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Tracy lives on Jolliffe Island, Great Slave Lake in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada where she has made her home for over 30 years.
She is a multi-talented musician who plays acoustic guitar, harmonica, hand drums and bass. She is known as a superb singer/songwriter and entertainer with a rich, soulful voice. Her roots are folk with overtones of funk, blues and jazz, which she delivers with her unique percussive style. Just imagine a spontaneous kitchen party joined by the likes of Melissa Etheridge, Ellen McIlwaine, Neil Young and James Brown and you can get an idea of what it is like to see and hear Tracy perform. Her audiences are captivated by her energetic passion for music. Whether performing an original or her interpretation of a classic ‘crowd pleaser’, Tracy leaves her trademark charismatic and rhythmic signature all over it. Her off-grid personality and rustic humor are the results of living most of her life on a northern island with no amenities. This woman knows how to make magic happen no matter where she plays or what the situation. Tracy has performed at festivals and concerts all across Canada and the United States, from Arviat to Beverly Hills as well as appearing on CBC radio’s The Vinyl Café, Madly Off In All Directions, Peter Gzowski’s Morningside and The Vicki Gabereau Show. Tracy has performed with a variety of musicians such as Ellen McIlwaine, Heather Bishop, Leela Gilday, Tanya Tagaq, Odetta, KD Lang, Connie Kaldor, Ferron, Pat Braden, Diga, Valdy and Rita McNeil to name a few. Tracy has also opened for Crash Test Dummies, The Rankin Family and April Wine. Tracy's most recent tours consist of Vancouver Island and Interior BC in the fall of 2013 and spring of 2014 with the talented singer/songwriter Brodie Dawson, the fall of 2014 with violinist extraordinaire Blaine Dunaway and spring 2015 with Brodie Dawson and guitarist/singer/songwriter Christy Vanden. |
Tracy's Cabin on Jolliffe Island, Yellowknife, NWT, CANADA
Stocking up on wood at Tracy's cabin - Wood haul from the Government Dock to Jolliffe Island - Photo courtesy of Wanda Hatfield
Eastern tip of Jolliffe Island and houseboats in Yellowknife Bay, Great Slave Lake, NT - Photo courtesy of Wanda Hatfield
Tracy Riley and the Oldtown Bettys with Tracy's truck 'Elvira' at the Government Dock - Jolliffe Island in the background
- Photo by Fran Hurcomb |