Thursday, September 12, 2013

Former Vernon Viper Brownlee Delivers At Jamboree:

Here is an article I found on former Vernon Vipers defenceman Chad Brownlee.  Brownlee a recipient of his first JUNO Award nomination back in February is a country music star, played two years in Vernon (2001-03). In 113 regular season games with the Vipers Brownlee collected (14-28-42). Brownlee was drafted in 2003 in the 6th round, by the NHL Vancouver Canucks but retired from hockey after a short stint in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) with the Idaho Steelheads before becoming a Country music star.

Chad Brownlee's Player Profile:

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=72703

For more on Chad Brownlee visit his website,

http://chadbrownlee.com/

This was on the Leader-Post website:

Craven review: Chad Brownlee delivers at the Jamboree

By Jeff DeDekker, The Leader-Post July 15, 2013

Craven Country Jamboree

CRAVEN — For a former professional hockey player, Chad Brownlee has developed into a remarkable country music singer.

That isn’t meant as a slight to Brownlee’s hockey career — drafted by the Vancouver Canucks, he played in the ECHL before retiring — but his new gig is definitely heading in the right direction.

Brownlee, who turned 29 on Friday, admitted early on in his 12-song, one-hour set Sunday at the Craven Country Jamboree that even he is amazed at the success he’s having.

“Last year at this time we actually closed the beer gardens and it was a great show,” said Brownlee. “I was thrilled when I found out that we’d be playing the main stage this year.”

While playing in the NHL is the dream for most Canadian boys, Brownlee acknowledged that he is on the right path professionally.

“I gotta tell you that I love doing this — it is what I was meant to do,” said Brownlee.
Organizers at the Jamboree have become huge supporters of Canadian artists. The support, however, isn’t based on nationality, it’s based on talent and Brownlee is a prime example of this policy.

From the time he nonchalantly strolled onto the stage singing Crash to when he closed the set with a rocking cover of Free’s All Right Now, Brownlee connected with the audience.

His high-energy performance, combined with superb material and his strong voice, enabled Brownlee to work the crowd and convince many to become fans. For most it wasn’t a hard sell.

A regular on Canadian country radio, Brownlee filled is set with songs familiar to the crowd — Hood Of My Car, Carried Away, Listen and Smoke In The Rain.

Love Me Or Leave Me, perhaps the ultimate make up your mind song, also grabbed the crowd’s attention. How can anyone ignore a tune that clearly states two options for a relationship? It’s either yes or no and Brownlee sang it like there was no middle ground.

He also knows which covers compliment his sound. Whether it was Eddie Vedder’s Hard Sun, Tom Petty’s Free Falling or Old Crow Medicine Show’s Wagon Wheel, Brownlee’s talent fit the material wonderfully.

Brownlee also gave the crowd a quick taste of some new music with a tune called Tell Me Where The Party At? He certainly wanted to make the song memorable for the crowd.

“Let’s make this our moment,” told the crowd. “Put away the phones, put away the cameras and let’s make this our moment at the Craven Country Jamboree.”
Brownlee did exactly that with his impressive set.

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