Rimbey musician Tyson Prior is excited he will be doing what he loves best at this year’s Rock’n Rimbey.
Making music.
In an interivew at the Review office, Prior, holding his seven-month-old baby girl Josie in his arms and with his ten-year-old daughter Emily by his side, chatted amiably about his life, his career and his love of music.
“I’ve been playing since I was three-years-old,” he said. “I had my first gig at a bar when I was 15.”
He smiles ruefully as he jostles his baby in his arms.
Prior plays guitar, mandolin, drums, harmonica, bass and accordion but says his ‘go to’ instrument is his guitar.
“My guitar is very special to me,” he said, recalling when he opened for Rodney Crowell in 2017 at the Hideout in Red Deer and the musician signed his instrument making it even more special.
Bluegrass and country is the kind of music Prior naturally leans towards, but he is very versatile.
“I just do music,” he said.
Originally from Newfoundland, Prior was on tour with the band, The Sellouts in 2007, playing at the Grand Hotel when he first met his wife, Courtney.
He continued with the band when the tour continued to Fairview, but went no further, and ended up coming back to Rimbey to be with the love of his life.
“My musical career hit the brakes hard,” he said.
However, that changed in 2017 when Volocian Studios from Saskatoon, Sask. promoted his album ‘Homesick’ which is available on Apple Music and Spotify.
Prior has also been inducted by the Indiana Country Bluegrass Association into their hall of fame for his contributions to country and blue grass music.
The local musician is proud and humbled with the recognition.
Prior is looking forward to playing at the Vault for the Rock ‘n Rimbey event on Fri., Aug. 23 and invites everyone to come and enjoy his music.
“Come enjoy poplar songs you love and hear some songs you didn’t know you loved,” he said.
As well as Josie and Emily, Prior and his wife, Courtney are parents to nine-year-old Sara and three-year-old Olivia.