You’ve
always been damn good. You are, and always have
been, an artist of the highest degree.
- Jody Williams, Vice-President, Writer/Publisher
Relations, BMI Nashville
Frank
Trainor was born playing rhythm guitar and singing lead
vocals in late great pop/rock bands. Frank's early
life history other than singing & playing music in his old home cloud is foggy now becoming overcast and hazy for "all out lying" parts of No Man's Island,
Halifax, N.S. and a few old favorite haunts in Fredericton,
N.B.
Frank
discovered the songwriting muse in those same late
great pop/rock years as a young guy living on No Man's Island. The Spirit beckoned so he split for the Big City.
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Frank
was guided in his efforts by legendary
Canadian CBC broadcaster and writer, Jack McAndrew, who arranged
and promoted several showcase opportunities for Frank
to open on tour for popular music stars of the day such as Gino Vanelli
and The Poppy Family. Frank was also eventually discovered
as a young emerging songwriter by Canada's top country
music group of the time-The Mercey Brothers-who recorded
a few of Frank's early songs including the group's #1
country radio hit "Our Lovin' Times". Two essential
songs from this early period were also recorded by Frank
Trainor himself as an A/B radio single in 1975. Both songs
were well received airplay hits. "Thursday Morning/5 O'Clock
Rain" b/w "Here Comes Another Lonely Day" created many opportunities
for Frank to appear on National TV as a young "up
and coming" artist/songwriter. Frank often appeared
on popular country music programs such as George Hamilton
IV Show and The Tommy Hunter Show, among others. In 1976 he
relocated to Toronto to pursue more opportunities in the music business. |
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Frank's
very first album was recorded in Toronto in 1981. The Comfort
Sound Sessions produced one A/B single release to radio
which got good regional airplay. The "A" side
song was called "The Dreams Of Melinda MacKay"
backed with "Papa Didn't Quit". Both songs received
equally positive attention at radio and further inspired
Frank as a songwriter and as a live performer working
many cool stages in and around Toronto.
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Frank
eventually decided to focus his longer term career efforts
on establishing his credentials as a pro songwriter making
records only sporadically. However, in 1985/86, he decided
to take a run at the national record charts once again
by releasing four consecutive top ten hit singles to country/AC
radio earning instant national recognition as a major
hit songwriter and also as a serious contender as a commercial
recording artist. Frank's "lone gunman" model
of success drew much attention to his potential from the
country music industry establishment in his native Canada
and from several publishers on Music Row in Nashville,
TN. Frank was offered a number of songwriter/publisher
deals
and eventually negotiated a contract with Combine Music. |
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Known on Music Row as "The House of Quill Repute",
Combine Music was the legendary home of some of the most
influential songwriters in Nashville music history, including
Frank's own personal greatest songwriting influence, Kris
Kristofferson. Frank Trainor is not a believer in any
"single bullet" theory when it comes to the
creative, artistic process. He just writes and performs GREAT SONGS. |
Frank Trainor was nominated for the Canadian
Country Music Association's Vista Rising
Star Award in the mid 1980's for his big
hit songs, "You Sure Didn't Waste
Any Time" and "The Ring I Gave
You". His nomination was quietly
revoked soon after being formally announced
in the music industry press when it was
discovered that Frank had achieved his
success on his own merits and personal
initiative without any "help"
from controlling CCMA interests who all
ensured Frank was shut out of the awards.
Frank Trainor was however nominated for
a Juno Award in 1986 as Country Male Vocalist
of the Year and was deservedly promoted
widely having had undeniable chart success
with several hit records. He did not "win"
the Juno in his category that year but
was instead promised by an important industry
insider that he would indeed "win"
the Juno the following year. For what
exactly, Frank wasn't quite sure since
he had no plans whatsoever to continue
putting hit records out to Canadian country
music radio and in fact was well underway
in his negotiations with major music publishers
in Nashville.
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Two other hit singles that were released
in these years included Frank's own
personal favorite song from his hot
radio period, "Hard Drivin' Hana".
