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Dennis has been writing songs for well over thirty years and still performs at least one song from his earliest efforts ('Lovers' is Just Too Hard) in current concert settings. Dennis' blend of country/folk/blues has been forged in that same period of time, mixing jobs ranging from the Trans Canada Pipeline to horseshoeing and ranchwork with playing in tavern dance bands, folk clubs and concert venues in solo. duo and ensembles. Dennis has for the last couple of decades worked in human services, with children and families in his hometown of Peterborough, and most recently in the high school system as well. Dennis is also a founding member of the Peterborough Folk Festival. Dennis first recorded a 45 rpm 'single' in 1987 with 'Bandanna!', a popular C&W club act across south-central Ontario (limited copies still availlabe for anyone with a real jukebox), followed by a live recording of Folk-Rock material in 1990 "Dennis O'Toole and Friends-Live at Artspace" . Some of the Bandanna! sessions made it to CD on "Seven Songs" in 1997, but the songs on 'Dennis O'Toole' mark the true songwriting debut born of current technology. this album, produced and mastered by bassist and Humber College recording technician Andy Pryde is the 'pick of the litter' of efforts to date. Dedicated to the memory of David Louis Borne, Dennis' late 'picking partner' (who died in an auto wreck in 1995), 'Dennis O'Toole' features the talents of most of the 'core' of Peterborough's wealth of musical characters- and some 'out of town' guests including Georgette Fry (who included Dennis' Three Kinds of Fool' on her Juno nominated debut 'Rites of Passage') on vocals, Zeke Mazurek on fiddle, Don Baird on Hammond B3 and Pat Labarbara on sax. Dennis invites any and all 'New Foundation' members and interested individuals to contact him at: dennisotoole@hotmail.com to order a copy of the CD or to arrange a 'CD for CD' trade with other songwriters. Regards to all and cudos to Trevor Mills for all his hard work in establishing and maintaining the New Foundation concerts and website!
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