Singer/Songwriter/Recording Artist SEAN HOGAN arrived on the music scene in 1996 with the release of his debut album. He quickly became popular with radio, CMT and the fans. In 1997, Sean was named the first-ever CCMA Independent Male Artist of The Year. Then, in 2003, the CCMA honoured with the award for Roots Artist of The Year. Over the years, you've heard his songs including Catalina Sunrise, I'd Rather Have You, Silver Lining Girl & What Would You Have Me Believe. In 2004, he created and launched the now annual Canadian Country Christmas Concert tour which assists communities across Canada with funding for food banks, hospital foundations and other essentials for those in need. In 2011, Sean began a tough battle with cancer and now, as 2012 begins, this survivor is ready to bring us new music. Tune in as I talk with this multi-talented Canadian artist about his music career, songwriting, performing live, his brand new album entitled Phoenix and much more.

Saskatchewan Country artist Catherine Lewans has worked with some of the world’s best musicians & songwriters through her emerging career - including a duet with Country star Dierks Bentley at Credit Union Centre in Saskatoon. Dierks recognized her talent when they spoke before the show and, much to her delight, invited Catherine to perform his hit Long Trip Alone as part of his encore. She completed her debut album Kickin’ Up Dust in December 2009. Her inspiration for the project came from her experiences growing up on a farm outside Shaunavon, Saskatchewan and the heart-breaking loss of a friend who passed away suddenly. The album has been warmly received by radio and lead to her being named the 2011 Saskatchewan Country Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year. Catherine is excited to have the opportunity to write with some great Canadian & Nashville-based writers as she works towards writing & recording her next album set for release in 2012.

The Broad River Band is a group of session and performing musicians brought together by Cowboy Bob Fisher. Their debut CD Country Singer was recorded at Crazy Pearl Studios in Waco, Texas. “The process of recording this album was wonderful and as natural as it comes,” says Cowboy Bob.  “These musicians have worked together for many years and some of us since we were kids learning. The best part is we are all still learning from each other. Even after 50 years plus of playing.” Influenced by bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Allman Brothers, Kansas and the Eagles, these southwestern musicians came from all directions to gather and tell stories in song. Proud of their Texas heritage and showcasing the enormous amount of talent in the great state of Texas, they have created something truly special.

Ontario's Stephanie McIlroy has had a busy and exciting 2011. She's living up to the philosophy of her debut CD Life Is Not An Act by going for her dreams with all her heart. And just in time for the holiday season, she's releasing It’s Christmas Time - a song based on Stephanie's recollections of Christmases of her youth. Through the song, you'll get to know Stephanie and her family and how they celebrate this special time of year. Singing since the age of five, this talented singer/songwriter has always had a desire to pour out her heart to audiences. She never recognized music as a talent to pursue until her late twenties. Growing up in farm country near Windsor, Ontario - in the small town of Merlin (same town Michelle Wright is from) - Stephanie spent countless hours sitting in her room listening to the radio.

This NSAI Songwriters Special features Christine Tier. She released her debut album in 2007.  Featuring 12 original songs and an all star cast of musicians, the album moves seamlessly from country to jazz to indie-pop.  The song Missing placed as a runner up in the American Song of the Year competition in 2008. Christine's second full length album is in the works and this time her signature genre blending will be peppered with a bit of Brazilian influence from her years playing in the Toronto samba band Escola de Samba.  Because Christine is a practicing lawyer, her music takes a little longer, but she makes it worth the wait.

Thomas Wade first appeared on the Country music scene in 1996 as the lead singer of Thomas Wade & Wayward. Their debut album produced 7 singles on the Canadian Country charts - including the Top 10 hits Zero to Sixty, She's Getting Serious & Lying Here With You. They won 7 CCMA awards and received 3 Juno nominations. Thomas went on to have success as a solo artist with hits like Running Away With You & Some Guys. Now, Thomas Wade, Colin Amey and Denise Wade are WADE AMEY WADE, delivering an organic blend of Country and Rock. With songwriting friend Tim Taylor, Thomas and Colin set about writing a Christmas song (I Can't Wait For Christmas) with proceeds to benefit fellow artist Sean Hogan who was diagnosed with an aggressive carcinoma (Stage 4A throat cancer) this past summer. Tune in as Thomas talks about his past hits, his new start with Wade Amey Wade as well as the group's very special Christmas song.

Born in Midland and now calling Barrie home, Amy Rose entered her first singing contest Barrie’s Promenade Days at age 5. That was when her parents realized their daughter had talent to sing. She began to enter other talent competitions including Kinmount Fair which she won 3 years in a row - and got to meet one of her idols, Jason McCoy.  By the age of 10, Amy was mastering the art of yodeling with lessons from JK Gulley. At the age of 13, she released her first album Amy Rose - One Special Girl under an independent label. The release of this album landed her a spot on a Gospel tour where she opened for Conway Twitty’s daughters Joni & Kathy Twitty. Over the years, Amy has shared the stage with The Wilkinsons, Emerson Drive & High Valley. Eventually, in the summer of 2010, Amy teamed up with Glenn Coulson & Marty Beecroft of After Tuesday Productions. Tune in to hear Amy talk about her music career and hear her latest Country single called I Just Want You To Know.

Manitoba's multiple CCMA and Juno winning DOC WALKER has delivered the hits to Country radio, CMT & fans with songs like She Hasn't Always Been This Way, Rocket Girl, Beautiful Life & I'm Gonna Make You Love Me. They are currently performing across Canada on their Are You With Me Tonight? Tour 2011. In August of this year, the group released their 5th album for Open Road Recordings called 16 & 1 featuring Country Girl & Do It Right.  As always, the album features the songwriting skills of all three members of the group (Chris Thorsteinson, Dave Wasyliw & Murray Pulver) - and also includes covers of songs by Bob Seger and Canada's Crash Test Dummies. Tune in for an up close & personal interview (including 2 songs) with Chris from Doc Walker that will take us from the group's early days to their latest stories.

Country artist Drake Jensen - born and raised in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia and now calling Ottawa, Ontario home - has released his first Christmas single Little Toy Trains to radio. The song is even more special because all proceeds from iTunes downloads will go to the Make-A-Wish Campaign in Canada.  Drake’s goal is to have 10,000 downloads of the single as this is what it takes for a child with life-threatening medical conditions to have their wish come true. When asked why he chose to align himself with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Drake explained: “This campaign encapsulates the reason why I have regenerated myself musically...before I started on this journey I had already decided that if I couldn’t use the music as a vessel for my message and to help other people, I wouldn’t have started again.” The Little Toy Trains campaign will wrap up on December 16th at the National Arts Centre (Fourth Stage) in Ottawa with Drake presenting a cheque to the Make-A-Wish Foundation from the downloads.

Tune in for this NSAI Toronto Chapter Songwriters Special featuring Caledon, Ontario singer-songwriter John Cheesman. John has been writing songs since the age of 14. He first ventured into songwriting after being assigned a school project. Moved by the death of his musical hero John Lennon, John earned an A + for his tender ode to his idol - and thus the journey began. On this show, you'll learn about John's many accomplishments in music since then and hear a demo of one of his songs, "I'm Not Superman".