The other was a song called "Everybody
Wants To Dance With You", which
was the last radio record released by
Frank Trainor. All obstacles standing
in the way of Frank's wider creative
objectives as a songwriter/artist were
easily dismissed. Frank simply pulled
the plug on his own successful radio
records venture and pitched his wares
in Nashville where he was signed to
a major league music publisher's songwriter's
contract in 1987. However, drastic corporate
takeovers and buyouts on Music Row in
the early 90's turned Frank sour on
the increasingly restrictive contemporary
country music marketing industry. After
a brief foray into the LA music business
at the invitations of famed record producer
Elliot Mazer, mogul David Geffen and
Warner Brothers/Reprise President, Howie
Klein, Frank simply walked away from
his one-sided Nashville publishing deal
and returned again to Toronto where
he continued to write songs prolifically
while working outside the mainstream
music business and raising his 2 sons
with his wife, Linda.
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A
trip to Canada's west coast in the late 90's inspired
Frank to move his family and creative business
interests west to Southern Alberta. A true pro
with a dedicated passion for his songcraft, Frank
Trainor has BigTime vision as a "Gun"
and all who know the man and his great songs agree
that Frank Trainor is an exemplary craftsman of
inordinate depth of soul & purpose as a songwriter/artist.
He sings his guts out and plays acoustic guitar
like he was born with the damn thing in his hands.
And, of course, as we already know from the top
of this bio story, that's exactly how it all began.
And, as The Gun says; "my mark is seldom
missed...my target's emptiness...5 bullets for
its nest and one between its eyes".
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When
I first heard Frank Trainor play live I was totally
blown away by his presence, power and communication.
He is one of the most powerful writer/singer/guitarists
I have ever heard. It was amazing..." - Elliot
Mazer, Record Producer - (Neil Young, Linda Ronstadt,
Gordon Lightfoot)
"My business is to find songwriters that
I think are capable of writing hit records. Frank
Trainor fits all those requirements. He is one
of the finest writers I've ever heard in my life." -
Bob Beckham, - Nashville Publisher - Combine Music
Group (Kris Kristofferson, Tony Joe White, Dennis
Linde)
"As a music publisher for
over twenty years, it's always a joy to find writers
with talent. In my own career, three songwriters
come to mind as having that special magic...Myles
Goodwyn (April Wine), Bryan Adams & Frank
Trainor. Frank Trainor is one of the best."
- Brian Chater, Publisher, Director, Canadian
Independent Record Production Association. (CIRPA)
"Frank Trainor is one of the most talented
songwriters I have ever had the personal privilege
to know or hear. Regardless of your style or taste
in music, should you need advice from a true craftsman
then Frank Trainor is the man. It will make you
a better writer."
-
Stephen Colyer, Industry Consultant, Record Producer
& former Head of Promotion CBS Records UK
“A
publisher can only hope to find a writer as unique
as Frank Trainor. He is also my friend and a true
gentleman in every sense of the word.” -
Jody Williams, VP Writer/Publisher Relations,
BMI Nashville
“Frank
Trainor is a fantastic song writer. Don’t
let him out of your sight. Sign him right away.”
- Sir Charles Koppelman, President, SBK [1985-90]
- CEO, EMI Music Publishing (1990-94)
"Sign me up for the fan club. A voice full
of heart and A + for songwriting"
- Robert K. Oermann, Music Row Magazine-Disclaimer
Record Reviews, Nashville, Tennessee
“Frank
Trainor is a class act and a special person.”
- Jack MacAndrew, Broadcast/Media Consultant Former
Head of Variety Programming, CBC Television Network
“Frank
Trainor has a unique talent. Nashville’
s major level validation is one strong indicator
of his unlimited world wide potential” -
Leonard Rambeau, Manager (Anne Murray)
“I
realized I was speaking to Frank “TRAINOR”
whose reputation in the music business is that
of a first rate songwriter. I found our conversation
enlightening to say the least.”
- Elaine Jarvis, Canadian Country Music Recording
Artist
“The
South West will rise again if Frank Trainor has
anything to say about it.
Great songs from a great artist!” - Dean
Sciarra, ItsAboutMusic.com
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WIRE
PALADIN
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