While Evan Kemp was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, it was growing up in the prairies that began his love for country music. A childhood accident at the age of six opened the door to music for him. Blinded for almost a year it was at this time that he discovered the radio and heard his heros like Montana Slim (Wilf Carter). That's when he started to learn to yodel. The Kemp family moved back to Vancouver and the same year he started selling magazines on Vancouver streets. To entice customers, he would display his yodelling talents if they bought his magazines. One evening CJOR disc jockey, Bill Rea, heard Evan and took the young yodeller right to the station and put him on the air. That's how it all began. The young Evan Kemp became a staple of Rea's shows on CJOR, CKMO and CKNW for many years. Evan became a DJ himself and hosted a live show on CKWX on Saturday nights in the early '50s. Later he had a show on CKMO and stations in Nanaimo and Port Alberni. Playing live became more lucrative and so Evan gave up the radio for full time performing. He began working with his first band, the BC Ranch Boys who later became The Trail Riders. Throughtout the 1950s and 1960s he played on radio and at community dances, appeared on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville and the Don Ho Show in Hawaii. Cross Canada Barn Dance and Circle Seven Ranch aired on national television in the 60's and featured such well known guests as Hank Snow and Johnny Cash. His name is enshrined in a star on Vancouver's Entertainment Walk of Fame. His star rightfully resides among Canada's best and most renowned such as Mart Kenney, Juliette, Dal Richards and Bryan Adams, to name but a few of the pioneer celebrities honoured by the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame. Evan was sidelined for a time in 1989 after suffering a stroke but he continues entertaining with live appearances regularily in the Vancouver area. His rendition of "The Man We Never Knew" on Remembrance Day at the Orpheum Theatre brings a tear to many an eye. Evan Kemp's began recording in the 1950's with Aragon Records and continued throughout the 60's. In 2001 a compilation of some of Evan's favourite tunes was released on CD. "The Best of Evan Kemp" features The Man We Never Knew and Amazing Grace. "God is Love" includes many favourite inspirational tunes like What A Friend We Have In Jesus and The Old Rugged Crossfrom Evan's TV shows and the newest one, "Evan Kemp Classics" includes the popular Beautiful Nicola Valley and Molly Malone, Cash Box Top 50 tune from the late 1960s.. Evan Kemp passed away, suddently, at his home, on March 17, 2007. His golden voice brought much joy and rekindled many memories, particularly for seniors in residences and hospitals, in most recent years but it was always his performance at the Orpheum Theatre on Rememberance Day, :"The Man We Never Knew" that spoke to the heart of so many. He will be sadly missed. . |
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| BIOGRAPHY |
| EVAN KEMP |
| "The Golden Voice of the Golden West" |
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