The Thunderbird Recordings story actually begins back in 1972, when four Burford, ON musicians, Terry Sumsion, his brother Craig, Wayne Heimbecker and Jack Lewis formed a band, calling themselves Maple Street, after Maple Avenue in Burford. The band started out as a straight forward country group, penning some songs themselves and filling out their sets with popular covers. They became one of the most in demand bands in Canada at the time. Terry and the band's manager Bill "OJ" Oja had a major disagreement that they just couldn't reconcile, and so Terry quit his own band in April of 1973. Terry gave up music for several years to support his family, working at his father's trucking company (among other firms) to keep the money coming in, but never gave up the dream of being a musician full time.
Terry entered and won the Simcoe Country Singing Contest three years in a row, 1977 to 1979, the only person to ever accomplish that feat in the male category. (Joan Spalding did this same feat in the female category) By this time he had reformed his backing band, who were now called Stagecoach, and consisting of Doug Johnson, Wayne Heimbecker and Bill Carruthers. When Terry recorded his first solo record in 1982, he was joined by brother Craig, and vocalist Jack Lewis, bringing back together the original four members of Maple Street after ten years.
Terry wins his first of three singing contests in Simcoe. At this point he was 30 and his career was starting to take off.
Winning those singing contests helped Terry finance the recording of his his debut single, 'Our Lovin' Place', in 1981, and then his debut album in 1982. (Issued in Feb 1983) Since then Terry has recorded 8 studio albums, 2 Best of CD's, a Christmas CD, and a fantastic DVD of great music and his story in Canadian Country music.
He has issued 28 singles between 1981 and 2010, ten of which hit the Canadian County RPM Charts, and are still country standards on the radio.
Terry passed away on March 26th 2011, but leaves a legacy of amazing music. To purchase the CD's and DVD shown below, please contact Joan Alexander, 519-439-9089, or email her at galexandern235@rogers.com. All items are $15 each picked up, or $18 mailed. (With the exception of the one CD single, which is $5 picked up, or $8 mailed. There are also 2 Large Terry Sumsion memorial T-Shirts available from Joan, not sure of the price there.
Although Terry was never officially a Thunderbird artist, I doubt the label would have come about the way it did if he hadn't started Maple Street with Jack Lewis back in 1972; for that reason I include him in this project.
Terry issued 11 Albums and 1 DVD between 1983 and 2011 - 28 amazing years!
These are all the original album covers.
1. Our Lovin' Place - Issued on album & cassette Feb 12th 1983 - now Out Of Print
2. Midnight Invitation - Issued on album & cassette in March 1984 - now Out Of Print
3. New Directions - Issued on Cassette only in Feb 1987 - now Out Of Print
4. Ride the Storm - Issued on CD in April 1992 -Available at Record Works, Woodstock
5. Authentic Country - Best of Vol. 1 - Issued on CD in Nov 1995 - now Out Of Print
6. White Christmas - Issued on CD in Nov 1995 - Available at Record Works, Woodstock
7. It's Time - The Best of Vol. 2 - Issued on CD about 2001 - $15/$18
8. Batteries Not Included - issued on CD in 2005 - $15/$18
9. New Roots - The Terry Sumsion Trio - issued on CD in Oct 2007 -Out Of Print
This is one of the rarest of Terry's CD's. Thank you very much Nigel Husing for providing me
a copy for my Terry Sumsion archives.
a copy for my Terry Sumsion archives.
Live at Grant Avenue Studio - Issued on DVD in March 2008 - $15/$18
10. This One's For the Fans - Issued on CD Nov 2010 - $15/$18
11. Encore - Issued on CD March 11th 2011 - $15/$18
Alternative CD Issues:
1. Our Lovin' Place - 2001 reissue CD - $15/$18
2. Midnight Invitation - 2001 reissue CD - $15/$18
4. Ride the Storm - 2001 reissue CD - $15/$18
Authentic Country - Best of Vol. 1 - May 2006 reissue CD - $15/$18
Also available as a download from CD Baby - $9.99
Singles
Highway of Heroes - Issued on CD single in July 1st 2009 - $5/$8
Dance With Me - MP3 Single issued Nov 1st 2010 - Now Out Of Print
The book, "That Brant County Sound! The Ballad of Jim Allison and Thunderbird Recordings" will include a complete listing of all of Terry's 28 singles from 1981 to 2010, as well as the chart positions on the Canadian National Country Charts.
Joan & George Alexander
342 Hamilton Road, London, Ontario N5Z 1R5
Tel: (519) 439-9089
Ride the Storm - $19.99
Saw the above CD at Record Works in Woodstock, the CD is either
a knock-off or original stock that was brought into the Record Works
a knock-off or original stock that was brought into the Record Works
back in 1996. This is one of 4 Sumsion titles at Record Works.
(Live DVD, Christmas CD, & Midnight Invitation)
Mouton Music Canada at YouTube
We invite you to follow the link below to the official Mouton Music Canada channel
on Youtube, here you can subscribe to the channel, and have access to all 60 songs
on the two Thunderbird Compilations. You can listen to the music, click if you like
it, and even leave a comment. We encourage you to do this!
Click the link above and listen to the music!
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