George McConkey is a northern institution. Fondly nicknamed Harmonica George by his myriad of Yukon fans, he is a founding member of the Undertakin’ Daddies (Juno nominated for Post Atomic Hillbilly in 2002) (West Coast Music Awards nominee for Devil in the Rearview 2004) and has toured Europe, the US and across Canada.
Known as a musician’s musician, Harmonica George has let his lyrical style of improvisation bedazzle and amaze all who listen, performing with the likes of Calvin Vollrath, Lester Quitzau, Carolyn Mark, Hawk Walsh, Gordie Johnson, David Essig, Wyckham Porteous, Cardella De Milo, Dino Spells, Teresa Doyle, Rick Scott, Ray Condo, Gary Comeau, Rawlin’s Cross, Kenny Wayne, Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir, Phil Dwyer, and Phil Lloyd to name a few.
A sought after session musician in the Yukon, Harmonica George has played on many renowned Yukon projects including CDs for Jerry Alfred and The Medicine Beat (Juno winner Best Aboriginal Recording 1996 , Juno nominee 1997), The Pointer Brothers, Anne Louise Genest, Joe Bishop and Kendall Sullivan, Deering and Down. He has opened for John Hammond Jr., Blue Rodeo, Prairie Oyster and Tom Russell, performed by invitation for Prince Charles, and been an invited guest at Vancouver’s prestigious Harmonica Blast.
Growing Up
McConkey grew up in a suburb of Toronto, spending all his boyhood summers at the family cottage on Go Home Lake near Georgian Bay. When a family friend brought a harmonica to his dad’s weekly dart game, George age eleven, was smitten and would not give in until his dad stopped at Savette on the journey home and bought him one. Playing hooky and music – chiefly the blues – with high-school buddies, George took inspiration from John Hammond, Muddy Waters, Sonny Terry, Charlie McCoy and Paul Butterfield. As a teenager, wanderlust grabbed him and he hitched and rode the rails around Canada finally ending up in the Yukon at age 19 where he spent his first summer in a cabin on Benson Creek up the Dempster Highway.
And the spell of the Yukon holds him still. Today life in a cabin in West Dawson is cozy and an inspirational backdrop for brewing music. With his first solo CD Tin & Bone under his harp belt, Harmonica George has given his world-wide fans something to talk about.
Tin & Bone
a Yukon-spirited collection of folk and blues tinged originals and lively traditionals featuring dazzling bluesharp and folk-styled harmonica with the added gem – the album’s title cut Tin & Bone, a harmonica flavoured reading of The Song Of The Mouth Organ, the poem by Robert Service bard of the Yukon
Tin & Bone, McConkey’s first solo project was co-produced with Nathan Tinkham, co-founder of The Great Western Orchestra (Juno nominated for Country Group of the Year) guitarist for Ian Tyson, Cindy Church, Quartette, Diamond Joe White, Undertakin’ Daddies. Tinkham who has been called the western guitarist of choice, plays guitar and dobro and Yukoner Rob Bergman adds upright bass and harmonies letting McConkey’s harmonica gold shine through.
Reviews
"George always knows how to get inside a melody or a song and make people feel what he's playing. He plays from his heart not from the page -- and that's where the best music comes from" MIKE STEVENS
Harmonica George launches new CD at Roxy
By Derek Kilbourn, Gabriola Sounder News
Monday, March 16 2009
Take a little blues, some folk, a constantly stomping foot, throw in some Klondike spirit, and you’re halfway to a Harmonica George and Nathan Tinkham performance.
Better known as Harmonica George from his Yukon days playing in the Undertakin’ Daddies with Tinkham, George had the sold-out crowd stomping their feet and cheering and clapping with an enthusiasm usually reserved for the end of the concert.
And that was with the first two songs. Even Stevie B (laughingly) commented things might be a little rowdy for a Roxy crowd.
George’s final harmonica song before the intermission, Lost John, was extremely impressive. For anyone else breathing that fast, the words “hyperventilation” or “an anxiety attack” would come to mind. George definitely deserves his “harmonica” moniker.
The concert was the official release of George’s first CD Tin and Bone -- recorded and produced in Nathan’s studio on Gabriola.
If you get a chance to pick up a copy of the CD, find yourself a desolate stretch of road to cruise down and put it on and then pull over for Lost John, lest your stompin’ get you in trouble.
Tales of life in modern and historical West Dawson where George lives are well mixed with lyric-free tunes that George’s harmonica shines in.
