Producer

In production

2023 Canadian Folk Music Award nomination for Children’s Album of the Year / Album jeunesse de l’année.

Hannah Shira Naiman combines her powerful songwriting and impressive musicianship to deliver exciting contemporary versions of traditional music she was raised on. Her third studio recording, Wheels Won’t Go, features songs inspired by her move from Toronto to northern Ontario, the COVID pandemic, and her experience of new motherhood. It was recorded at Casa Wroxton Studios, mixed by Nik Tjelos and produced by Ken Whiteley. Official release date: October 7, 2022.

This is Washington, DC songwriter Jesse Palidofsky’s second recording produced by Ken Whiteley, with George Koller on bass and Gary Craig on percussion. The recording is filled with heartfelt and soulful songs including a stunningly soul-filled duet of Jesse’s updated “America the Beautiful: 2020” which features award-winning Bluegrass vocalist Claire Lynch and award-winning Blues/Gospel vocalist Lea Gilmore.

Songs: Give Thanks, Last One Standing, Three Guys Standing On Third Base, Dad, I Am An Immigrant, As The Stars Are Gently Turning, Love Is The Strand, Can’t Stop The Rain, Angels All Around, Wild Like A River, Angel Wings, Respect Your Mother, America The Beautiful.

https://www.jessepal.net

Jackie Washington’s music was rooted in the popular quartets and swinging big bands of the 1930s and 40s. Here for the first time a 22-track album of unreleased Washington recordings spanning a twenty-year period. Along with Jackie are musical contributions from Colin Linden, Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer, Mose Scarlett, Chris Whiteley, Graham Townsend, Reg Schwager and producer Ken Whiteley.

Along with the 22 song CD Is the DVD “I Want to Be Happy: The Jackie Washington Story”, a documentary produced and directed by Ari A. Cohen that tells the life story of this astounding, then 86-year old jazz singer, guitarist, storyteller and personality, Jackie Washington, who has a musical repertoire of nearly 1,300 songs and whose legendary lifetime spans close to a century of musical and black history. Included are rare archives, numerous live performances, emotional interviews and a road trip touring across Canada.  Run time: 47:51.

Also available from Borealis Records

Njacko Backo‘s 12th album entitled A Tous les Enfants de la Terre with his new band Kalimbas At Work. This fabulous recording showcases the sweet sounds of kalimba (African thumb piano) and ngoni (African harp) in unique configurations you won’t hear anywhere else.

From folk to rock to country to blues or reggae or electronic or whichever you choose. Russell Sprout has so many kinds of music to suit any style. He has some silly ditties but he can also get serious and inspire!

russellsproutmusic.com

The Forgotten is a new recording from Joe Jencks containing 14 previously unreleased songs from American Folk master – Si Kahn. The cd weaves a diverse tapestry of narrative that emerges from the lives of people who gave their all to bring new ideas of equality, justice and freedom into our consciousness. This collection of songs further celebrates those who still work for a just world in the face of racial inequity and mass violence. It speaks of courage, struggle, loss, and joyful triumph.

Parents’ Choice Award 2018

A gentle, play-along, sing-along bilingual (French and English) album of traditional and original children’s songs and poems, grounded in the tenets of early child development by Kathy Reid-Naiman, who draws listeners in with her signature warmth. The veteran children’s artist is joined on the album by her daughter, Hannah Shira Naiman, an accomplished folk musician known for her own Appalachian-style music.

Ottawa Folk impresario/radio host/songwriter Chris White shares 15 clever, uplifting, kid-friendly songs with the world. These “audience-tested” gems are guaranteed to lead to smiling and singing along! Produced and engineered by the brilliant team of Ken Whiteley and Nik Tjelios, this recording showcases the talents of 35 instrumentalists and singers.

In 1969 guitarist / singer / songwriter Vince Halfhide began playing blues and reggae with the Ottawa band Heaven’s Radio. Work with other artists (Sneezy Waters, Missy Burgess, Toasted Westerns, Ball & Chain, Andrea Karam, the Jivewires, Mighty Popo) added elements of country, folk, R&B, jazz and African music to his guitar style and established his reputation as a consummate sideman. Of late Vince’s songwriting and singing have gained a growing audience who appreciate his unique take on blues, country, folk and roots music. His lyrics, often simple on the face of things and full of nods to traditional sources, can change tone in an instant from playfully ironic to sadly beautiful. Some listeners also report being surprised by the familiar, lulled into accepting the unexpected and being moved by stark truths gently delivered.

CD release concert in Ottawa on Friday Sept. 7/18

This is Lenore Elaine’s 4th studio album and her most developed and ambitous project to date, featuring producer Ken Whiteley and a collection of Toronto’s finest musicians… Jane Bunnet, Andrew Downing, Lyle Molzan, Rob Teehan, Ben Whiteley and Felicity Williams. This is a beautiful collection of songs that you will find yourself enjoying over and over again.

Lenore will be performing the album in its entirety backed by Oshawa native Lonny Knapp (Freeman Dre and the Kitchen Party, J. Englishman) with additional selections from her 25 year discography. Lenore has toured extensively in previous years, but this is her first major CD release concert in her home of Durham Region. The show will be a family affair, as Lenore’s son Nick Teehan will be opening, performing material from his upcoming release These Little Things.

CD release concert on Saturday, Sept. 22/18 at Whitby Centennial Theatre, Whitby, ON.

