Bio

Kent lived all over Canada as a kid soaking up the great music of the 1950’s and 1960’s as well as the regional music of his home province Nova Scotia. By his mid-teens, he was writing and performing his original songs on Vancouver Island where he went to school,was a neighbor and hung out with the legendary producer David Foster.Kent holds Foster in the highest regard for his vision,musicality,and the impeccable taste he brings to production and song-writing.

Kent songs were first heard in Vancouver by producer Jay Telfer at Studio 3 who gave him his original opportunity to write and record professionally. C.B.C. Radio used his material locally and then invited him to Toronto to do broadcast recording sessions with the extraordinary songwriter Ian Thomas whose career was just about to take off with the first of several international hits. He has appeared on many C.B.C. radio and television shows over the years and rates meeting the irreplaceable Peter Gzowski and Shelagh Rogers among his highlights.

Kent was signed as a writer to Warner-Chappell Music who encouraged and helped him to develop his skills as a writer. He was also signed by Brian Chater to Almo-Irving Music and hasĀ  had material released in Canada,the United States,Australia and Europe. His writing travels took him to Toronto, Los Angeles and Nashville where he honed his skills and pitched songs to major publishers.

During this period,he was fortunately connected with some of the best players in Vancouver’s studio scene.This included the brilliant guitar player and producer David Sinclair who Kent has worked with ever since on both the production and touring side of music.He was also lucky to have the legendary Jim Vallance co-produce some songs for him and Almo-Irving. Both of these friends showed him what discipline,hard work and pushing one’s boundaries could accomplish.Not only are they among the very best at their craft, they are first-rate people.

In the mid-1990’s, Kent began a new phase with a focus on “writing what you know.” This resulted in more narrative, roots-orientated songs about Canadian history and places. A co-write with David Sinclair and Gary Fjellgaard called Forever, My B.C. was included in the Great Canadian Songbook as one of the 50 best Canadian folk songs of all time.A guitar instrumental played by David Sinclair “Aire for the Islands” has been called one of the most beautiful modern tunes of it’s kind.

Some of the festivals Kent and David Sinclair have performed together at across Canada include Festival by-the-Sea(St. John, N.B.), Miramichi Folk Festival(Miramichi, N.B.), Springhill Music Festival(N.S.), New Glasgow Riverfront Jubilee(N.S.), Pan Am Games(Winnipeg,MB.), Filberg Festival(Comox, B.C), Midsummer Festival(Smithers,B.C.), Islands Folk Festival(Duncan, B.C.), and North Island Concert Society(Port Hardy, B.C. He and David also were special guests in Scotland at the Orkney Islands International Folk Festival.

He has opened or performed with many artists but a special memory is that of opening for legendary blues artists, the late Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee,and performing at a benefit with k.d.lang singing one of his tunes called We Love This Country.

songwriter and musician