Search 640toronto.com

Hosts & Shows
RIP Stompin' Tom Connors
Posted 3/7/2013 8:15:00 AM

A statement from Stompin' Tom Connors:

 

Hello friends, I want all my fans, past, present, or future, to know that without you, there would have not been any Stompin' Tom.

It was a long hard bumpy road, but this great country kept me inspired with it's beauty, character, and spirit, driving me to keep marching on and devoted to sing about its people and places that make Canada the greatest country in the world.

I must now pass the torch, to all of you, to help keep the Maple Leaf flying high, and be the Patriot Canada needs now and in the future.

I humbly thank you all, one last time, for allowing me in your homes, I hope I continue to bring a little bit of cheer into your lives from the work I have done.

 

Sincerely,
Your Friend always,

Stompin' Tom Connors
Posted By: John Oakley  

Leave a comment:

showing all comments · Subscribe to comments
  1. JohnP_7349 posted on 03/07/2013 08:54 AM
    I've been a Fan for at least 35 years now..saw Tom only twice in a Show but was Happy to have done that.A True Canadian that was able to put a Canadian Twist to His music.One of our Best Kept Secrets...."take it easy Tom" and thanks for the Memories.
    1. JanetK_3 posted on 03/07/2013 06:24 PM
      @JohnP_7349 I admire Stompin' Tom's love for this country, but I think he revealed a petty streak by refusing to accept his Juno Awards to protest the "Americanization" of the music industry in Canada.
  2. NormanB_0190 posted on 03/08/2013 08:16 AM
    I will miss this man,s music and sometimes quirky ness. We don,t have that many left like Stompin Tom.
    I am sure I have his albums filed in my collection.
    I shall play them again..
  3. JohnP_7349 posted on 03/08/2013 03:27 PM
    The fact he didn't keep the Award is one of the things I admire about Him..wasn't afraid to make a statement.Even if it cost Him a lot of money..petty,maybe,but who cares?
  4. JoanA_0122 posted on 03/09/2013 01:13 PM
    Nothing controversial about our loss of Stompin Tom. Who among us didn't love him?

    But regarding his message, quoted above, his appeal to us all to keep lit the torch of patriotism mimics, in my mind, these lines from the poem "In Flanders Fields":

    "Take up our quarrel with the foe:
    To you from failing hands we throw
    The torch; be yours to hold it high.
    If ye break faith with us who die
    We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
    In Flanders fields."

    Was Stompin' making one last political statement, an appeal to Canadians to persist with the fight to protect the values that make our country free and good, to fight the modern enemies of democracy, human rights, an uncorrupted rule of law and freedom, including the freedom to make music and express our minds and voices?

    And how best to fight than with the pen? With song and celebration? With victory? With the chorus and harmony of disparate notes music makes art?

    Keep on keeping on, along with Tom, as we refuse to be knocked down from the skies we share with the brave larks that persisted to fly despite the devastation at Flanders, that soared free and high on the same wind that gently blew the poppies, replicas of which we don once a year to remember -- or more accurately, to not forget, to not give up the fight our war dead, past and present, laid down their lives for. If that was the torch Tom's last message referred to then thanks, Tom. That's an enduring appeal to inspire us all going forward. Keep the Canadian voice strong in the world. RIP ST.
    1. JoanA_0122 posted on 03/09/2013 01:15 PM
      @JoanA_0122 Or perhaps more appropriately, live forever, ST. (If Ahmadi Nejad can say it about Chavez ...)
  5. mikeb_1744 posted on 03/10/2013 09:56 PM
    Hey John,
    I saw your posting of Dr. Tom Connors final words and saw the comments others have sent in to your page, I too think Tom was a great Canadian and wonder just how much most people know about him, other than the Hockey Song and Bud the Spud.
    I left TO in '92 and moved to Port Elgin ON. I admit I didn't know who Tom was then either, but through good fortune I was introduced to his music by friends who were from places other than TO and were familiar with his work. I now can proudly say I have seen Tom (sadly only) twice and own most of his CDs (purchased, not downloaded because I don't want to rip off the artist).
    His songs may have been, as Susan G Cole said, lovely little diddies, but he also told us tales about every town & city within our great country, from Newfoundland to BC and from the Yukon, Frobisher Bay and Tuktayutuk south to Tillsonberg (my back still aches when I hear that word) along with the colourful characters who live(d) there. He gave us a sense of pride and made us feel like a family, no matter where we came from. By the way Susan, all the money Tom made came from people paying for his little diddies, not by working for a FREE newspaper which I'm sure must be very popular amongst the homeless from Oct. to Apr.
    Regarding the comment made by one of your respondents about Dr Connors being petty, I wonder how far our current crop of Canadian 'stars' would have gone without someone like Tom taking a stand against "Americanization", returning (not refusing) his 6 Junos and pushing for Canadian content rules.
    Should Tom be granted a State funeral... hell yes. After 40 or 50 years in the music business, he's done more to promote our country and pride therein than the majority of officials in Ottawa. Of course, I'm sure the Quebec separatist politicians will be given state funerals when they croak, because they were, after all, serving "their country?" and if they don't well then that's just further proof that we're all against them.
    Sleep well Tom, you will be sorrily missed (at least outside of TO). Thanks for the beautiful songs and your service to our country.
showing all comments

<<May 2013>>
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
2829301234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
2627282930311
2345678