Westbank Country Opry Performing Members

Opry Band
Lavern Panich, Jack O’ Connor, Ian Stewart, Linden Northcott and Jeff Bowman bring years of varied experience to the Opry stage – and, most importantly, they love to have FUN!
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KEYBOARDS, ACCORDION, FIDDLE, GUITAR: Lavern Panich: Leaving Bonnyville, Alberta in 1994, and the Bonnyville Country Opry, Lavern vowed to carry the “Torch” to Westbank, B.C. Lavern became the Founding Father of the Westbank Country Opry in 1995. Lavern started performing with bands, and teaching music at 14 years of age. He has performed with such artists as Crystal Gayle , at the Country Music Awards; Redd Volkaert, Merle Haggard’s guitar player, and many other bands throughout his music career. By spring of 1995, Lavern started, The Panich Music School Studio & Sales and the Westbank Country Opry. Through Lavern’s Music School, Recording Studio, and performances, at Rock for Kids; Cattle Country, with bands, like The Rusty Nail Band; Denim Country; The Fugitives; LP & the 45’s, Twilight and many garage-band jams, he was able to accumulate a large list of musicians to work with, sharing a common goal “keep music alive in the community”. Because of Lavern’s years supporting music, here in the community and throughout the Okanagan, he has received the, “Westbank Citizen of the Year Award” from the Westbank Lions Club, as well a “Lifetime Members Award”, from the Westbank Country Opry.
ELECTRIC GUITAR: Jack O’Connor: Santa brought Jack his first Guitar at age 9, by 12, He and buddy Ron were playing for local talent shows. They never won any but met other musicians and soon formed a High School Band called “Jack and the Rippers”. They played for high School Dances, Sox hops,Teen-towns and Graduations all around Saskatchewan. Then work took over and the guitar sat under the bed for a few years. When Jack’s young son showed some interest in the guitar, that got Jack playing again. Meeting and playing with Don Ryan, Lavern Panich and joining the Westbank Country Opry kept Jack playing ever since. He has also played with a few side bands over the years; Rockin’Horse, Highway 97, Easy-Goin, Sharon Reed Band, LP and the 45’s.
STEEL GUITAR: Ian Stewart: Music has been a great part of Ian’s life and he has enjoyed listening to as well as playing music. His interest in music started at a young age. When he was in high school and university in Ontario and in Nova Scotia he was fortunate to be able to interact and learn from other musician friends. Some of his Nova Scotia high school friends attained mega Canadian stardom as a band and others as single songwriters and performers . Lots of time was spent jamming and learning as well as performing. Throughout his working life he has always managed to be part of a band or a performance, although music wasn’t his career choice. Ian has lived from coast to coast in Canada, made great friendships and made a lot of music. Largely he is a guitar player, pedal steel player and keyboard player but he also loves to play trombone and sing (not at the same time). Ian has great memories of people and musicians who have been a part of his music progression. His music message is “ Its got to be fun or your doing it wrong”.
DRUMS: Linden Northcott: Linden’s long and interesting biography will be uploaded shortly. We’re waiting for the team of monks to complete the full twelve volume set of illuminated scrolls. You can see Linden playing Solitary Man with the great Neil Diamond tribute Band Double Diamond or Linden playing Red Red Wine
BASS GUITAR: Jeff Bowman: Jeff learned about music before he could walk as his mother was a piano teacher. Jeff has played the bass guitar for many years (since he was 14 years old) in many different bands that played a variety of music in many places in Canada and the USA. West Kelowna is now home.

Opry Background Singers
The Opry background singers, Rona Nadeau and Bonnie Lamb, bring years of group and individual experience to the stage.
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Rona Nadeau: Coming from a family of entertainers music has always been a part of her life. Singing harmony comes as naturally as breathing for her. She is also an instrument connoisseur playing guitar, tenor banjo, ukulele, mandolin, piano and even attempting the fiddle, though not in public. She loves all kinds of music…of course country is the best.

