When it comes to natural beauty western Canada has it all from the rugged and majestic Rocky Mountains to the wide-open prairies, pristine lakes and glacier-fed rivers.
From amidst this spectacular landscape country artist Lee Dinwoodie lives and creates his special brand of music, states the biography of Dinwoodie who will be in the lakecity Saturday night to play for the Williams Lake Indoor Rodeo’s 25th annual Barn Dance.
Dinwoodie’s inspiration stems from a deep kind of musical energy that comes from a solid foundation of family and tradition.
He was born in Lavoy, Alta. the youngest of six children and spent his early years growing up on the family farm that had been passed down through the generations.
He saw his dad work the land with a passion and love that he inherited and carries through to his music.
Dinwoodie’s first musical influence was growing up listening to his mother sing and play piano. Her music was gospel that filled their home with joy. She touched people deeply with her voice and sense of spirit.
Dinwoodie started singing around the house with his mother and learned the meaning of feeling in music.
His mother bought him a guitar at age 15 and he immediately began writing songs inspired by artists such as Kenny Rogers, Wilf Carter and Johnny Cash.
At the same time he began developing his own voice and style.
While performing at a talent contest he attracted the attention of a country group that needed a singer and began playing and singing covers and some originals on weekend gigs.
He soon found himself at BC Country Music Week where his soulful voice captivated the crowd and the attention of Roy Warhurst one of Canada’s most well-known producers, who produced his first CD Personally.
Dinwoodie wrote eight of the 10 songs on the CD.
A succession of projects and performances followed leading CBC television’s Tommy Hunter Show where he appeared with Patti Loveless, Kitty Wells, Hank Snow, Joel Sonnier and Gary Fjellgarde.
After that Dinwoodie was very much in demand in the live circuit headlining many festivals, rodeos, fairs and cattlemen events and ultimately recording and performing in Nashville.
After a chance meeting with Dean Dillon, hit songwriter for George Strait, Dinwoodie and Dillon formed a friendship and writing alliance that would result in recording of a live album with seven musicians.
Dinwoodie always dreamed of being able to put out a world class record.
His patience in waiting for the right material and his maturity as an artist have converged with the hit album Rewind.
Tickets to the Williams Lake barn dance Saturday night are $20.