The East Mountain Boys Bluegrass Band "First Time Around" (19--?) (LP)
Eastwind "Eastwind" (Cynda Records, 1972) (LP)
An updated edition of the Caribou Showband, Eastwind worked as the house band for the TV show Funny Farm, which was hosted by Blake Emmons. Singer Johnny Burke was the group's front man... He also recorded several solo albums, both before and after the Eastwind bnd was around.
Eastwind "Eastwind" (Condor Records, 1974) (LP)
Eastwind "Eastwind" (Grand Slam Records, 1977) (LP)
(Johnny Burke &) Eastwind "Wild Honey" (Eastwind Records, 1978) (LP)
Cliff Edwards "Singer Of Songs" (A&M Records-Canada, 1976) (LP)
(Produced by Cliff Edwards)
Cliff Edwards "What's Forever For" (Boot Records, 1980) (LP)
(Produced by Cliff Edwards & Ron Dann)
Jerry Eli "Heartbreak Road" (Blu-Star Records, 1969) (LP)
Jerry Eli "Newfoundsongs Of Newfoundland" (Matador Records, 1973) (LP)
(Produced by Tom Brennard, Bobby Munro & Jerry Eli)
Jerry Eli "Country And Newfie Sides Of Jerry Eli" (Snocan Records, 1977) (LP)
(Produced by Dave Todd)
Big John Elliott "True Love Never Runs Smooth" (19--?) (LP)
Blake Emmons "I Wish You Love" (Condor Records, 1976) (LP)
Blake Emmons "First Flight" (Columbia Records, 1983) (LP)
Apparently Canadian country singer Blake Emmons was once the host of a Hee-Haw-like TV show called Funny Farm. It had been cancelled by the time this disc came out and, like the program, this album came and went without raising many ripples on the pond... In fact, it tanked, although his earlier Canadian releases had some modest success on the Northern country charts. Emmons only put out two albums, but he had a modest string of singles going back to the late 1960s, and interestingly enough, his singles had more of a novelty flair to them than the stuff on his albums.
Paul Emms & The Green Valley Boys "Church In The Wildwood" (Arc Records, 196--?) (LP)
Max English "Still Country" (Sonic Records, 1983) (LP)
(Produced by Carmen Joseph)
Rod Erickson "She Taught Me To Yodel" (GNP-Crescendo, 1976) (LP)
(Produced by Gary McDonall)
Yodeler Rod Erickson (1938-2015) grew up in Alberta but moved down to Idaho in his teens, learning how to sing and pick guitar in his twenties. Though youthful in appearance, he was decidedly old-fashioned in his musical orientation, specializing in yodeling(!) to an extent not heard in country music since the heydays of old-timers such as Rosalie Allen and Elton Britt. There's also a little bit of countrypolitan crooning, on tracks like "Lonely Girl," but mostly this is a slightly-modernized yodelfest, and certainly an unexpected gamble for a mainstream lable like GNP to take during the disco era. Against all odds, Erickson had a surprise hit in the early 'Seventies with his revival of "She Taught Me To Yodel," following it up with covers of other cowboyish oldies such as "Cattle Call," "Riders In The Sky," and "Yodel Your Troubles Away," which are all included on this album. Erickson made it to Nashville and toured nationally with stars such as Grandpa Jones and Johnny Paycheck, but he found life on the road precarious and unrewarding and returned to Idaho to perform locally and hold down his day job as an electrician. He and his wife Nancy bought a restaurant in Spirit Lake called the Fireside Lodge -- he had played there for many years, and became the owner in 1989, running it for over two decades before selling it to the city to develop as a park. This was his only mainstream country album -- Erickson later self-released several gospel records, including several CDs.
Art Essery "Modern Country" (Maplewood Records, 19--?) (LP)
Originally from Canada, Art Essery and his wife Janet Ruth grew up around Oshuwo, Ontario, while drummer Jim Blakney and guitarist Roy Le Glazier were from Newbrunswick. The Esserys and their compact band eventually relocated to Minnesota, where they regionally and recorded several albums. This disc was recorded in Cedar Falls, Iowa and features a song Jan Essery wrote a song in tribute to her father, who had recently passed away.
Art Essery "Drinking Champagne" (Country Side Records, 19--?) (LP)
Art Essery "Here Today And Gone Tomorrow" (Four Winds Records, 1973-?) (LP)
Paul Evans "Big Steel Guitar" (Paragon Records, 1968) (LP)
(Produced by Bill Bessey)
Inspired by American steel guitarist Tom Brumley and Buddy Emmons, Canadian steelman Paul Evans played local gigs for several years before cutting this set in the late 'Sixties. It's a showcase album performed by a stripped-down quartet: Paul Evans on steel guitar, his brother Dave Evans (lead guitar), Lee Sommerscales (drums) and Earle Tryon (bass). The group evolved into a band called the Country Showmen, which in the early 1970s anchored a variety venue in Ontario called the Uxbridge Valley Jamboree. Founded by promoter Bob Hathaway, the Uxbridge mini-opry was a popular local venue that helped launch the career of '70s hitmaker Carroll Baker; the show was eventually eclipsed by a rival program started up by the same radio station that initially supported the Hathaway program, prompting Evans to go on the road for several years backing Con Archer, after which he settled down in the Toronto suburb of Oshawa, Ontario where he started his own studio/label, Ambassador Records. Years later he formed a regional band called the Durham Country Pickers, which was largely an informal group playing mostly local shows. Evans also self-produced his own album(s) on CD and worked to promote a local music festival. (Note: there was also a "French language" version of this album simultaneously released on Paragon Records, using the name Paul LeSage. Go figure!)
The Evans Sisters And Carl "Sing And Play 14 Of Your Requests" (V Records, 1966-?) (LP)
A folk and country trio from Manitoba, Canada, consisting of Shirley and Anne Evans, along with Carl Cherak, who joined the duo in 1964, after the sisters had been performing together for several years. No date on this disc, alas, but I'd guess it was around 1966 or so, maybe '67. They covered country oldies like "Satisfied Mind" and newer mid-'Sixties tunes such as "Howdy Neighbor" and "Once A Day," along with goofier coffeehouse material like "Malaguena" and "Bongos And Banjos." Hep, daddy-o.
Canada has long had a vibrant love of country music, often tinged with strong regional pride and songs extolling the great Northern expanse. Some artists, of course, became well-known down south, but for every Hank Snow there are literally thousands of other musicians who never made it to Nashville, or never even tried. At any rate, the Canadian country scene is huge, and deserves to be celebrated in its own right. I'm pretty sure I'm only scratching the surface here, and welcome any recommendations, additions or corrections. 
