By TERRY PUGH
Martensville Fire Department Captain Ryan Cross has used a firefighter’s axe to good purpose many times over the years.
But, he’s also no slouch when it comes to another kind of ‘axe’ – a slang term for guitar.
The veteran firefighter, who works as a supervisor of fire inspectors with the Saskatoon Fire Department, is a self-taught singer-songwriter with a penchant for heartfelt classic country songs. His easy-going vocals blend nicely with strummed guitar chords.
After years of playing for family and friends around campfires, Cross is about to get his music out to a larger audience. His debut single, entitled, ‘Play Me Another’ is set to be unveiled at a launch party at the Capitol Music Club in Saskatoon on Wednesday, October 23.
“It’s kind of a dream come true for me,” said Cross. “This is something I’ve always wanted to do.”
For Cross, the event is the culmination of long hours in the studio. It’s also an opportunity to use that immortal line from the classic 1980 movie, ‘The Blues Brothers.’
“We’re gettin’ the band back together,” he said. “I was in a cover band called Correction Line for many years and we played country rock in small town bars around the Rosetown area.
“It was a kind of ‘school of hard knocks’ experience but it was fun and we learned a lot.
“For this upcoming song-release concert, I’ve persuaded the guys I played with in the band to back me up on stage.”
Cross started playing guitar in his teens after taking a few years of piano lessons.
“My grandma was a big influence on me,” he said. “I’d walk up to her house and I could hear her playing such beautiful music on her big upright piano. I learned to read music, but I switched to guitar when I was about 14 and learned to play it by ear.. My buddy’s dad taught me some chords, we got some guys together and formed a band. We played a lot of Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard, stuff I learned from my dad and my grandpa.”
In his early 20s, Cross trained as a firefighter and worked in oil field firefighting around Kindersley for three years. Nineteen years ago, when he landed a job as a firefighter at the Saskatoon airport, he and his wife moved to Martensville, where he joined the Martensville Fire Department as a volunteer.
During those years, his music went on the back burner.
“I let it go for a while,” he said. “I got married, I started my firefighting career, we had four kids, we got real busy. I still played at parties and around a campfire with friends, though.”
Cross said he especially enjoyed playing for his late grandfather, a World War II veteran who served in the Canadian army.
“I’d bring my guitar to his house, and he’d say ‘play me another, just like the other,’ and then he’d laugh,” said Cross. “That line just kind of stuck with me for many years and I put it in my back pocket and thought, ‘I should write a song about that.’ And eventually, four years ago, I came up with a couple verses and some chords. It took a while longer to figure out the third verse, though. ‘Play Me Another’ is about how old songs bring back good memories and take you back to the good times, the simpler times.”
Cross said now that his kids are grown, he’s able to devote more time to his music. He laid down the tracks for ‘Play Me Another’ at a Saskatoon recording studio under the guidance of a professional producer.
“It was an eye-opener,” he said. “There’s a lot of work involved in getting a three-minute recording to sound professional. But, I’m excited about the way it turned out, and really looking forward to having people come out to the concert. I’ll be playing my debut single, and three or four other originals, and then a lot of covers and sing-along songs and dance songs. It should be a lot of fun.”
The concert on October 23 also features opening acts Mercy Glover and Connor Heusdens. Fans can pre-save ‘Play Me Another’ at https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/ryancross/play-me-another .
Fans can also check out his music on social media at
https://www.facebook.com/ryanmcrossmusic