Welcome!

'That Brant County Sound! The Ballad of Jim Allison and Thunderbird Records.' is available as of July 21st 2017, contains 412 pages and will retail for $24.97.

The book is available from the author for $25, as well the book can be mailed to you in Canada free for a limited time, just email Tom at thosryerson@gmail.com for the payment details. The book can be mailed outside of Canada, the author will get a quote for the shipping and get back to you.

As well the book is available from these four retailers:

The Merrifield Bookshop, 471 Dundas Street, Woodstock, ON, N4S 1C2  519-539-4220

The Brantford Bookworm, 331 Brant Avenue, Brantford, ON, N3T 3J8   226-938-1628

The Oxford Bookshop, 262 Piccadilly Street, London, ON, N6A 1S4   519-438-8336

The Four Seasons Home & Garden Decor, 214 Main Street, Parkhill, ON, N0M 2N0  519-294-6617

The book details are:

"That Brant County Sound! The Ballad of Jim Allison and Thunderbird Recordings."
ISBN 978-1-987940-02-2 (Paperback), and  ISBN 978-1-987940-03-9 (E-Book) 

The second book is called "That Brant County Sound! In Pictures."
ISBN 978-1-987940-09-1 (Paperback), and  ISBN 978-1-987940-10-7 (E-Book)

The third book is called "That Brant County Sound! The Discographies."
ISBN 978-1-987940-11-4 (Paperback)  and ISBN 978-1-987940-12-1 (E-Book)

The first book (Yellow one) will be all text with some pictures, the second book (Brown one) will consist of hundreds of black and white photos and limited text, while the third book will include a short biography and the complete discography of all the musical groups mentioned in the Yellow Book.

The Yellow Book will be out July 21st 2017, while the Brown Book should be out in Oct/Nov 2017. The third book should be ready in early 2018.

On June 20th 2016 Tom was interviewed by Rogers Cable TV about this new book. To have a look at the interview please click on this link. That Brant County Sound Interview

Although the scope of the book seems small at first, it actually has swollen into a very large and encompassing project, including not only the sixteen homegrown Thunderbird artists, but many other major players in the Canadian Music Scene that are in the end, connected to That Brant County Sound. The sound is of grass roots old time country music made in the late sixties and all the way up to the present day. The Thunderbird artists include JK Gulley & Dusty Road, Roger Quick and the Rainbows, The Brennans, The Fearless Five (aka The Bridgeman Family) and Whisky Hollow. The better known artists still within the circle of research include The Mercey Brothers, Marie Bottrell, Terry Carisse, Harry Hibbs, Terry Sumsion & Stagecoach, Johnny Burke & Eastwind, Ruth Ann Wallace Onley, Whiskey River, Thomas Wade & Wayward, and Michelle Wright.

Tom Ryerson and Don Oatman at the No. 6 RCAF Dunville Museum on July 2nd 2016 at the Open House there. Don was involved with Thunderbird from 1976 to 1978. I have now talked to at least one representative from 12 of the 16 Thunderbird acts on the roster. Where are you Floyd C. Martin, Peter Hern, Desert Fox and The Brennan's? 

This web presence will explain the set up of the book, and everyone who is included. At this moment in time I am still getting information up on all the acts in the book. Keep checking back.    

My name is Tom Ryerson, and I came to this project with over thirty years of research experience, a great respect for bluegrass music, and ten self-published fictional novels. "That Brant County Sound!" will be my second fact based book, but like "A Bigger World," will still have a great readability.

Thanks to Glen Silverthorn for getting the word out, because of the above article, Bob Silverthorn got in touch with me, and he has been a fantastic asset to my research.

