This is what my Alberta's Women of Country Music Lifetime Achievement Award has always been about....It is a grassroots country award...

A TRIBUTE TO MY MOM by JOANNE MYROL

Picture this: A house warmed by a wood stove, laughter, neighbours, and the sound of music reverberating through the walls of an old two story farm home in the middle of Saskatchewan prairies in the early 1930's. This was the home where Jean Myrol's earliest memories of Country Music begin: thome where Country Music caught hold of her heart. Around the age of four Jean remembers her older siblings gathering around the family livingroom with their friends from neighbouring farms to play and sing Wilf Carter and Jean Autrey songs... the popular singers of the day. These earliest memories were formative in making a music appreciator of Jean., but it wasn't until Jean met her husband Gordon that music became such an important part of her life; making her the strong matriarch of a beautiful and wonderfully accomplished musical family.

As a young woman, during the summers, Jean worked at the Cypress Hills Park on the Saskatchewan side which was, as she will tell you, the place of some of her fondest memories. She toiled away the days working , but the nights were hers... nights filled with fun and socializing. Jean remembers moonlight swims on hot summer nights and dances. It was at these dances that she "got sweet" on her soon to be husband. Gordon Myrol. Gordie was a bit of a show off back then, playing his saxophone on stage, doing his best to impress the ladies. Jean noticed him and found herself very much in love with Gordon and the music that he made the man. Jean exchanged marriage vows with Gordon and they were happily married for 53 years. Until the day he passed away she was Mrs. Myrol and also Mrs. Music. In spite of his passing she remains both and is still very much involved in the world of music more than ever.

Most of Jean's earlier years in music were spent as the backbone behind her family's musical dream. Those who work behind the scenes...the spouses... are seldom seen and rarely recieve the acknowledgement they deserve; that was Jean. She was the one who followed Gordon from show to show cheering him on and supporting his playing. Later on when daughter Joanne became interested in performing Jean became a tireless supporter of Joanne's musical career. Jean designed and sewed Joanne's outfits... usually a new one for each performance and in those days Joanne and her dad played two to three nights a week...that's a lot of sewing. She not only sewed for outfits for Joanne, but somehow ended up putting together and organizing what the men wore, too. Jean stepped up as their financial backer, using her own money to buy PA system, the mics and the band outfits so Joanne could spend her hard earned cash on important teenage things like gas and records. Jean would always save a table for the band wives front row and center as she proudly watched her daughter and husband perform together. Joanne's first official gig was when she was 13 and she performed with her dad until she graduated from university at the age of 23. During those years Joanne and her dad played together in a band called "Sage". Joanne remembers her mom sitting loyally at a front table from start to finish cheering on the band, just like she does today when Joanne plays with her daughter Haley. Her son David is also a self taught musician playing the fiddle, mandolin, mouth harp, guitar and a little bit og "Guitar Hero" with his children who play piano. 

While supporting her musical family in every way, Jean was trying to find her own instrument. She taught herself to play the piano. She figured out the sequence of chords and showed Joanne and David how to cord to just about any song. Jean began organ lessons with her six year old son David. The two would sit through lessons together until Jean decided that this wasn't quite her own instrument. So her search continued; Jean tried various kinds of musical instruments. The first time she strayed from keyed instruments was a trip to Hawaii when she picked up the Ukulele (before they were cool) Next was the mandolin. Then there were the drums. She was so enthusiastic about the drums that she went out and biought beautiful shiny silver set with the best Sabien symbols you could buy. Her family terases her and told her that drums were just a phase--menopausal--and were secretly hoping that this would be the one instrument that would "pass" and she would get over it. These were very active years for Mrs. Myrol. She was an iconic sportswoman in her day and is currently in the Sask Sports Hall of Fame for being Provincial Curling Champion and curling in the Canadian Ladies Brier. And during these years she was a pioneer for women by becoming Medicine Hat's first woman to sit on the Real Estate Board back in the 70's. 

As time passed the retirement years came upon Gordon and Jean and they moved closer to their children from Medicine Hat to the Evansburg area and settled on a beautiful farm. The two set up a calving operation outside in the yard and a music room inside their new house. They warmed their home many a night playing songs together.

A monumental thing happened to Jean in those years. Through a current of events, she finally found her own instrument. At that time Gordon was experimenting and picking on an old guitar he had converted into a dobro. A little later Joanne thought she'd try and brought home a dobro and started playing it. David bought a dobro and started playing it, and then daughter Haley caught the dobro bug--the Myrol's had dobro feaver and it's no suprize Jean picked it up too. A neighbour saw Jean's enthusiasm for this beautiful instrument and gave Jean his dormant dobro. But no one caught the Dobro Bug like Jean; Dave got more involved with his successful law career and didn't have time to play, Gordon tired of it and went back to his old guitar, Haley started playing her uncle Dave's mandolin and Joanne gave up playing the dobro because someone had to play rhythm guitar for the dobro and mando pickers. Jean fell instantly in love with her dobro and it has become a permanent fixture and friend in her life. At age 72 she finally found her instrument and has been playing it ever since. She is now 76 and atributes her great physical health and spunk to her music and good clean living. Her wonderful 'resonator guitar' was her saving grace throughout the timne she was dealing wit the passing of Gordie. Today she is active, drives herself everywhere and lives comfortably on her farm. She is truly a mentor for all people who love music and want to play. She often advises people to never give up looking for their musical instrument. Hopefully, they will find it before 72, but it's really the journey that counts.

Music has had a strong hold on Mrs. Myrol. She spent many years behind the scenes with her family, she played many instruments and she has been a strong foundation in her daughter and granddaughter's career--(Myrol). In addition to her family she has extended her strengths in volunteering at the local hall--and was in charge of catering food for one of the area's local jamborees for years supplying the meal for the musicians and friends. She performs at all of the Jamborees in Central Alberta and she has become a celebrity in her own right among the people there. She volunteers her musical spirit at the local Seniors home in Evansburg once a month as well as regular volunteer duty there. She selflessly brings joy and musical moments to their residents. She performs at the West Edmonton Mall for the Seniors Talent Show, she hosted and entyertained at the Evansburg Seniors Christmas Supper-- with over 400 people attending. She has also helped the community by judging at the local talent shows. When Jean isn't performing or volunteering you can still see her behind the scenes once again but this time it isn't with her loving husband, you'll find her loyally supporting her daughter and granddaughter in their successful music career and like tonight on occasion sits in on stage with them and plays a tune or two. And she now is encouraging the next generation and watches as her grandchildren find their musical place in this world; Haley- performing on stages all over the world, and young Lucy and Carter as they start their musical journey with piano recitals.

Our Jean is a precious person in this world and is truly a shining star in many people's lives as she continues to bring music to othere in her life. At the age of 76, Jean Myrol is truly an example to all of us of how wonderful a life filled with music can be. She is a veritable fountain of youth, love and music....

Congratulations Mom Myrol on recieving the second of 2009 Alberta's Women of Country Music Lifetime Achievement  Awards.... You are so deserving and your family and fans love you!!