Carolyn McCormack was born in Hamilton Ontario, Canada. She was the 4th of 6 children. The family later moved to Dunchurch, which is a small village northeast of Parry Sound, Ontario. She was introduced to music early in her life. Her father, John McCormack (who has since passed away), and his brothers were accomplished musicians originally from Prince Edward Island. They played throughout Ontario and Eastern Canada. Some had recorded albums, performed with the likes of Don Messer, Marie Bottrell, as well as performing on television and in Nashville.
Although her family played traditional "east coast" and country music, Carolyn has adopted her own style and sound, which incorporates blues and rock with international influences.
As a young child, Carolyn began accompanying her father on the piano and vocally. She started writing songs at the age of 14. She continued to sing at school, community events, and with her family. But at the age of 19, her father tragically lost his life in an automobile accident, and she stopped singing and performing for a time.
Later on, family, non-musical career obligations, and responsibilities took much of Carolyn's time. However, she continued to write and sing privately. Over the last 5 years she has had the opportunity to rededicate her time, interest, and passion for her first love, and calling...music.
Carolyn was sought after to sing and play in bands. A local band in Barrie, Ontario, Canada, called the "Wildwood Blues Band" invited her to play the keyboards and sing. She decided to give it a try, but within a short while, she realized that she preferred writing, composing, and performing her own work.
In 2001, she met a gentleman at a Songwriter's event in Toronto Canada, and a year later he recorded one of Carolyn's songs with his Nigerian band, Beautiful Nubia (in 2000 he was nominated in the "Best Artist from West Africa" category, and in 2001 he and his band were nominated again at the prestigious Kora All-Africa Music Awards in South Africa). An associate had heard the recording and it was later included on a CD of various artists called "Eclectic Sounds".
She has also worked with Walter Sobczak (formerly the bassist from the 80's pre-alternative band "The Sturm Group"), and James Anthony who is a renowned guitarist that has worked with over 150 Rock & Roll legends. Carolyn is currently working with producer/ keyboard player Peter Boynton ( Red Rider, Zappacosta, Partland Brothers, and Burgundy Rose) on her first release. " I can listen to Carolyn's music over and over again...Check it out!" says Peter.
"People do not choose their passion - it chooses them. If you ask any artist, mechanic, or gardener when did they know that was what they wanted to do, they would all probably tell you the same thing. The artist will tell you that they painted with water and their mother's pastry brushes at 2 years of age, and the mechanic would tell you that they took apart their first car playing dinky toys in the sand when they were little boys (or girls!), and the gardener would tell you that they grew tomatoes at the age of five on their windowsill. They didn't know. It just was.
If someone were to ask me when did I know that music was going to be what I wanted to do, I would have to say I didn't know. It was always just a natural part of who I was. When I was very young I remember feeling spellbound watching my father and his brothers play and sing. And at about 9 years old, I couldn't wait until it was my turn to sing or step dance for everyone. And at 12, I could play any Olivia Newton John, Marie Bottrell, or Anne Murray song on the piano by ear, and I knew all of the words. At 14, I was changing all of the songs lyrics on the radio to what I wanted them to say and the songwriting began. It's always been in my blood. I have embraced my father's legacy - music."
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