A tribute to the late Bill Murdoch held at the legion in Owen Sound will air on local TV this weekend for those who missed the sold out event.
“It was just unbelievable really, I still marvel at how well it went,” says tribute co-organizer and lifelong fried of Murdoch’s Arnie Clark.
Murdoch was Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound’s Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1990 to 2011. He passed away in August at the age of 77.
He was a big supporter of local music, at one time managing the band the Tombstones and organizing numerous concerts including the Bognor Jams.
The Entertainment Tribute to Bill Murdoch was held on September 25th and was emceed by Ross Kentner and John Christie.
Rogers TV Grey County on rogers cable channel 53 will air the tribute again on Saturday, October 1st at 10:30 a.m. or it can be watched on Rogers TV Grey County Website.
Clark says, “I remember Ross mentioning part way through the show, ‘This is history. We won’t ever see the likes of this type of show again.'”
“I think he was right,” says Clark, adding, “We had upwards of 40 musicians and we started working on it months ago.”
Clark says he planned the show with Murdoch before he passed away, visiting him quite often to discuss it. “Basically Bill picked the entertainers list. I left it up to him and we went from there,” says Clark.
Some of the headliners included Larry Mercey, Peter Irwin, Al Widmeyer from the Stompin Tom Connors band and Crystal Shawanda, who altered her touring agenda to be able to perform there. “The most fabulous Patsy Cline Tribute that I’ve ever heard,” says Clark, also thanking the Saugeen First Nation Church Ladies for being a big part of the tribute.
Larry Mercey led the ceremony for Murdoch who was also inducted into the Bruce Grey Music Hall of Fame during the tribute.
Clark and Murdoch founded the Bruce Grey Music Hall of Fame at the Hepworth Shallow Lake Legion. The legion burned down this past January.
Clark says he called Murdoch that day and broke the news about the fire, “He was pretty much devastated. Bill was never a man to not say a lot of words, but he was pretty well heartbroken when I called him.”
They thought the Hall of Fame was finished for good, says Clark, having lost $60,000- $80,000 in memorabilia, cases, lighting and other items that made up the hall of fame. He remembers Murdoch telling him, “We worked so hard. We spent countless hours an raised money, and I think we’re at the age where we can’t do this again,” says Clark, adding, “Well then I started getting emails and phone calls from people who wanted to help, asking if they could donate.”
After a while, Clark said to Murdoch, “There’s a bit of a groundswell here, do you think we should reconsider our position?”
“Bill and I loved challenges. We just work together on challenges and ideas and visions,” says Clark, explaining, despite Murdoch’s battle with cancer and declining health, they decided to go for it, and accept donations to start working to resurrect the hall of fame.
When Clark proposed there be a musical tribute night for Murdoch after his health took a turn for the worse, Murdoch supported the idea and said it should be a fundraiser for a new hall of fame.
Those who would like to donate to the Bruce Grey Music Hall of Fame can mail a cheque to Box 911 Stn Main Owen Sound N4K 6H6 or they can call Arnie Clark at 519-371-1152.
Going forward, Clark says he is still organizing shows and adds Bill’s wife Sue Murdoch, will join him. “She’s going to be a big partner and is going to be involved with Bognor Jam,” says Clark.
He says the Ridge river Ramblers have a show planned for a Halloween dance at the Owen Sound Legion on Saturday, October 29th and another for New Year’s Eve.
The tribute poster lists performances by Tyler Beckett, Bruce Worthington, Larry Dickinson, Karen May, Dave Hiscox, Brian Leckie, Kevin Dandeno, Larry Jensen, Al Walker, Justin Farrar, Richard Knechtel, John Beckett, Linsey Beckett, Devan Beckett, Ian Leith, Sue Murdoch, Gord Cottrill, Ken Fromager, Doug Ismond, Jim Caeser, Dave Fearnall, Ted Graper, Arnie Clark, Dave Farrar, Dennis Scott, Paul Williamson, Doug Isman and Lloyd Williamson, as well as Larry Mercey, Peter Irwin, Crystal Shawanda and Al Widmeyer.