From the seat of a tour bus, as well as center stage behind a guitar and microphone, Kevin Harcourt has seen the country and met Canadians from coast to coast, while sharing his love of country music.
As a child it was Kevin’s family, as well as an early music teacher, that were influential in his development as a musician. “I was very fortunate to grow up in a musical family,” he said. “I played in family bands, and there was always music played in our house.” He also benefited from a teacher who had a unique way of teaching chords and helped Kevin develop a great way of playing music by ear.
Being a member of different bands over the years honed his performing skills and he credits all of the musicians he worked with for helping him find success in a career he loves. This includes his wife Marj who, along with Kevin, formed a successful duo. They found themselves on the road full time, taking their children out of school to make it happen. “We taught them by correspondence,” Kevin explained, “bought a motor home and a tour bus” and toured Canada for years as The Harcourts.
They developed a large fan base who they kept in contact with through the mail. “We did a newsletter that was addressed to 9,000 homes,” Kevin said, and they continued to record more and more music. But it is being on stage that Kevin loves the most. “I’ve always enjoyed live shows. A lot of years we did more than 200 plus shows a year.”
A recording career was launched in 1985 and accolades followed, including winning Gospel Album of the Year in 1994 and 1995 by the Saskatchewan Country Music Association, while one of their songs reached #6 on the European country music charts. They worked with Wilf Carter, were the opening acts on different tours and were also one of 17 Canadians acts to be at the South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Texas.
Kevin now sings and plays 12-string guitar in a band called Country Classics, where audiences are treated to two hours of traditional and classic country music, along with clean, family-friendly humor. “I’ve always treated music with respect,” Kevin says, and his shows reflect that.
Of course those shows are currently on hold as all events had to be cancelled this spring due to the coronavirus, but what Kevin has seen and learned from his tours across the country puts Canada in a good position. “We are fortunate to have more limited population and people seem to be respecting staying home and giving people space,” he said. “Combine that with very professional health personnel and system, it seems to be working.” He feels music can play an important role right now in helping maintain a positive mindset and keeping memories alive.
Kevin has toured all parts of Canada from Port Alberni on Vancouver Island, to Carbonear on the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland, to Yellowknife on the northern shore of Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories. While he says Saskatchewan has always treated him well as a performer, the Maritimes is one of his favorite places to play.
As he reflects on a life of making music, he says he has learned a great deal about cooperation, discipline and appreciation, and he is very thankful for all the musicians he has played with, especially his dad, and he points to another very special partner in this. “The biggest plus was the belief and loving support of my wife, Marg.”
