The pod murals are a real treat to look over. Most are Winnipeg artists. We are based in Western Manitoba and although we have often performed in Winnipeg venues. We know many of these artists, although most of our appearances were out of city, province or country. We've never really been a major part of the Winnipeg scene. Howerver, local artists we have crossed paths with over the years - many of whom are represented on the mural displays - include:

Rhonda Hart | Art Young | Smokey Ferlin | Harvey Henry | Len Henry | Red Wine | Wayne Link | Cindi Cain | Ron Halldorson
Glen Frain and the Buckaroos | Ray St. Germain | Foster Martin Band | Doc Walker | C-Weed | Chris Bigford
Billy Simard | Stu Clayton | Amanda Stott | Russ Gurr | Barry Forman | | Double Eagle Band | et al

Some of my earliest music influences came from radio and Western movies - Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, et al. . . and I was always drawn to the music from these films - especially to the harmonies of The Sons of the Pioneers. Singer/songwriter Bob Nolan, along with Leonard Slye (Roy Rogers) formed the group before Roy made it big in the movies as King of the Cowboys. The group went on to have many hits and appeared in many of Roy's films. In my work as Webmaster for the Official Edgar Rice Burroughs Websites out of Tarzana, I spent much time in the San Fernando Valley and have created a Tazana and Valley Hall of Fame in which Bob Nolan has an honored place.

From our Vintage Guitar pages:
Link II - Pedal Steel Guitar
After years of  building b-benders and using Bigsbys, volume pedals and echo delay to eke out a few steel guitar sounds, it was only natural that someday I would pick up a real steel. This steel was manufactured in Winnipeg by long-time steel player Wayne Link. I then got all the manuals, a few instruction tapes and struggled with the bar, pedals, knee levers, 12 strings and weird tunings in my attempt to learn a few tunes like Danny Boy. But since we were doing so much stage work...and since it is very hard to front and sing with a trio while playing steel... I gradually drifted back to my Tele imitations. About this time I had also bought a Fender Rhodes 88 electric piano to double on...and most stages just weren’t big enough for all of us.

Featured on the Mural Wall is Brandon's Amanda Stott. We have watched the growth of Amanda's career with special interest since her dad, Cyril Stott, and I go back a long ways. In the early '60s we were both in the group, The Flamingo Combo which played many dance gigs around Brandon. Around that time I was also playing lead guitar in a rock band, The Dovermen. When we started get some major gigs and tours I suggested that we add Cyril and his sax to the group. Decades later I was happy to be one of the judges at the Orange Crush Talent Contest at Heidi Howarth's Trails West Inn in Brandon when Amanda appeared as one of the young contestants. Amanda was an unanimous winner in her category - one of the first major wins on her climb to stardom.

SOO'S SATURDAY NIGHT JAM
Blues News: The Journal of the Manitoba Blues Society, Inc. ~ Summer 2001
Blues Man in Westman column by Keith "Poor Boy" Rodger
SOO'S (The Hillman Chinese Restaurant on 10th St. Brandon) Saturday night jam on April 14 was well attended, hosted by Bill and Sue-On Hillman, with many years of touring andrecording behind them, are well-seasoned musicians that fit easily into most styles of music.

BETTER OFF WITH THE BLUES SOCIAL
Blues News: The Journal of the Manitoba Blues Society, Inc. | Spring 2002
Blues Man in Westman column by Keith "Poor Boy" Rodger
The Brandon blues community has found a friend and supporter of live blues music in The Brandon and District Labour Council with newly elected president Jan Chaboyer (Congratulations Jan). First there was the Better Off With The Blues Social, with two Winnipeg acts. Then came The Blues Overtook Me Social, held at Soo's Restaurant with acts like (surprise it's me) Poor Boy Rodger, G.B. Peech and the Sidebanders, Bill and Sue-On's Soo's Blues Wokkers, and just back from Bosnia, Guns and Hoses, a band consisting of soldiers from CFB Shilo (don't mess with these blues soldiers). It was a well attended event and, sad to say, the last of an era in Brandon as Soo's Chinese Restaurant has been eaten up with the expansion of the Credit Union next door. Soo's had the best Chinese food in town and had been in Brandon forever, or at least as long as I can remember. In the last few years it was also the best and friendliest jammin' place for musicians of all ages and styles. I think I can speak for all musicians  in and around Brandon and wish Bill and Sue-On Hillman all the best in the future. Check out their Webpage at: www.hillmanweb.com

FIRST ANNUAL BRANDON BLUES FESTIVAL
Manitoba Blues Society | Blues News ~ Fall 2002 | by Keith "Poor Boy" Rodger
GB Peech & the Sidebanders has become a real crowd pleaser in Brandon. Now with Robin Hillman on bass their bottom end has tightened up and is a real asset to the band. Robin stayed on the stage to join his parents Bill & Sue-On Hillman as they took control. With Bill's gritty vocals and skilled B-bending guitar the blues take on an original sound that fits well with Sue-On's hauntingly beautiful voice.
Doug ~ Sue-On ~ Bill ~ Robin ~ Johnny