Jon-Rae Fletcher
{{Short description|Canadian musician}}
{{update|date=April 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Jon-Rae Fletcher
| image = Jon-Rae Fletcher performing in Kelowna.jpg
| image_size = 220
| background = solo_singer
| origin = Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
| instrument = Vocals, guitar
| genre = Rock, soul, Gospel, alt-country
| occupation = Singer-songwriter
| years_active =
| label = Deerandbird Records, Weewerk
| associated_acts = Jon-Rae and the River, One Hundred Dollars
| website =
}}
Jon-Rae Fletcher is a Canadian singer-songwriter. He has recorded both as a solo artist and with a back-up band, The River.
Background
Fletcher grew up in Kelowna, British Columbia, where as the son of a minister, he sang in his church's choir. Eventual musical developments included his discovery of Kurt Cobain and the formation of his own garage band.Stuart Berman, "Cover Story: Jon-Rae and the River". Eye Weekly, 27 October 2005. Jon-Rae later moved and founded the original River band with a collective of Vancouver friends, but disbanded the group when he moved east.
The River was reformed with like-minded Toronto musicians in 2003, and they grew into a popular cult band with an ever-expanding audience. Combining country, gospel, rock, and soul, Jon-Rae & The River created a unique blend of music, sometimes complemented by an on-stage choir.{{cite magazine | url=http://www.chartattack.com/news/38605/jon-rae-and-the-river-preach-the-gospel | title=Jon-Rae And The River Preach The Gospel | magazine=Chart | date=6 May 2005 | first=Noah | last=Love | accessdate=10 August 2009 | url-status=usurped | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606171738/http://www.chartattack.com/news/38605/jon-rae-and-the-river-preach-the-gospel | archivedate=6 June 2011 }} In 2006, Exclaim! labelled Fletcher "one of Toronto’s most captivating front-men, thanks to his impassioned performances and his glorious alt-gospel songs. Fuelled by alcohol and a fervent belief in the songs they're playing."[http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/multiarticlesub.aspx?csid1=85&csid2=778&fid1=20827 "Smells Like Holy Spirit"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070715163220/http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/multiarticlesub.aspx?csid1=85&csid2=778&fid1=20827 |date=15 July 2007 }}. Exclaim!, October 2006. Their critically acclaimed album Knows What You Need was released in 2006, but the band broke up soon afterward.
Fletcher moved back out west, settling in Brentwood Bay, British Columbia.Kate Carraway, [http://www.eyeweekly.com/cmf/article/54386 "Jon-Rae Fletcher"]{{dead link|date=April 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. Eye Weekly, 11 March 2009. He released his most recent album, the full length Oh, Maria, in 2009 via the label weewerk and toured to promote the album with a new band line-up. Oh Maria is his only album available to stream, on Spotify, Youtube and Amazon Music.
Several of his former backing musicians in The River later re-emerged with the alternative country band One Hundred Dollars.Rayner, Ben, [https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/551957 "One Hundred Dollars: Show us the money"]. Toronto Star, 11 December 2008.
Discography
- Now Then (2000), Deerandbird Records
- Then Again (2001), Deerandbird Records
- The Road (2003), Hive-Fi Recordings
- Just A Closer Walk (2004), Blocks Recording Club
- Jon-Rae Fletcher & The River, Live Series (2005), Deerandbird Records
- Old Songs for the New Town (2005), Permafrost Records
- Knows What You Need (2006), We Are Busy Bodies
- Oh, Maria (2009), Weewerk
References
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Category:Canadian rock singers
Category:Canadian country singer-songwriters
Category:Musicians from Kelowna
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Canadian male guitarists
Category:Canadian male singer-songwriters
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