Thanks for talking with us! Looking back, what was the first album or "Vinyl" you bought? I think it was Beach Boys "Endless Summer" or "Concert", I think my mom bought it for me.
At the end of the day, what do you hope is the message of your music? What do you hope people take away from your songs? I just hope my music resonates with people, or maybe creates long lasting memories from a time in their life. I hope they take away a lot of inspiration and positivity.
Is there one song in particular you're most excited about people hearing? I'm really excited about the new single "Long Hard Rain."
Did you always want to be a musician or was there a specific moment that something happened that made you think "this is what I want to do with my life." If so, what was it? As I have said in the past, probably when my 7th grade music teacher Mrs. Howard brought in a bass guitar for my class to play in school. I learned the first three note progression pattern of "Old Time Rock n' Roll" by Bob Seger that she showed me, and I was hooked!
Aside from singing do you play any instruments? I also play guitar, Bass, harmonica, some mandolin, some drums and "plunk" at keyboards.
Was there ever music playing in the kitchen growing up? Old vinyl records and the local country radio station CKBY that my mom used to love listening to when I was a kid.
What is your favorite dish to cook? Stir Fry or an omelets for breakfast.
Favorite music to listen to while you cook? My family likes old Dean Martin and Michael Buble.
What is your favorite wine? Merlot
If you could be sponsored by one food/drink brand who would it be and why? Canada Dry Ginger ale
Cory M. Coons is a professional independent performer, musician and award winning songwriter from Eastern Ontario, Canada, just south of Ottawa. With over 30 years of experience in music, it has been his passion since his early teens as a guitar player/bassist & singer in High School, and shortly after while travelling and performing in a variety of very popular cover bands throughout the mid-to-late 90's in both Ontario and the United States in well known local high-energy acts such as “Heads Or Tales” and “Shake The Tree”, as well as the band “U.S”, (which toured most of the South Eastern United States in 1998’). Then later formed his own Classic-Melodic Rock influenced band “Tycoons”, releasing two independent recordings and performing throughout Eastern Ontario, Northern NY State, and Quebec in the early 2000’s.
As a Roots-Rock/Americana blend of Singer-songwriter, Cory has amassed more than 170,000 plays on Spotify for his melodic brand of roots-flavored rock. His work with famed legendary record producer Ron Nevison, has earned him industry recognition from the Los Angeles Music Awards, the Producer’s Choice Honors, The Josie Music Awards, International Singer-Songwriter Association and the Radio Music Awards, among others. With a catalog that boasts several critically-acclaimed full length albums and EPs, as well as a handful of well-received singles. Since 2004’, Cory has officially released 4 full length albums and 2 E.p’s, (with another recent E.p released in 2020), featuring the singles "Leavin" and "Good Times Gone".
He released "The Long Road Home" in 2018, produced by Multi-Platinum Veteran Music Producer Ron Nevison, (Heart, Bad Company, Damn Yankees, Survivor, Styx, Night Ranger). The album was nominated in 2019 for "Male Album Of The Year" at one of the biggest Independent Award Shows in North America, the "Josie Music Awards", and he as well had 4 nominations at the 2020 JMA's, 3 more at the 2021 JMA's, and is currently nominated at the upcoming 2022 JMA event again in two categories, "E.p of the Year", & "Single of the Year" (Americana) for his song Freedom Road, this time being held in October at the Grand Ole Opry House. Cory also earned a nomination at the 2021 "International Singer Songwriter Association" (ISSA) Awards in 2021 for "International Male Vocalist of the Year".
In 2020, Cory's Nashville recorded E.p "33.3", and previous album "The Long Road Home" were released on MTS Records, along with the "Share A Little Time" (E.p) and a re-issue of his "Retrospective" compilation (spanning 1999' - 2010'). The single "Leavin" was released early in 2020, and the follow up single "Good Times Gone" was released in June of 2020, from the recent Ep "33.3". In December of 2020, Cory released “Burning Bright at Christmas Time” on MTS Records. The enchanting blend of acoustic guitar and sleigh bells captured the spirit of the holiday, and Coons’ melodic sensibilities remain intact with another rootsy release that feels at home next to his finest releases. “Burning Bright” also featured Coons’ then, 6-year-old daughter, Charleigh, on backing vocals, giving the track a real family touch. Another independent single "Far Away" was released in early 2021, which also featured Charleigh Lynn Coons (at 7) on backing harmonies on the track, along with his single "Freedom Road" which dropped in late 2021 on MTS Records, and a new upcoming single is set for release on July 15th of 2022, "Long Hard Rain", also on the MTS label.
Cory has also been named Best Rock Songwriter for “Long Road (Dead Man’s Dream)”
and Best Americana Artist for “Once Too Many, Twice Not Enough” at the 2018
"Radio Music Awards" on The Indie Music Channel, as well as a "World Songwriting
Awards Finalist" in 2019 for the single "Would You Stay". He also received International recognition in the "Male Single Of The Year" category for the song and was nominated for "Male Album Of The Year" at the 2019' "International Singer-Songwriter Association" (ISSA) Awards. Other past awards include the 2014' "Studio Album Of The Year" for his Independent E.p "Share A Little Time" at the "Producer's Choice Honors", (formerly Los Angeles Music Awards), and nominations for "Male Singer/Songwriter" and "Record Of The Year", along with "Rock Artist Of The Year" category for 2015 at the Los Angeles Music Awards (LAMA's).
Cory's influences are a collection of various genres like Melodic Rock, Roots-Rock and Americana, blended with hints of Country-Rock. He is a respected Freelance Guitar Instructor in the local St. Lawrence Seaway Valley, ON. Cory has opened and performed alongside such treasured National Canadian like like April Wine, Kim Mitchell, Glass Tiger and David Wilcox. Cory will be out this summer on some select local Eastern Ontario festivals and other venue dates with his band CMC & the Dirt Road Gypsys.