Joe Springall

Joe Springall and Clayton Souliere about 1994.

Joseph Alfred Springall was born in the small fishing and coal mining town of New Waterford, Nova Scotia on July 15^th 1926. It was here that he met and married Elizabeth ‘Betty’ MacNeil.  They subsequently moved to Brantford where they raised a family of four children; Dianne, Joanne, Barbara and Joe Jr.

Joe's love of country music, singing and playing guitar touched many people over his lifetime. He formed various country & western bands and performed throughout the Brantford area. Kitchen parties with family and friends were a way of life.

He was an acoustic rhythm guitarist who espoused traditional country music values, and played with a core of Brant County Musicians which included  Jack Givens, Eldon Austin, Harvey Chambers and Clayton Souliere. 

Joe and Harvey began writing original songs, following a path of having their music documented for future generations. On September 5^th 1974 Jim Allison created Thunderbird Recording, and it didn't take long for the word to get out that they were looking for talent. 

Joe approached Jim with enough original material for two singles, and the big man was impressed enough to sign Joe as the 5^th act on the label. The original deal was thought to be publishing deal with Thunderbird's arm, Chihuahua Music. At 48, Joe was the oldest artist signed to Thunderbird. Charlie Louvin was actually a year younger than he. Joe's two planned singles would be 'My East Coast Home By The Sea' backed with 'Lazy Man Blues.' The B-Side had been written with Harvey Chambers. The second single would be 'Please Come Back' backed with 'Teardrop Waltz.' Joe's band would play these songs live and get them as tight as possible, which would make the recording process easier.  

In September of 1975 Judy Lynn Gregson cut a demo at Jim Allison’s studio in Burford, and although the session went quite good, the tracks were not received well, most notably at The Tommy Hunter Show. Judy dropped off the label because she learned that she and her husband had to finance the recordings themselves. Joe heard enough ill will from the Thunderbird camp and refused Jim’s phone calls. Joe effectively quit the label in early 1976.     

In 1992 Joe’s wife Betty passed away, and he later married to Selma Huculak as his second wife. About 1994 Joe was featured on the Rogers Cable Television program “Singin’ Pickin’ and Grinnin’” with fellow country music alumni Clayton Souliere. For the TV program just he and Clayton played their instruments and cracked jokes. The show would open with sixty-eight year old Joe saying “I’m pickin’” and seventy-two year old Clayton jumping in with “and I’m grinnin’” At one point during one of the programs Clayton was asked if talent ran in his family, and he replied, “Yes, everyone in the family is musically talented, why even our sewing machine is a Singer!” Both men were quick witted, and mixed playing, singing and humour in the thirty minute program. No doubt Phil Scott, the former drummer of Desert Fox, who began volunteering at the station in 1982, helped with the show as either a camera operator, audio guy, lighting man, videographer, or editor. When the show started Clayton and Joe were told they could only play songs that were twenty-five years old or older, for copyright reasons. They continuously broke this rule, and so the show was cancelled after four years. 

Joe had a positive outlook on life that was reflected on the many things he was successful at; golf, carpentry, writing, painting, and he even built his own boat. He made time for family and friends while retaining his commitment to daily exercise and long walks which kept his mind sharp and body fit. His many years of hard work allowed him to retire six months of the year in Nokomis Florida, enjoying golf, shuffle board, cards, long walks and music with family and friends.

Since 2013 Joe and Selma lived at Charlotte Villa Retirement Home in Brantford. On February 28^th 2018 Joe passed away in his sleep in his ninety-second year.