Biography

GENERAL STORE – PHANTOM TRAIN
2011 – General Store – GS003

Website: www.genstorebluegrass.com
Email: billblance@yahoo.com


Musicians

Norm Tellier – Mandolin
Bill Blance – Banjo, Guitar & Vocals
Helen Lewis – Autoharp & Vocals
Brian Riseborough – Guitar & Vocals
John Perkins – Bass & Vocals
w/ special guest:
Emory Lester – Fiddle & Octave Violin

Produced by Emory Lester and General Store
Recorded and Engineered by Brian Hewson, Escarpment Sound Studio
Mixed by Emory Lester and Brian Hewson
Mastered by Bill Wolf, Wolf Productions
CD Artwork & Web Design by Helena McCormack, Inkwell Illustration Studio


GENERAL STORE is a multi award-winning Bluegrass Band hailing from Southern Ontario. Their jaw-dropping 3, 4, and 5 part vocals have won them fans everywhere they play. The band excels at Traditional and New Bluegrass music. These include instrumentals which have gleaned their mandolin player, Norm Tellier, two well-deserved "Mandolin Player of the Year" awards. Their two CDs, 'Open for Business' and 'More in Store' have garnered multiple award nominations, and airplay all around the world. Their shows are lively and fun-loving with just the right mix of material - foot-stomping, sing-along, tear-inducing, and some occasional silliness.

As a result of their marvelous playing and harmonies, the band won the award for "Most Promising New Band" in 2004. In addition, over the last six years, they have been nominated for Top Vocal Band, Top Instrumental Band, Top Male Vocalist, Top Female Vocalist, Top Guitar Player and Entertainer of the Year at the Central Canadian Bluegrass Awards. And, last but not least, as with all Bluegrass bands, Gospel music plays an important part. Their repertoire is rich with inspirational music. They have been chosen "Bluegrass Gospel Band of the Year" 5 years in a row and now have been retired from this catagory. Their exceptional harmonies attibute to their success in this catagory.

As written by Bob Bale of Affinity Concerts in Sudbury: "General Store can win an audience over within two songs. Humour, harmony and down home wholesomeness are trademarks of this band."

1) Phantom Train
Helen Lewis (SOCAN)

2) Carry Me Across the Mountain
John Pennell, Billy Smith, Jeff White - Shiroisan Music, Sony/ATVTREE Publishing, William Franklin Pub. Co. (BMI)

3) Field Behind the Plough
Stan Rogers - Fogarty’s Cove Music/Cole Harbour Music

4) Climbing Up the Mountain
Public Domain – arr. General Store (SOCAN)

5) Slow Me Down
Shelby Lynne - Sneaky Snake Publishing; Brent Maher - Recluse Music; Stephanie Davis - Davis-Mike Curb Music (BMI)

6) Happy in That Home Far Away
Ralph Stanley, Ruby Rakes - Fort Knox Music Inc., Trio Music (BMI)

7) Mississippi Dreaming
Bill Blance (SOCAN)

8) I Will See You Again
Tami Lee Polkstaller - Blue View Publishing, Inc. (BMI)

9) Big Trees
Norm Tellier (SOCAN)

10) Where No One Stands Alone
Mosie Lister - Mosie Lister Songs & Southern Faith Songs (BMI)

11) One Track Mind
John and Michelle Law – JML Music

12) Ready for the Times to Get Better
Allen Reynolds - Aunt Polly’s Publishing Co. (BMI)

13) Church on the Hill
Helen Lewis (SOCAN)

14) Don’t Pass Me By
Richard Starkey - PRS (BMI)

15) Going Up Home to Live in Green Pastures
Ralph Stanley, Avril Gearhart – Fort Knox Music, Inc., Trio Music (BMI)