Brian Bell Biography...

Brian Bell grew up spending most of his time on a farm owned by his father's best friend in Eastern Ontario. Brian's own father was killed in France in World War II in August 1944. It was on this farm that Brian experience the old way of farming including milking cows, haying the old way with wagon and hay loader, and threshing mills - all by hand.

Brian's love of country music began as family gathered around the kitchen table to listen to the country stations from Wheeling West Virginia. It was a portable radio with nine batteries and a leather case, recalls Brian.

"The 1956 radio show offered a special for Johnny Cash’s news hit record for 37 cents. I sent away for it and received the 45 about six weeks later - that was 'Get Rhythm,' Johnny’s first gold record."

Brian's exposure to music continued in school where he sat next to Paul Anka in Grade 9 English. And in 1958, Brian attended Anka's first-ever concert at their high school assembly.

Brian says he attended several Johnny Cash concerts over the years and always related to his songs.

"They're simple songs that tell a story."

The last time he saw Johnny perform was at the Merritt Mountain Music Festival in 1999.

He had front-row seats and he summarized the experience in one word - "amazing."

Brian began playing campfire songs at age 35 for his son’s Scout Troup. That was 30 years ago and his love of Johnny's songs hasn't diminished any.

"The first song of Johnny’s that I learned was 'Folsom Prison Blues' - it's simple and only has three chords."

While still living in Ottawa in 1988, Brian recalled receiving a phone call from another soon-to-be superstar, Alanis Morrisette. She called to ask if she could sing at a concert that Brian was organizing for a Swim Club banquet.

"I told her she could be the main star. So my son, myself and her brother sang as the opening act and she sang three songs - I remember one was 'Fate.'"

Over the past few years, Brian has learned to perform more than 50 of Johnny’s songs with the desire to keep his music alive. He has been performing at senior's residences, hospitals, schools, coffee houses and other social events, singing songs of hope, love, railroads, hobos, war, prison, pride, mother, Jesus and God.