SAULT STE. MARIE—Debbie Robinson of Manitowaning was inducted into the Northern Ontario Country Music Association Hall of Fame in Sault Ste. Marie recently.
“I’ve been very fortunate to have so many talented musicians allow me to sing with them,” stated a modest Ms. Robinson.
“Debbie is deservedly being inducted in to the Northern Ontario Country Music Hall of Fame because of her longevity in singing, and her dedication and commitment to country music,” stated Glenn McDougall, a member of the Great Northern Opry and Northern Ontario Country Music Association (NOCMA).
“Since she was about 11- or 12-years-old Debbie has been singing country music locally,” said Mr. McDougall. “She had made her public singing debut with Bill Omnet, and she sang with our band the Voyageurs in a dance in Manitowaning at the Orange Hall years ago. And from there she and Bill started playing and singing at many different functions and events.”
“She and Dave Smith also played and sang at the church in Manitowaning,” said Mr. McDougall.
“I did have the opportunity to sing with the Voyageurs one night,” said Ms. Robinson. “They were actually my inspiration to sing country music, from the time I was 10-years-old. I had gone to a dance with my parents’ at the Orange Hall and my mother said the rule is you can’t leave the hall during the night.”
“But my mother didn’t have to worry because from the time I walked into the hall and sat down I didn’t move,” said Ms. Robinson. “I told my mother afterwards that’s what I want to do when I grow up, sing country music. The Voyageurs were great musicians.”
It was a couple of years later that she had the opportunity to sing with the Voyageurs.
“I was so excited in 2009 to be named by the NOCMA into the Great Northern Opry,” said Ms. Robinson. “To be nominated and indicated into the hall of fame is right over the top for me, I gasped when I was told I was being inducted. When you realize that there is not a lot of people in there, and the amazing musical talent of the people in there already, it’s unreal.”
“I’ve been very fortunate in my life to have good and generous musicians to sing with,” continued Ms. Robinson. “David Smith talked to me and taught me how to sing and stand while singing at St. Paul’s church, and singing in church stretches your vocal range. Those were lessons that helped me greatly.”
“I started singing with Bill Omnet when I was 13-years-old, and we sang together for 37 years,” recalled Ms. Robinson. “Bill was an amazing talent, and was probably the most gentle soul I have ever known. And there was nothing he couldn’t play.”
“I remember when I first sang with him I went through the doors of the fair hall, and the man at the door said you’re on my list to perform tonight,” explained Ms. Robinson. “He then introduced me to Bill, and looked at the two of us and said you have 10 minutes to get ready. Bill asked me what kind of music I liked and I told him I really like country music. Then he asked me what I like to sing and I said I liked a new song by an up and coming singer, Tanya Tucker. He told me to sing it twice and by then he had the music down pat for the song. As the line goes in the movie Casablanca, this was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”
“It was 10 years ago this month that Bill passed on. He was an incredible person and totally expanded my range of country music,” said Ms. Robinson.
“But as I say, I’ve been very fortunate to have so many people around me who have been so supportive. My parents were very supportive, mom loved country music, and my dad was always encouraging me and they were both very supportive. And my brothers, sisters, husband and children have all been very supportive.”
Mr. McDougall said Ms. Robinson was shocked when she was informed she was going to be inducted into the hall of fame. “We had all gone out to supper at Green Acres restaurant one night last fall, and she thought we were going to be talking about someone else that was going to be inducted. Her husband was there and we got the picture of Debbie when she was told she was being inducted…her mouth was wide open, she was so shocked to be told she was being inducted.”
“This group honours musicians that decided not to make music a career, had family and decided to make that their career, and not go out to make music a professional career,” said Mr. McDougall.
“We had about 40 local people on a bus to go up to the Sault to support Debbie and see her be inducted into the hall of fame,” said Mr. McDougall.