Bill Bates
Bill was born in Midland, Ontario. During his school years, he was active with piano lessons, playing with the town brass band, and playing the bassoon in the high school band.
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Bill Besse
Bill was born in Kamloops B.C. and raised in the Merritt area in a non-musical family. He stuttered very badly but discovered he could sing and not stutter.
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Wayne Blair
Wayne was born and grew up in Perth, Ontario, in the Ottawa Valley. At the age of 21 he was working for the Bank of Nova Scotia, and he traveled through the Maritimes as a Bank
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Marty Edwards
Marty Edwards has been seen on OPRAH, JAY LENO and CNN, as well as featured in numerous publications. He has performed to sold out audiences in 9 countries on 4 continents.
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www.reverbnation.com/martyedwards

Pam Ferens
Pam Ferens is a versatile singer – songwriter who began a life long love affair with music as a child. Performing in many talent contests, her dream unfolded in 1983 when Pam placed in the top
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Daria Gagnon
Daria grew up in the Midwest and quickly discovered piano at age five. She took eight years of lessons and then blossomed into a folk guitar player.
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Sharon Heise
Sharon began singing professionally in her early 20’s with a R&R band called THE BAND OF SOUND in Edmonton and surrounding towns. She took a few years off to raise a family
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Garry Jespersen
Garry is a Country Opry favorite and has been delighting audiences for decades with his smooth alto saxophone melodies and heartfelt vocals.
www.garryjespersen.bandcamp.com

Ken & Linda Johnson
When Ken and Linda got together 21 years ago they discovered that they had a synergy in their singing. They began performing at Bluegrass festivals and were very well received.
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Lynda Krauza
Lynda was born in Brighton, England and came to Canada when she was 4 1/2 years old. Since a teenager she was always partial to Country Music and Old Time Rock’n’Roll.
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Judy Rowe
With courage and tenacity, Judy jumped headlong into her dream to be a singer at the ripe age of 38. Having had no experience and no training she followed her heart and was blessed
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Janice Schlief
Janice Schlief is a singer/songwriter born and raised in the Okanagan Valley, B.C. Country, Gospel, Pop & Golden Oldies are just some of the diversified genres in her performances.
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www.reverbnation.com/janiceschlief

Deb Stone
Deb Stone was born and raised in Kelowna, B.C. and has been performing up and down the valley for many years. Her first love is country music but she recently spent two years fronting
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Westbank Country Opry Special Guests

Walter Bachmann
Walter has performed music, most of his life, all across Canada, from Cape Breton, thru to BC. Music styles like Psychedelic / RB/ RnR / Country Western. Played with Lavern Panich from 1995 thru to about 2002, very often at the infamous Cattle Country Restaurant, as THE FUGITIVES.

John Banman
John was born and raised in Abbotsford, B.C and has always involved himself in music. He sang in church choirs , community choirs etc. He sang in the musical “Jesus Christ Super star” in the spring of 2018, in Vernon, where he now resides. He started playing guitar at age 14 playing mostly country music but formed a rock band in his teens.
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Kelly Belanger
Kelly is a multi instrumentalist, recording engineer and producer who has performed professionally from 1980 to 1995 in Canada, US and Europe, with a number of well known
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Ben Beveridge
A multi instrumentalist Ben plays violin, bass- mandolin, banjo, steel guitar, as well as writing, arranging music, and he delivers outstanding vocals.Playing in bands since he was thirteen.
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Morris Bishop
I have enjoyed a lot of music over my life time thanks to my parents who insisted I take piano
lessons when I was 10, 11 and 12 years old.
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Cadillac Bob
Canadian born, internationally known rockabilly and blues musician, Cadillac Bob, has performed all over BC and Alberta, Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi, the United Kingdom, and parts
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www.reverbnation.com/cadillacbob

Larry Branson
Larry started performing as a Roy Orbison Tribute Artist after Roy’s passing in 1988. Larry had called an acquaintance who was a good friend of Roy’s brother, Sam Orbison
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Michael Daniels
Michael Daniels is a Canadian country music singer/songwriter who graduated from the University of British Columbia with a degree in Business Management in 2017.
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Jordan Dean
Born in the interior of British Columbia, Jordan has been playing guitar since he was 11 years old. His love for singing and songwriting has sky-rocketed him into success over the last year
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www.reverbnation.com/jordandean92