Dug Bond and the Maple Street Show Band were the very first act signed to Thunderbird, and they issued at least one single and the label's debut album. The single was 'Living on Pogey,' issued in May 1975, while the album was called 'Leaving Loving You,' and came out in October 1975. Left to right is the late Bob MacEachren, Bob Robbins, Dug Bond, George Baughan, and Brian Holliwell. By the time the band was at this stage (July 1975), founding members Terry Sumsion, Craig Sumsion, Jack Lewis and Wayne Heimbecker had left and were doing their own projects. By September 1975 Brian Holliwell had left the band and had been replaced by Lester Martin.

Although Whisky Hollow only issued one single with Thunderbird, 'Cinderella,' in November 1975, they were technically signed to the label for a short time, probably about six months. Left to right we have Jerry Ammerman, Bob Silverthorn, Jim Windle and Len Wilde. This promo photo is awesome! A great big thanks to Bob Silverthorn for letting me use his photos on this blog.

Tom and Gary Austin. Gary played with Jim Allison in the Canadian Rhythmaires from 1971 to 1974, and went solo with his backing band, 'Easy Lovin', 1974 to 1995. Gary's been a fantastic help with the early days of Jim Allison's musical history. Photo taken July 5th 2016.

Tom and Roger Quick in Ailsa Craig on November 8th 2015

It was a great pleasure to be able to include an old family friend, Gerry Risser, in
this project. Gerry ran a music shop and studio on Colborne Street in Brantford for at least fifteen
years. I remember being in his studio in 1974 and being in awe. Maybe he was the reason I grew
a love for all facets of music?

Tom's author page at the O.C.C.I. website

Tom is a member of the Oxford Creative Connections Inc. group which is comprised of  45 artists, 
4 authors, 10 photographers, 1 sculpture, 3 heritage sights, and 2 theaters. Pleas have a look
at all the other books Tom has written or co-written.  

 

That Brant County Sound! The Discographies

April 29th 2018

ISBN 978-1-987840-11-4 Print Book

ISBN 978-1-987840-12-1 e-Book 

This book will be launched on April 29th 2018 at the 2nd Thunderbird Jamboree to be held at the upper

hall of the Gunner's Club, 115 Henry Street, Brantford, ON. Tickets are only $20 each and include four

hours of live country music and a light meal. Tickets are available at the Brantford Bookworm, our

devoted and proud supporters since July 11th 2017.

66 Artist Discographies & 5 Label Discographies  

The third Thunderbird book will include the discographies of Ray Allgood, Jim Allison, Apple, Gary Austin, Barbara Saunders Axford, Brian Barron, Dug Bond & The Maple Street Showband, Marie Bottrell, The Brennans, The Bridgeman Family, Gary Buck, Johnny Burke & Eastwind, Colin Butler, Terry Carisse, Larry Coad, C. Parker Dean, Desert Fox, Tom Destry & The Wild West Show, Donny Dunham, Dusty Road, Stew Fargo, Johnny Givens, Leslie Grant, Judy Lynn Gregson, JK Gulley, Earl Heywood, Peter Hern, Harry Hibbs, Tommy Jacobs, Brent Johnson, Bill Knapp, Larry Lee & The Leesures, Bob Loomis, Myrna Lorrie, Charlie Louvin, Bob Lucier, Bob MacEachern, Harold MacIntyre, Maple Street, Floyd C. Martin, Kiley Joe Masson, Fred McKenna, The Mercey Brothers, Gary & Everill Muir, Ken Neilson, Paul Newell, Don Oatman, J. Brian Oakes, Ruth Ann Wallace Onley, Roger Quick, Gerry Risser, Terry Scheel, Seven Dollar Gin, Sonny Sinclair, Dave Souliere, Tim Stacy, Jan Stevens, Terry Sumsion, Gordie Tapp, Graham Townsend, Thomas Wade, Paul Weber, Whisky Hollow, Murray Williams, Michelle Wright, John A. Wurm, plus independent record labels Burco Records, Counterpoint Records, Mercey Brothers Sound Records, Shotgun Records, and Track Records. 

The book will also include a section of cool pictures discovered since November 2017. 

Let's get excited, this is the book to have!