Canadian Folk Music Awards’ Indigenous Songwriter(s) of the Year nomination 2020

The Afro-Métis Nation is George Elliott Clarke, Shelley Hamilton, Sugar Plum Croxen, Russ Kelley and Chris White. They are delving into their Black, Indigenous and Nova Scotian roots to create songs and poems that address and celebrate this largely unacknowledged aspect of Canadian history and culture.

Kim’s 9th studio album but she says she feels like it is her first! Produced by Ken Whiteley with amazing musicians gracing… Rob Quail (Jeff Healey Band), Pat Carey (Downchild Blues Band), Victor Bateman and more. A gorgeous blues CD.

www.kimdoolittlemusic.com

Juno Award for Best Children’s Recording 2018

A new collection of soon to be your favourite classics. Produced by Ken Whiteley. Features lots of amazing guests: Alex Cuba, Bahamas, Ron Sexsmith, Terra Lightfoot, The Good Lovelies and more.

Parents’ Choice Award 2018

Take a beautiful voice, songs that speak to the very heart of the child, world class production, some of the finest and fun-est musicians in Toronto, and add the voices of children who have been singing these songs since they were babies, and what do you get? You get one of the freshest children’s music albums to come along in a very long time!

Kari Thomas Kovick lives in the one-stoplight town of Floyd, Virginia. Since 1998, Kari has been connecting with children by sharing her favorite songs, which are both fun and affirming. This album brings them to life with fun musical arrangements that engage the imagination and offer quality musicianship to young ears. Meant to connect children to life rather than pull them away from it, these songs don’t just entertain, they affirm relationships and invite engagement with every listening. There are thirteen cover songs, and five, well-written originals for nearly an hour of enjoyable music. The title track is the beloved Fred Rogers song, that she performs well. Other highlights include a cover of Woody Guthrie’s silly “Howdjadoo,” Peter Alsop’s “My Body” done as a clapping tune, and the Smith Street Society Jazz Band’s classic “The Bear Missed The Train.” Her own songs include, the wistful “I Wish My Daddy Was Here,” the percussive “On and On,” and the meditative “Breathing and Counting,” which are all nice additions. The songs vary from the light airy “Walkin’ in the Woods,” to the rocking “When I Feel Mad,” and are all carried by Kari’s pleasant, friendly voice, and light and effective instrumentation. Eco-friendly packaging, with colorful art, round out this nice souvenir of her well received live performances.

It’s a timeless story of a boy living in a great City of Stone, woven in between 12 original songs based on folk tales from around the world. Joanna’s beautiful voice and intriguing storytelling is gorgeously complimented with music by arranger/composer David Stone on piano and yours truly on multiple strings.

A reunion of sorts for Nancy Cassidy and producer Ken Whiteley. It’s been decades since the hugely successful KidsSongs recordings in the 1990’s, which earned Gold Record status, having entered the households of more than 2,000,000 families. Here Nancy performs both solo and with a band. Her music is described as having “a spiritual quality, which moves families to sing along together rejoicing the rollicking rhythms of folk music.”

The Best of Kathy Reid-Naiman
Songs, rhymes, tickles and dances for your baby!

Since 1994 Kathy Reid-Naiman has produced 13 CDs and produced or collaborated on 7 more – 20 CDs in 20 years! To celebrate this amazing accomplishment we have chosen some of our favourite songs, rhymes, tickles, knee joggles, dances and lullabies for babies and put them together on one beautiful CD. Baby’s Boat is the cream of the crop; the eternal favourites in the ‘Tickles and Tunes’ baby classes that she has been teaching since 1986.

“Baby’s Boat”, features Kathy Reid-Naiman on vocals, and a stellar list of musicians including: Victor Bateman, Bucky Berger, William Carn, Mary Colmer, Anne Lindsay, Arnie Naiman, Hannah Naiman, Mark Mosca, Dennis Pendrith, John Showman, Wendy Solomon, Sharlene Wallace, Ben Whiteley, Chris Whiteley, and Ken Whiteley

Available from www.merriweather.ca

Crooked House Road is a Toronto-based indie-folk band. Known for soaring harmonies and raw emotional power, CHR recorded their self-titled debut CD with producer Ken and engineer Nik Tjelios.

Welcome Summer is the third recording in the seasons series. Sing the Cold Winter Away and When It’s Autumn celebrated winter and autumn and now we sing about birds, bees, butterflies, campfires and starry skies! Songs and silliness to welcome our favourite time of the year.

Kathy’s 15th recording with master producer Ken Whiteley features a host of wonderful musicians including, Arnie and Hannah Naiman, Ken, Ben and Chris Whiteley, Bucky Berger and John Showman.

Over the years Washington, DC songwriter Jesse Palidofsky has shared his music at the National Theatre, on the Hudson River sloop Clearwater with Pete Seeger, at festivals like Common Ground on the Hill and the Washington Folk Festival, and at the Kennedy Center and the Smithsonian National Folklife Festival with the Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Foundation. He has sung one-on-one with hundreds of terminally ill patients in hospices and hospitals, and also led singing for groups of a thousand people or more, performed for conferences of clinical psychologists, as well as for inmates at the Detroit House of Correction and at the maximum security prison in Salem, Oregon.

Well rewards repeated listening!

Songs: My Favorite Actuarial Things, Actuaries, I’m An Old Math Pro, Actuarial Blues, Let’s Estimate, Yesterday’s Statistician, I’ve Taught Some Act-Sci, Song of the Actuary