Local singer opens for CCMA artist
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Grace Wall is on her way to a promising musical career.
The 14 year-old student at East Elgin Secondary School in Aylmer is a budding artist who recently shared her talent when she opened for acclaimed Canadian country music singer Sean Hogan at a concert in Otterville on Wednesday, May 29, 2013.
Wall has been writing songs and performing on stage for the past several years and has looked to artists such as Taylor Swift and Sean Hogan for inspiration.
“I’m a big fan of country music,” said Wall. “My music teachers told me about him (Sean Hogan) one day.”
Hogan, a native of Sarnia, Ontario, is a 20 year veteran of the Canadian country music scene. He has recorded six albums in the past 16 years and has won several music awards across the country including two from the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) - for Independent Male Artist of the Year and Roots Artist of the Year. In 2011, Hogan was diagnosed with throat cancer and underwent radiation and chemotherapy treatments.
During this time, Wall learned of Hogan’s struggle with cancer and at just 12 years old decided to write a song about the country artist.
Inspired by his music, the song ‘Just Like We Used To’ is a tribute to Hogan’s determination and fighting spirit.
“It’s a song about getting through hard times,” said Wall.
Hogan himself heard an MP3 of the song one day and was touched by the gesture.
“It was quite moving to see that,” he said. “I was very impressed and quite moved – I didn’t know this person but I guess she had heard a bunch of my songs over the years on the radio.”
Hogan, on a mini-tour of Ontario at the end of May, did five shows in ten days in several towns and cities across the province, before flying to northern British Columbia to play at the Relay for Life in early June.
He has been cancer free now for the past 18 months and returned to Otterville on May 29 for an encore performance. Once again, Hogan invited Wall to be his opening act.
“I thought it would be a fantastic thing to do. I was delighted to have her there last year. At the time I was still recovering (from cancer treatment) and to be there, it was very moving, a very touching time.”
Wall was thrilled about performing with one of her favourite Canadian artists for the second straight year.
“I’m very excited,” she said of the opportunity prior to last Wednesday’s concert. “His music’s really great but I love how he’s even better live.”
In addition to having fans in and around Otterville, there’s a reason why Hogan chose to stop in this small town in southwestern Ontario during his mini-tour.
“There’s a bunch of people that live in the area who organized and were part of a benefit for me,” said Hogan. “So when I was well again, they thought it’d be great to play in that area and I thought absolutely.
“It was a great thing to do to show folks my appreciation and to show them I’m back doing what I love to do,” he added.
Friends and family, including Hogan, have been very supportive of Wall and her budding music career.
“I think Grace is blessed with all kinds of talent, and there’s no reason to think that she can’t achieve a great many things with her music,” he said. “And as she matures with her music she’s no doubt going to have many opportunities come to her.”
Wall is thankful for the experience and opportunities she’s had in her life thus far and looks forward to developing her talent and a possible future in the music industry.
“It’s definitely been motivating to have someone like Sean Hogan recognize that you enjoy doing what you’re doing, and to encourage you to keep on going,” said Wall. “I definitely want to pursue a career in music one day.”