And of course backing up almost every song is Tinkham’s steadily-strummed guitar.
You can’t help feeling like you’d like to head up to the Yukon to search for gold, canoe past Lake Labarge, and end-up in a seedy hotel bar swapping stories with other “summer people.”
Travel Yukon might want to hire George, just because of the infection of Yukon fever his music brings on.
This won’t be the last Tinkham performance this month -- Nathan is bringing his Wilf Carter show to the Roxy on March 24th. Tickets are at Artworks.
BRUNO MICHEL Switzerland www.american-country.ch
"George McConkey is well known amongst his Swiss fans. For years, the canadian native has toured with the Undertakin' Daddies across Canada and the rest of the world - including Switzerland. As a songwriter, guitarist and - most of all - expert harmonica player, George was an integral part of the bands he has played with. It was a matter of time until he would have his own CD on the market. Now, Tin & Bone is here and its twelve songs, partial standards, partial self-penned, offer a nice sampler of George's skills.
As expected, the harmonica songs are dominating. After all, the harmonica is George's favorite instrument. Remarkable are the traditionals Swallow Tail Jig or St. Anne's Reel and his self-penned West Dawson. This is harmonica perfection at its best. But George is also a great singer and storyteller as he goes to proof in Up On The Dempster. My favorite among his vocal songs is Something Sent Me An Angel.
Beside McConkey, another Ex-Daddy can be found on the CD. Nathan Tinkham plays along with George and he also co-produced the album and recorded it in his own studio. I am curious when we will hear these fine musicians live on stage again. Since I live in Texas now, I might ride up to the Yukon Territory - but only once it gets warmer up there."
BILL POLONSKY WHAT'S UP YUKON
"In the hands and with the breath of a true acolyte it (harmonica) can equally express pain and joy with seemingly breathless abandon....check out the song Mariposa to see how a harmonica can sing. McConkey exposes us to an openness of tone and nuance from this instrument that take on the character and expressiveness of a butterfly itself. It has a halting bittersweet tone, but allows enough sunlight and warmth through to remind you of a summer -- in the middle of a winter -- afternoon."
"McConkey is a natural singer and songwriter...more than just a country singer, McConkey moves easily in the genres of folk and blues"
"Tin & Bone closes with an interpretation of Robert Services' The Song Of The Mouth Organ. Not only is it a rare treat to hear Service spoken aloud, but with McConkey's harmonica soundtrack the magic to the listener is doubled."
DAN DAVIDSON THE KLONDIKE SUN
"It was standing room only....when Harmonica George McConkey took the stage for the hometown launch of Tin & Bone, his first solo music CD....George is known best for his harmonica work and really showed it off...sometimes switching through four instruments in a single song to get just the right sound for a particular verse. Notes were bent until they could go no further and extended until the audience gasped....Tin & Bone is a fine album that will bear repeated listening, but, like many performers, McConkey is at his best when he has an audience and the Saturday night show was one to remember."
I'm hitting the road in a couple of weeks to raise money for War Child, Coast-to-coast – 50 cities – ALL PROCEEDS TO WARCHILD. Why? 66% of all war victims are CHILDREN. Shocked like me? War Child helps these children that have been affected by war. Check out the new blog – the whole story is up there. Love to have you be a part of it.
You’ll find a Blog, Tour page and a Bio page. I’ll be blogging daily from the road.
Hey George, hows it goin? Thanks for the add! I heard About you through Nathan Tinkham. He played Lap Steel n dobro and lead guitar on my 3 song Demo. The first 2 of your songs reminds me of back home in Newfoundland. The others could be sound tracks fer western or Yukon movies. Hope your havin a great day:) Drop by anytime n have a listen or say hi. Thanks Ed Anderson
WOW!!! Im so glad you found me!!!! Im just off to the States this sunday to go record the voc's and guitar for the album. How are you guys!! Do you live in Dawson now?? Let me know whats up! Still think your childrens album was the BEST EVER! Nathan and I sang to it on many of our trips..... I need another copy and Im hoping that one day soon, I can actually get back up there!! (Its one of my goals) Take care and please say hello to everyone (especially family!) Marija
Hi George, spent the day trying to find a copy of you new CD I been hearing about, it is sold out everywhere, good for you, I may have to order one on line, congratulations George, I have been waiting for it for a long time... Gordie
Hi George! Great to hear from you. Yes, Joe and I are playing together again...it is really fun. He is in Ontario now. Always loved singing! Ever come down this way? Congrats on the CD! Kendall
