Ukulele's Hill hits new career peak
Home grown ukulele artist James Hill, right, and his partner, Surrey’s Anne Davison, left, won the award for Traditional Album of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards, held in Ottawa last week.
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Updated: November 24, 2009 2:26 PM
Langley-born ukulele virtuoso James Hill won Traditional Album of the Year at the 2009 Canadian Folk Music Awards, held in Ottawa on Saturday, Nov. 21, for his collaboration with Surrey-born cellist Anne Davison.
“I’d like to thank my parents,” said Hill who was on-hand to receive the award, “who hardly flinched when I told them I wanted to be a full-time professional ukulele player.”
James, a product of the Langley Community Music School and the UBC School of Music, began his love affair with the ukulele in Grade 4 at Belmont Elementary under the guidance of Jamie Thomas and later became a key member of the Langley Ukulele Ensemble under the direction of Peter Luongo.
James and Anne first met while studying at the UBC School of Music.
They have collaborated since their university days, living in Ottawa for three years while Anne obtained a Master’s degree in cello. Currently, they live in Brookfield, NS.
Their award-winning album, True Love Don’t Weep, is an eclectic offering of tunes new and old, original and re-discovered.
Poignant songs are punctuated by quicksilver instrumentals and raucous sing-a-longs; ukulele, banjo, cello, voice, guitar, brass and winds entwine through 12 tracks that resonate unabashedly with bluegrass, old-time, Dixieland, gospel, and blues influences.
For more, go to www.ukulelejames.com or www.annedavison.net.
