I talked today to a distant, VERY distant cousin. I haven't seen her since she was an infant. She was born and has lived in the States all her mid-thirty or so years. I filled her in a bit on family history and the discussion got around to tunes. It started about our old family and Trad Irish tunes as she had heard that my cousins and I "play".

Then, I mentioned that music is a big thing here and the tradition carries on to "modern" tunes, more to her taste. Then this. She has never heard of April Wine.... she has NEVER HEARD of April Wine! She has NEVER HEARD of Burton or BTO or... you get the picture... when I asked her about The Guess Who, she accused me of playing mind games.

Now, I can understand a young Yank not knowing regional bands, but when they don't know The Hip or Kim Mitchell, or... really... how can anyone not know The Guess Who?

If that's that's really the case, I am a VERY lucky man because I have been graced with some of the best tunes on the planet. As for folk, she has heard of Gordon Lightfoot but what the f*** is a Valdy? Joni who? Is she related to Kim? Natalie who? Rankin what? The Rankins? JC!!!

Apparently, Canada has done a poor job of sharing these joys with the world. And that really is a bad thing.

Leahy! Natalie MacMaster! The Guess Who! April Wine! And on! Never heard of them! Unf***ingreal!!!

I'd like to know if these names are a blank with any other of our brothers to the south. Any of you guys never heard of The Guess Whio?