Michelle hits the red button
Email
Print
Letter to Editor
Share
Updated: June 24, 2009 12:21 PM
By Mike McLoughlin
Special Contributor
Michelle McNeil-Bobb sings her songs with feeling that comes with a deep, fully lived life beyond her years.
Her path to singing opportunities commensurate with her skill level has been as twisted as her Canadian, Ukrainian, Irish, Scottish, Cree, Dené family heritage, and as intertwined as life can be as a mother to eleven children.
Life started in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, but it was back to Chitek, 3.5 hours north. Her earliest memories at 4 years old are singing Tanya Tuckers “Delta Dawn” into a makeshift hair brush microphone.
An early influence was her mother playing violin, and singing Hank Williams, and Patsy Clines songs. But the records she played were more memorable. She grew up with the sounds of Loretta Lynn, Engle Bert Humperdink, Neil Diamond, Tammy Wynette, Dotty West, and Kenny Rogers. Michelle remembers with a wistful smile Johnny Paycheck’s “Take your Job and Shove It” as her daddy’s favorite.
In 1992 she went about as far west as she could, short of the big city, and stopped in Agassiz with two little boys for something totally new, and never looked back. She quickly met her husband-to-be, Jeff McNeil-Bobb, a carver, musician, artist, and educator. Life at the Seabird First Nations Reserve was fun, but it was not easy. She soon was a regular at the “Seabird Jam”, but on the other hand the rapidly growing family of eight had been allocated a two bedroom home on the reserve, a problem that the provincial media covered on front page, and twins were on the way. They soon moved to Hope where many happy memories ensued, but Seabird Island would always call them back.
On jamming she says “Jamming helps because you have one on one interaction. There is nothing to replace it. It precedes the “pool”. You work out your imperfections and it strengthens you, and then you later give back to the next group. You learn patience, friendship, and understanding.” The song you sing “has to have a message that fits into your life to be chosen … you have to feel the emotion or don’t do it.”
The last child emerged seven years ago, topping out at eleven children between Jeff and Michelle. Things began to open up on the music front, and in 2005 she took second place in the Loretta Lynn tribute competition in Nashville. The first place finisher is on her third record, and a commercial success, but life has not offered Michelle the same options.
In 2006 she was the second biggest draw at the Harrison Arts Festival after the well known rock band Trooper.
Along the way the ride has been terrific including being showcased in Nashville Crystal Place, and Tootsy’s Orchid Lounge. She has played with some of Nashville’s best session musicians including Merle Haggard’s lead guitarist, and the Hank Williams Jr steel guitar player.
The most famous person she has sung before is Steven Speilberg.
To make the world a better place she offers “Be respectful of one another. Be understanding. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
And if that doesn’t work, press the red button.”
Come hear her as the featured jammer this Saturday, June 27 at the Hope Station House at 7 p.m.
v2
