music. After the performances ended, the co-ordinator Francine Honey led the group of audience members who were interested in the song writing process through the creation of a song on the subject of "Lake Erie". An entire song was written during this session. This song is the result of our groups' love of Lake Erie.
Recorded at Stonehedge Productions by Ed Evereart