Jeffery Straker

Jeffery Straker is a Canadian folk/roots singer-songwriter, based in Punnichy, Saskatchewan. His piano-based folk/roots musical style has drawn comparisons to Kris Kristofferson, Elton John, Neil Young, and Rufus Wainwright[1][2] [3]

Jeffery Straker
Jeffery Straker photographed by Peter Scoular
Jeffery Straker photographed by Peter Scoular
Background information
OriginPunnichy, Saskatchewan, Canada
GenresSinger-songwriter, Folk
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, musician
Instrument(s)Piano, vocals
Years active2006–present
Websitejeffstraker.com

Biography

Early life

Jeffery Straker was raised on a grain farm near Punnichy, Saskatchewan and grew up in a musical household.[4] He started piano lessons with local music teacher Mrs Vicky Young[5] and was subsequently taught by Dawn MacTavish.[6] Further piano studies were pursued with Frank Crumly at the Conservatory of Music, University of Regina in his senior years of high school earning his Licentiate diploma from Trinity College London when he was 19.[7] Straker attended the University of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) earning a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Biology.[8] His third year of university studies was at Queen's University Belfast (Northern Ireland).

Career

Straker independently released his album Songs from Highway 15 in 2006. The folk-pop album contains 10 songs inspired by people and places in Saskatchewan. It was recorded live with engineer Brian Moncarz in Toronto. Canadian singer-songwriter Kat Goldman sang backing vocals on the album.

In 2008, Straker released his follow-up album Step Right Up, which included the singles "Hypnotized" and "Somewhere Between". A music video for "Hypnotized" was played on MuchMoreMusic across Canada. Step Right Up was re-released on MDM/Universal in 2010. The album was produced by Justin Gray in Toronto and Los Angeles.

In 2011, Straker released the album under the soles of my shoes, produced by Dave Thomson in Nashville. The recording was mixed by Grammy Award winning engineer Chad Carlson.

Straker released a 9-song studio album, Vagabond, on 2 October 2012. The album was produced by Danny Michel.[9] Piano tracks were recorded at the Canadian Broadcasting Centre in Toronto in studio 211, using Glenn Gould's Steinway & Sons grand piano.[9] Fred Penner performed harmonica on the song "Birchbark Canoe".[9]

In 2014 the recording Live with CBC Radio was released. It was recorded by CBC Radio in the Mae Wilson Theatre in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.

In 2015 Jeffery released North Star Falling produced by Dean Drouillard.[10] The album debuted in the top 10 of the iTunes singer-songwriter charts in its first 2 weeks.[11]

In May 2017, Straker released "Dirt Road Confessional", a 12 song recording with roots-folk influenced arrangements and instrumentation.[12] The album was produced in 5 different studios by several producers: Daniel Ledwell (Lake Echo, Nova Scotia); Royal Wood and Lawrence Katz (Los Angeles, California); Dean Drouillard (Toronto, Ontario); Brad Prosko and Murray Pulver (Regina, Saskatchewan); Robyn Dell'Unto (Toronto, Ontario). The album contains 2 songs co-written with Royal Wood and Lawrence Katz, a song co-written with Jay Semko, and a co-write with Karen Kosowski.

May 2021 saw the release of the 10-song LP "Just Before Sunrise".[13] Production was by Russell Broom (Calgary AB) who also played guitars and banjo on the recording. Two songs were produced by Royal Wood in Toronto ON. The recording tied for the #2 spot in the "Best Saskatchewan Albums of 2021" ranking [14]

Straker was named Roots/Folk Artist of the Year in both the 2020 [15] and 2021 [16] Saskatchewan Music Awards. He tours over 100 shows each year and performed his sold out orchestral debut with the Regina Symphony Orchestra in Regina Saskatchewan, October 2011. He has performed subsequent orchestral concerts of his work with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra in October 2013 and 2018 and the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra in 2015.[17] Jeffery was the winner of the international category of the 55th Vina del Mar International Song Festival (Chile) in February 2014 with his song Hypnotized.[18] The singer-pianist is a regular national cast member of the long running telethon Telemiracle[19] produced by the Kin Canada (Kinsmen and Kinettes) of Saskatchewan, Canada. The telethon is broadcast on CTV.

He is represented by Paquin Artists Agency.[20]

Discography
  • Songs from Highway 15 (2006)
  • Step Right Up (2008)
  • under the soles of my shoes (2011)
  • Vagabond (2012)
  • "Comin Home for Christmas" – single (2013)
  • Live with CBC Radio (2014)
  • North Star Falling (2015)
  • Dirt Road Confessional (2017)
  • Just Before Sunrise (2021)

References
  1. Goddard, Peter (9 October 2012). "Albums: Ladyhawk score with No Can Do; Vagabond a jazz dazzler". Toronto Star. Star Media Group. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  2. Walker, Johnie (15 November 2012). "Favourite son". Xtra!. Pink Triangle Press. Archived from the original on 18 November 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  3. "Review – Jeffery Straker". Canadianbeats.ca. 19 May 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  4. "Saskatchewan's Jeffery Straker pays homage to hometown with new song". 620ckrm.com. 29 October 2019.
  5. "Christmas Magic Coming to Cultural Centre". mjindependent.com. 21 November 2019.
  6. "Punnichy's Straker earns folk music recognition". sasktoday.ca. 26 February 2021.
  7. "Jeffery Michael Straker-Vagabond". thethoughtvox.com. 4 October 2012.
  8. "Saskatoon Express: Jeffery Straker excited to perform with SSO". artsandscience.usask.ca. 16 October 2018.
  9. Mills, Peter (4 October 2012). "Straker undergoes a sonic change". Leader-Post. Postmedia Network. Archived from the original on 28 June 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  10. "Jeffery Straker's Guiding Light". Prairiedogmag.com. 2 April 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  12. "Dirt Road Confessional is an extremely personal album for Jeffery Straker". Leaderpost.com. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  13. "Review-Jeffery Straker". Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  14. "The Best Saskatchewan Albums of 2021". Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  15. "The 2020 Saskatchewan Music Award Winners". Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  16. "The 2021 Saskatchewan Music Award Winners". Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  17. "Pop musician partners with SSO in upcoming concert". Northernlife.ca. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  18. DeDekker, Jeff (28 February 2014). "Regina's Jeffery Straker wins international category of Vina del Mar competition". Leader-Post. Postmedia Network. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  19. "Telemiracle 39 lineup announced - Regional - the Moose Jaw Times Herald". www.mjtimes.sk.ca. Archived from the original on 26 March 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  20. "Paquin Entertainment Group, Theatre & Film". Paquinartistsagency.com. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
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