Terrance Victor Carisse (July 11, 1942 – May 22, 2005) known as Terry Carisse, was one of Canadian Country Music's most awarded, decorated and popular singer-songwriters. His awards include the Canadian Country Music Association's Male Vocalist of the Year Award which he has won six times,[1] and still holds this record. He was nominated four times for a Juno Award.[2] In 1989 he was inducted into the Ottawa Valley Country Music Hall of Fame. In 2006, Terry Carisse was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame.

Terry Carisse
Birth nameTerrance Victor Carisse
Born(1942-07-11)July 11, 1942
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
DiedMay 22, 2005(2005-05-22) (aged 62)
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
GenresCountry
Occupation(s)Singer
Years active1960s–2000s
LabelsMBS, Savannah
Websiteterrycarisse.com

Biography edit

Early life edit

Carisse was born Terrance Victor Carisse July 11, 1942, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. He started performing in his early teens.[3] at several local talent shows and festivals in the Ottawa Valley.

Career edit

In 1971, Carisse teamed up with fellow songwriter Bruce Rawlins. The duo wrote their first hit song together "Hello Mom" for the Mercey Brothers.[3]

Beginning in 1978, Carisse and his band, Tenderfoot, were the opening act for Carroll Baker, performing concert dates in Canada, Great Britain, including the London Palladium. After performing as part of the Carroll Baker show from 1978 to 1980, he began a solo career. In 1980, Carisse left the Carroll Baker Show to tour with his new band, Tracks. Performing in such venues as the Calgary Stampede, the Big Valley Jamboree in Regina, fairs in Lethbridge and Charlottetown, and the first-ever national telecast of the Canadian Country Music Awards(CCMA). Carisse and his band Tracks opened for Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton in Atlantic Canada and toured with, among many others, Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers, Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, Mel Tillis, and Willie Nelson. Carisse has appeared in numerous shows including The Family Brown, The Tommy Hunter Show and the International Country Music Festival in Peterborough, England as well as writing and performing three songs on "The Rowdyman" film starring Gordon Pinsent. He recorded his first album on the Mercey Brothers' MBS label and later recorded with Savannah Records. Over the years, Carisse has released six albums and numerous singles, initially on the Mercey Brothers MBS label and, subsequently, on Savannah Records. His songs have been recorded by Carroll Baker, Marie Bottrell, Ralph Carlson, Bruce Golden, "Whispering Bill" Anderson, Charlie Louvin, Australian country singer, Allan Hawking, the Netherlands' Esther Tims, and Sweden's Teddy Nelson, and his songs have been released in Germany, Australia, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. In 1989 Terry was inducted into the Ottawa Valley Country Music Hall of Fame and in 2006 he was inducted into The Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame.

Carisse died of cancer on May 22, 2005, in an Ottawa hospital; he was 62. Carisse is survived by his wife Aija (Skadins) and sons Steve, Chris, and Sean and a brother, Stephen.

Discography edit

Albums edit

Year Album CAN Country
1978 Terry Carisse
1979 Story of the Year 19
1980 We Could Make Beautiful Music Together 13
1982 A Gospel Gathering
1984 The Closest Thing to You 25
1986 None of the Feeling Is Gone
1989 That Was a Long Time Ago

Singles edit

Year Single Chart Positions Album
CAN Country CAN AC
1976 "I've Been Thinking" single only
1978 "Lonely Highway Blues" 26 Story of the Year
"The Story of the Year" 30
1979 "Time to Go" 15 34
"Sparkle in Her Eyes" 1
1980 "All Her Letters" 10
"We Could Make Beautiful Music Together" 10 15 We Could Make Beautiful Music Together
1981 "Windship" 7
"Ode to an Outlaw's Lady" 17
1982 "Coming Undone Again" 23
"Nevada" single only
1983 "Love Blind" The Closest Thing to You
1984 "The Closest Thing to You" 17
"Two Broken Hearts" 17
1985 "Counting the I Love Yous" 13
"Sweet Blue" 10 20
1986 "Love Sweet Love" 6 28 None of the Feeling Is Gone
"It Must Be October" 23
1987 "Old Photographs" 3
"Starting Forever Again" 10
"None of the Feeling Is Gone" (with Michelle Wright) 13
"Give In" 12
1988 "Thought Leaving Would Be Easy" 8
1989 "Loveproof Heart" 28 That Was a Long Time Ago
"What About Her" 36
1990 "Start of Something New" (with Tracey Brown) 6
"Is Your Heart Taken" 22
1991 "That Was a Long Time Ago" 38
1992 "My Old Man" single only
1994 "Daddy's Girl"
2005 "Because of You"

References edit

  1. ^ "AWARDS Archives > 1982 CCMA Award Winners". ccma.org. Archived from the original on 2011-01-05.
  2. ^ "Juno Awards Database". junoawards.ca/database/.
  3. ^ a b Dillon, Charlotte. "Terry Carisse Biography". allmusic.com.