Artist Bio: Denis Loren Chadbourn
North Bay, Ontario, Canada

Being born a fourth generation musician, does not automatically make one a composer; like a combustion engine, it requires elements of fuel, timing, and spark. The true catalyst for Denis’ songwriting was not simply a passion for music, but rather the sudden, tragic death of his brother. Composing songs initially served as therapy, a mechanism for Denis to work through his loss, and to honor his fallen brother. The first test run of this new “songwriting engine,” produced the song “We Children 2”, which pours out a litany of vibrant imagery and snapshots, of growing-up in the rural northern Ontario. Since that first song, Denis has amassed an impressive and ever increasing catalog of both published and unpublished original works.

Over years of practice, creating music for expressive release, grew into an serious art form, through which Denis developed a talent for rhythmically touching people’s hearts, minds and souls, with vivid images of relate-able life experiences. Songs like “Home” for example, were written for, and dedicated to, people who have lost loved ones, as a result of automobile fatalities, on Highway 69 south of Sudbury.

Despite having a college diploma as Legal Assistant, and a university degree in Sociology, it is Denis’ love for God, and for his fellow man, that guides his social conscience; both are recurring themes in his music. “Peace and Protest” for instance, is reminiscent of a 1960s style, war protest song, you might swear was written by Bob Dylan or Neil Young. “Death or Strength Renewed” is another, tragically, true story, that addresses the prevalence of two almost unspeakable, yet interrelated, taboos in society today; depression and suicide.

Denis’ strong song-crafting skills have been honed by numerous songwriting workshops, put on by professional groups such as SOCAN and The Songwriter’s Association of Canada. Through these workshops he received valuable advice, and garnered positive critiques for his works, from both other recording artists, and from music industry professionals.

Now a prolific emerging songwriter, Denis began earning royalties in 2006 for airplay of his works. He is now consequently making the transition from keen hobbyist, to professional songwriter.

In 2006, under the name “The C-Denny Band,” Chadbourn recorded and co-produced his debut album, “Gospel, Folk & Grassroots,” writing 9 of the 17 songs thereon. (An ambitious undertaking for a self-produced debut cd.) A select gathering of family, friends, and honored musicians, participated in the project to bring it to fruition. From the proceeds of this cd, Denis established a scholarship in memory of his father, Loren Chadbourn, to assist medical students who are pursuing a career in oncology, in northern Ontario.

As a youngster, Denis spent six years singing in the North Bay Boy’s Choir, under the direction of Arnie Schmidt, and later, Malcolm Wexler. The choir recorded three albums and toured northern Ontario several times, also touring New York, Pennsylvania, and other great lake states during his involvement.

At age 12, Denis began singing in his family’s bluegrass band, Northern Grass, which won several band competitions in and around northern Ontario. Now front-man for The C-Denny Band, which released its debut cd, “Gospel, Folk & Grassroots” in July 2006, Denis is joined by his two daughters, Juleann and Emily, (fifth generation musicians) both of whom are extremely competent, with impressive resumes, and numerous awards to their credit.

Other published works by D.L. Chadbourn include “My Old Truck and Me,” on the “North to Ontario 2007” compilation cd, which Denis was invited to contribute to. The project was nominated for “Recording of the Year” at the Central Canadian Bluegrass Awards, November 23-25, 2007. The disc was released globally, and this song has been tracked, receiving airplay, as far away as Australia and the Netherlands, as well as in North America.

Denis recently participated in his first co-write project, (spring 2007) with award winning Nashville songwriter, John Pennell, of the Alison Krause, Alan Jackson, et al, fame. The results of that partnership, “Pride Goes Before the Fall,” will be on C-Denny’s new, up-coming cd. Denis and his band head back into the studio this winter, to record their second album, which will consist of original songs only! A follow-up, cross-Canada tour, in the summer of 2008, is in the works.

Denis is the founder and chair for the Nipissing Bluegrass Association, and is currently the vice president of Bluegrass Music Association of Central Canada.

Writer Workshops:

Powersong Shop, 2008, (John Capek, Stan Meisener)
Songwriters Circle, 2008, 100 Georges, North Bay S.A.C.
Songposium 2007, Ottawa
OCFF “Big Ears” 2007
IBMA 2006
Jason Blume, 2006,
SOCAN