2019 Hall of Fame Inductees Announced

 

CHARLIE MAJOR AND ANYA WILSON ANNOUNCED AS 2019 CANADIAN COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES 
WILSON TO RECEIVE STAN KLEES BUILDER HONOUR
WHILE MAJOR TO BE CELEBRATED AS 2019 ARTIST INDUCTEE

(Toronto, ON) June 18, 2019 – The Canadian Country Music Association® (CCMA) is pleased to announce that Charlie Major and Anya Wilson have been selected as the 2019 inductees into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame™.

“It was such an incredible honour for me to call both Charlie and Anya and congratulate them on becoming our newest Hall of Fame Inductees,” said Tracy Martin, President, CCMA. “It is such a career milestone and I am thrilled that we’ll be celebrating both of them at Country Music Week in Calgary.”

Charlie Major has been at the forefront of the Canadian country music scene since the early 90s when he became the first Canadian artist in history to score six BDS No.1 hits with his debut album, The Other Side, in 1993. Nine more chart-topping hits would follow, leading Major to perform across the world, headlining tours and connecting with his fans at fairs and festivals. 

More than 25 years later, Major has sold nearly half a million records in Canada alone, winning three JUNO Awards and seven CCMA Awards. The Canadian legend has recorded seven studio albums and has released over twenty singles. His lyrics champion the ‘Blue Collar Hero’ in a manner that embodies Springsteen and other roots rock legends, but it is in the country music format that Major finds his home.  

“It is an honour to be inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall Of Fame with so many of my heroes and mentors like Ian Tyson, Gordon Lightfoot, The Good Brothers, Terry Carisse and Murray McLauchlan to name a few,” said Major.  “I’m sincerely humbled and look forward to celebrating with everyone in Calgary this September.”

Anya Wilson began her music industry career in the U.K. working in publicity and radio promotion, becoming instrumental in the success of such legendary artists as David Bowie and T.Rex. She then moved to Toronto and broke ground as the first independent female radio tracker in Canada.

Giving back to Canada’s country community has always been a priority for Wilson. She has served on numerous CCMA committees, helped establish a radio presence at the annual CCMA conference and voluntarily became the organization’s first publicist. She was also a driving force in the creation of the Country Music Association of Ontario and served as its vice-president for several years.

“I couldn’t be more pleased and humbled by this honour. I’m so used to operating behind the scenes that it feels equally strange and wonderful to be publicly recognized for my contributions,” said Wilson. “Over the years I’ve had the pleasure of seeing the progress of our industry’s infrastructure, resulting in the development of world-class artists.”

Inductees of the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame are chosen annually by a selected Hall of Fame Electors Committee, comprised of over seventy (70) industry peers. The three-stage voting process begins in January of each year. The inductee in the Builder category receives the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame Stan Klees Builder Award, established in recognition of RPM Magazine co-founder, Mr. Stan Klees, and his pioneering efforts in the creation of the CCMA Awards Program.

The Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place at a private industry event held during Country Music Week in Calgary, Alberta from September 5-8, 2019.  

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About the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame®
Since 1984, the Canadian Country Music Association® has been honouring Canadian artists and industry builders who have made long-term contributions to the growth and development of Canadian country music. In 1999, the CCMA formally merged its recognition program with a program of similar scope founded by Mr. Gary Buck, to create what today is known as the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame. The CCMA has partnerships with the Canadian Country Music Heritage Society (www.ccmhalloffame.com), based in Merritt, British Columbia, and the National Music Centre (www.nmc.ca), based in Calgary, Alberta to collaboratively promote and bring recognition to the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame program.

About the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA)
Established in 1976, the CCMA is a membership-based, not-for-profit organization committed to the promotion and recognition of Canadian country music. Built upon the foundation to educate, elevate and celebrate Canadian talent, the CCMA progressively heralds the spirit, community and creativity that country music fosters through year-round initiatives, culminating every fall with Country Music Week and the Canadian Country Music Association Awards. Sponsors of Country Music Week and the 2019 CCMA Awards Show include FACTOR, Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters and the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage’s “Canada Music Fund”, Radio Starmaker, the Government of Alberta, The City of Calgary and Tourism Calgary.

Media Contacts:

For Charlie Major: 
Charlotte Thompson, Red Umbrella PR
charlotte@redumbrellapr.com | 416.464.8220

For Anya Wilson and the Canadian Country Music Association: 
Tiffany Astle, penelopePR
tiffany@penelopepr.com | 416.554.7329

Richelle Umali, penelopePR
richelle@penelopepr.com | 647.383.8857