Adele Dewar
Adele is originally from New Zealand and moved to Canada in 2000. Music has been part of Adele’s life since first singing at a country music club in 1990.
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Lee Dinwoodie
Lee was born in the small prairie town of Lavoy, Alberta. The youngest of six children, he spent his early years growing up on the family farm that had been passed down through the
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www.reverbnation.com/leedinwoodie

Pete Eastmure
Pete is returning to the West on his “Western Campfires Tour 2018” across Canada. A prolific songwriter and artist he will be showcasing songs from his latest Americana Record
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John Fairchild
John Fairchild has been singing and playing all types of music for most of his life. From traditional hymns in church choirs to local theater productions and eventually a club circuit
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John Flottvik
John fished halibut for 45 years and is presently (by choice) an unemployed truck driver. He played around a bit with music 40 years ago and had not touched a guitar for that time.
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Louis Hamel
Louis Hamel’s vocals are known to move audiences. Brooks and Dunn, Garth Brooks and The Eagles are among his influences. Louis started singing in a country band at the age of 16 in Northern Alberta.
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Hellard & Hirth
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Gorden James
Gorden James has made quite the name for himself, both as an artist and as an all around great guy. James was featured on CMT Canada’s, Big in a Small Town, as one of thirty artists
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Kenn Kardish
Kenn began his singing career in Victoria where he and his wife Fran performed mostly at senior’s residences, the Victoria Icelandic Club, the Victoria Ukrainian Association, the Victoria Holland Club, Elks Clubs, Eagles Clubs and Legions on Southern Vancouver Island.
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Erin Kimberly
Erin Kimberly grew up in a musical family in Alberta, but it wasn’t until she came to BC that she was introduced to the country music in which she fell in love. In 1998, someone gave
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Ben Klick
2017 marks an outstanding year for Ben Klick as he played at multiple major festivals and events throughout the year. He was a lead nominee (5) at the 2017 British Columbia Country Music
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Brad Krauza
Brad Krauza has accomplished many things over the years including fundraising, concert Promotions (local to major international superstars such as; INXS, Randy Travis
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Gary Nichols
Gary is a Professional singer and guitarist, who has performed over the years in many bands throughout Western Canada. His voice complements many genres of music whether
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Michael Painchaud
Michael has been interested in music for as long as he can remember, playing guitar and singing with family and friends. His family back in Saskatchewan is very musical, many of which
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www.reverbnation.com/michaelpainchaud

Mikie Spillet
Mikie was born in Vancouver and raised on a 1000 acre ranch in the Cariboo on Crystal Lake. She was raised with cattle, horses, sheep, dogs, cats, and donkeys (and of course parents and a sibling) and learned to ride and break horses naturally.
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Marilyn Stefanik
Marilyn is Manitoba born and definitely “farm girl strong”. Marilyn is a long time Kelowna resident. She began performing professionally with the female trio, “Sister Act”, along with
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The Who Knew Band
Who knew got it’s name from a very personal story. Deidra Lynn, the lead vocalist of Who Knew did not know that she could sing until she was in her 30s. A person she looked up to told
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www.reverbnation.com/michaelkosterman9

Beamer Wigley
Beamer started playing drums when he was 3 years old and then guitar when he was 5. After he saw Keith Urban in the music video, ‘Start A Band’, with Brad Paisley, he knew then that he
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www.reverbnation.com/beamerwigley

Nikita Afonso

The Opry Band

Opry Background Singers

Bill Bates

Bill Besse

Wayne Blair

Lawrence Bourgeois

Cadillac Bob

James Caplette

Cheyenne

Jordan Dean

Marty Edwards

Pam Ferens

John Flottvik

Daria Gagnon

Good Enough For DAD

Aaron Halliday

Sharon Heise

Garry Jespersen

Linda & Ken Jhonson

Erin Kimberly

Ben Klick

Lynda Krauza

Bonnie Lamb

Anita Leblanc

Hiedi Letiec

Jesse Mast

John Neal

Maiya Robbie

Wendy Rodocker

Judy Rowe

Janice Schlief

Dale Seaman

Mikie Spillett

Steppin’ Out

Deb Stone

Vic Ukrainetz

Dennis Walker

Beamer Wigley

Jeremy Willis

Yanti
Call Us
250-494-5292
Mail Us
info@westbankcountryopry.com
Event Location
Westbank, BC