article by Brian Sanderson

photograph - Steve McNabb

Curtis Driedger still smells like a rose even after having left his Fraserville rose farm for a place closer to Jackson Park. Loved by pretty much everyone who has ever heard his music, Curtis has consistently demonstrated his versatility and genius over the past three decades - from fronting bands like the CeeDees to collaborations with theatre and dance. Curtis was also responsible for the recent foundation of a mandolin ensemble in Peterborough. The last time I saw him in concert it was as the incarnation of Hector LaFramboise with Bob Cajun. A reviewer recently described Hector as being "…nattily dressed, delicately coiffed and elegantly spoken, but crazy as a loon.” It was also noted that Curtis “…plays a slippery fiddle."

Wherever he roams, the man in yellow graces the listener with his sublime irreverence and profound wit. As one audience member put it, "He told my brain that he was taking it tubing and then threw away the tube."

Goodies

If you're logged in, you can go download four complete CeeDees recordings! You even get the fabled 1980 recording "Straying Alive" -- which was never released. Enjoy this rare gem and share it with all your friends. Thanks a lot to Curtis for allowing us to bring you all these great tracks.

You can even listen to the whole CeeDees discography on our all CeeDees, all the time stream. Re-live the late seventies and early eighties without having to leave your laptop.

If that's not enough for you, check out some of our previous feature artists:

• Patrick Walsh
• Brian Sanderson
• Jill Staveley
• Joe Hall