Soulful Songs at the Northside Grill
Each Tueday evening René performs his ‘soulful song series’ at the North Side Grill.
Cobourg’s own ‘antique hunter’, René Huard, will perform solo a selection of R & B, jazz and pop sandards on guitar, piano and voice. Enjoy, steeped in the blues interpretations of Marvin
Gaye’s ‘How Sweet It Is’ and Sarah McLaughlin’s ‘Angel’.
Fine Dining & Soulful Songs
King St, Cobourg, ON
From 6:30 -10:30 p.m.
Book Reservations: 905 - 377- 9709
Antique Hunter Theme
Written by Angelo Oddi (Sequence Prods, T.O.), the harmonica driven theme song to Antique Hunter was created by request of the shows producers, with a mind to showcase René’s musical ability as an adjunct to his antique hunting persona.
While in the studio recording the theme song, René added electric blues harp tracks to Antique Hunter’s ‘Chicago Jazz Age’ episode.
Throughout 39 episodes of Antique Hunter, René has jammed out on guitar, harmonica and piano with several featured guests on the show.
Jamming with Morgan Davis
Most recently René has been invited on stage as a guest performer with Juno Award winning blues artist Morgan Davis.
“I have had the honor of sitting in on blues harp with Morgan a few times now, once in fact as he was featured as a guest expert on threadless insulator glass, filming an episode of Antique Hunter. I love playing with Morgan because we both know the unwritten language of the blues, you know it’s a feel thing, and especially as Morgan is a master of syncopation, there is always room to move in, out and around the main groove, weaving a rhythmic harp tone in amongst that funky guitar sound, that is distinctively Morgan!” - René Huard
CD in the Works
“One of the main reason’s I wanted to get out and start performing music, with a weekly ‘house gig’ sort of regularity, is that it’s a great opportunity to pump up my performance chops before I go into the recording studio. Also, it’s a voyage of discovery as I explore my ability to interpret the classic R&B, Soul, Jazz, Blues & Rock repertoire I love. Of course, I tend to measure my own songwriting by these influences, so when I showcase a self penned effort, it’s fantastic to see how it lands with the audience.
"Through the process of rehearsing and playing out, I’m begining to get a handle on which of my songs should be included in the 10 song CD. Ultimately, being seen and heard with some continuity, over time, I hope to attract a support network of musicians and the right producer to be involved in the recording project. Stay tuned!" - René Huard
Song Writing
The fledgling chords that René learned to play on guitar at age 14, were fashioned into an original song and songwriting remains a driving force in his life today.
This folk and blues influenced songwriter cut his teeth in the Ottawa valley folk scene in the 1970s and was filmed on CBC’s ‘New Faces’.
In the 'Eighties
In the 'eighties, with a year of Humber College Music program under his belt, René wrote, home recorded and played his songs on stage for some of the Toronto music scene’s most discerning ears.
He showcased at the ‘Diamond Club’, ‘Cameron House’ and every singer-songwriter workshop and open stage he could find throughout the 1980s.
Captured on ‘Rogers’ cable T.V.‘ live from the Winchester Arms’, from this songwriting showcase, René got another shot at widening his appeal as singer songwriter artist.
The Meteors
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With Cheryl Lescom |
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As a musical entertainer, René has toured extensively through North America as the front man for the blues and rock band, “The Meteors”. “Being on the road with the ‘Meteors’ honed my performance chops, but scheduling gigs, preparing press kits, dealing with club owners and agents, doing ‘on air’ and press interviews, etc, etc, taught me how to be a spokesperson and take care of business.
“The ‘Meteors’ had the destinction of being signed to one of the countries most successful booking agencies, ‘The Agency’, and as a result, we had access to the ‘A’ club circuit which included venues like the ‘El Macombo’ and prestigious opening slots in concerts for Downchild Blues Band, John Hammond Jr. and James Cotton.
“The Meteors toured a lot, in fact it became exhausting and and my ‘songwriter’ spirit, well, I could feel it slowly being crushed. After all, we had lot’s of gigs, and we had to keep up covering the hit songs of the 1980s, keep ’em on the dance floor, and drink’n beer.
"I wanted more, a chance to record original material and get it on the radio, play concerts and theatres. Without looking back, I crawled out from beneath the weight of our success as a club act and took a chance on my dream.” - René Huard
Ottawa Days
In the 1970s , René took residence in, what he now fondly calls, the original ‘Ottawa House Of Blues’, sharing life and a lot of blues jamming with ‘Bearcat’s founder, Chuck Karn.
During this blues emersion, René took up the blues harp listening and playing along with ‘Little Walter’ records.
A somewhat miraculous stage appearance in Ottawa, by legendary New Orleans piano player ‘Proffessor Longhair’, had a profound influence and broadened the musical range of René Huard.
The piano became his newest obsession. The culmination of René’s, Ottawa days would have to be appearing at the very first ‘Ottawa Blues Festival’, opening for ‘Taj Mahal’.
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Taj Mahal |
René opening for Taj Mahal |
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