Thursday, February 15th will mark 10 years since the passing of one of Canada’s greatest singer-songwriters, Willie P. Bennett.
Willie P, as he was known to his friends and fans, died in Peterborough on February 15, 2008, after suffering a heart attack at the home he shared with local artist Joe Stable. He was only 56 years old.
Musicians are coming together this month with a series of tribute concerts in Guelph, Toronto, Hamilton, London, and Peterborough to remember and celebrate the music of the legendary Willie P.
There’s a tribute to Willie P. happening tonight (February 3) at 8 p.m. Silence at 46 Essex Street in Guelph.
Willie P’s guitar player Rick Taylor, Jenny Whiteley, and Linda McRae, along with Guelph musicians Scott Merritt and Tannis Slimmon, will be performing tunes written by Willie P. Tickets are $25.
On Thursday, February 8th, Hugh’s Room (2261 Dundas St. W., Toronto) will present a Willie P tribute hosted by Taylor and Barry James Payne, who perform together as Payne & Taylor. As well as performing some of Willie P’s songs themselves, they are bringing in guitar virtuoso David Essig (Willie P’s first record producer) and Juno Award winners Russell deCarle with Steve Briggs, and Jenny Whiteley.
Other performers will include Hamilton’s Ginger St. James, Peterborough’s Pat Temple and the Hi-LO Players, Liam Russell, Lynne Hansen, and Linda McRae. The show begins at 8:30 p.m. and tickets are $25 to $30, available in advance at hughsroom.com.
Additional tribute shows are happening in Hamilton and London on February 9th at Artword Artbar (15 Colbourne St., Hamilton) and on February 10th at Aeolian Hall (795 Dundas St., London).
The two Hamilton shows feature David Essig, Jenny Whiteley, Rick Taylor, Barry James Payne, Lynne Hanson, and Paul Langille. The London show features David Essig, Jenny Whiteley, Rick Taylor, Barry James Payne, Allison Brown, New Cumberland, Paul Langille, Lynne Hanson, and Mickey Ethelston.
Then, on Sunday, February 11th from 2 to 6 p.m., The Black Horse Pub (52 George St. N., Peterborough) will host the 10th anniversary edition of “Blue Valentine”. The tribute, which is named after one of Willie P’s songs and recognizes he passed away on the day after Valentine’s Day, is held every year.
VIDEO: Willie P. Bennett Playlist
Some of the same musicians performing at the other tribute concerts — Rick Taylor, Barry James Payne, Russell DeCarle, and Pat Temple — will also be at The Black Horse, along with Sean Conway, Spencer Evans, David Berger, Kelly Pineault & John Mather, Jay Lindon, Rob Foreman, Kyler Tapscott, Tom Eastland, and more. Joe Hall is also on the bill, although he is recovering from recent surgery and may not be able to perform.
“It’s been said that Willie probably wouldn’t want any of this fanfare, but his legacy is too important to ignore,” Taylor says.
“He was one of the most respected songwriters to ever come out of Canada. A songwriter’s songwriter. One of the all time best. We can’t let his memory fade.”
Born in Toronto in 1951, William Patrick Bennett was part of the folk music scene in 1970s, alongside contemporaries like Bruce Cockburn, Stan Rogers, Murray McLauchlan, and David Wiffen. He released his first single (“White Line”) in 1969, and his final solo album (the Juno award winning Heartstrings) in 1998.
Throughout his career, Willie P kept busy as a sideman in bands fronted by other artists including The Dixie Flyers, Joe Hall, Doug McArthur, Sneezy Waters, and Pat Temple and the High Lonesome Players.
In 1991, he joined Fred Eaglesmith’s band The Flying Squirrels with whom he toured for many years, playing mandolin and harmonica and singing.
Although many people may never have heard Willie P perform, many will recognize his songs, which are revered for their lyricism, compassion and humour, and depictions of loneliness and addiction.
In 1996, musicians (and friends of Willie P) Tom Wilson, Colin Linden, and Stephen Fearing formed the roots-rock supergroup Blackie and the Rodeo Kings to record a one-off tribute album of Willie P’s songs (the band is named after one of his tunes).
Although the band decided to stay together and has gone on to record eight more albums of mostly original material (their latest album is 2016’s Kings and Kings), the trio still perform Willie P’s songs in concert (their final song is always “White Line”).
Willie P’s songs have also been covered by musicians like Old Man Luedecke, Prairie Oyster, Colleen Peterson, Stan Rogers, Garnet Rogers, David Wiffen, Matt Andersen, and Russell deCarle. Both Corb Lund and Kenny Butterill have written tribute songs for Willie P
Willie P was well-known and loved by many in the Peterborough community, including his roommate (artist Joe Stable), musicians like Washboard Hank and Dennis O’Toole, and many others.
VIDEO: “White Line” – Blackie and The Rodeo Kings at Peterborough’s Market Hall
“If you were ever at a Willie show, it was like an hour of musical perfection,” Hank says.
Willie P is perhaps best known for his work with Canadian folk/country troubadour Fred J. Eaglesmith. Willie first appeared on Fred’s 1987 album Indiana Road and went on to accompany Fred until 2008.
“Willie knew what he wanted out of life and he liked being the sideman,” Hank says. “He liked not having to be perfect on stage.”
Although Willie P won the Juno for Best Solo Roots/Traditional Album in 1998 for Heartstrings, his last official studio release, he never pursued success and fame.
“There are stories about him going to Nashville, walking into a record executive’s office and playing him a couple songs,” Hank says. “And the guy says, ‘This is fantastic, come back tomorrow and we’ll sign you up for forever and ever, and for millions of dollars.’”
Despite the indisputable quality of Willie P’s songwriting, he seemed to fear his own success and continued to perform in relative obscurity. And it was while he was performing during a 2007 Victoria Day weekend concert in Midland that he suffered a heart attack on stage. He played through the heart attack but was forced to stop touring.
VIDEO: “Willie’s Diamond Joe” performed by Matt Andersen
In July 2007, a group of musicians — including Fred Eaglesmith, Stephen Fearing, Colin Linden, Tom Wilson, Washboard Hank, Brent Titcomb, Liam Titcomb, Brock Zeman, Reverend Ken, and more — hosted a benefit concert at the Market Hall in Peterborough for Willie P, who joined the musicians on stage for a few numbers.
While Willie P attempted to take better care of his health so he could resume touring, he suffered another — this time fatal — heart attack while at his home in Peterborough on February 15, 2008.
In September 2010 in Edmonton Alberta, Willie P was officially inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame during the Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMAs). The award was accepted by his mother, sister, and nephew.
Before he died, Willie P had recorded a final album, but it has never been publicly released due to family issues with his estate.
In February 2014, a group of Willie P’s friends and fans launched the Willie P. Bennett Legacy project (www.willieplegacy.com), aimed at preserving and promoting the works of Willie P.
