Country recording artist Duane Steele will be playing in the Chevaliers Centre in Falher on Jan. 23, assuming enough tickets can be sold to hold the concert. Steele is well known for many chart-topping songs including Anita Got Married, Stuck on your Love, and Trouble With Love.

Come one, come all to the Smoky River Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) concert featuring country recording artist Duane Steele. Tickets must be sold soon to enable FCSS to bring the popular musician to Falher for a thrilling concert right. FCSS event coordinator Jean Moore says the event will be held in conjunction with the monthly Ol’ Tyme Family Nite, but she explains tickets have to start selling to prove there is interest in having a concert in town. “I decided for the second anniversary of Ol’ Tyme Family Nite we should treat the musicians who come out every month to a special evening,” says Moore. “Hopefully the local musicians will still play, but they will also be able to take a break to enjoy another small town Albertan’s music.” Duane Steele will be playing in the Chevaliers Centre in Falher on Jan. 23, to which Moore says she hopes there is a lot of support for the local event. “I want local children to know that even if we’re from a small community things can still happen in their life,” explains Moore. “Whether you live in Girouxville or Edmonton, if you work hard enough your dreams can come true.” Moore says she looked for quite a while for a musician from a small town, until she discovered Steele was from Hines Creek. In 1995, a showcase at Canadian Country Music Week in Calgary resulted in his signing a recording contract with Mercury Canada. Steele’s solo debut album “PO Box 423" was released in February 1996 and saw his first three singles go Top 5 on the Canadian Country Charts, including the #1 Hit ”Anita Got Married". His sophomore release “This Is The Life” was released a year and a half later and furthered his presence on the Canadian music charts with all six singles released achieving Top 30 chart position (two becoming Top 10 hits). In support of both albums Steele released seven music videos on CMT (three of which went to #1). He has been on the road traveling with his CCMA award winning band opening for some of the hottest acts in country music including Shania Twain, Terri Clark, Trisha Yearwood, Sammy Kershaw, and Prairie Oyster. In 1997, Steele was the winner of the CCMA for Vocal Collaboration of the Year with Lisa Brokop for the single “Two Names On An Overpass”. “He’s a great example of a small town person who succeeded to fulfill his dream,” she says. “I think he’ll put on a great concert and we’re very excited to introduce him to our community. Hopefully he’ll be able to share with the children stories of how he reached his goals and aspirations.” The evening will be catered by Royal Purple and their associates. Supper will include beef-on-a-bun, corn salad, home-baked beans and coleslaw. Tickets will cost $25 per person and will go on sale this week. Tickets will be sold at the FCSS offices in Falher and McLennan, A & M Confectionary in Falher, Village of Girouxville office, Crick’s Corner in Girouxville and the Town of McLennan office. “I think the concert would make a terrific gift for friends and family,” says Moore. In addition, the event will act as a fundraiser for Smoky River FCSS. For more information call Jean at 780-837-2220 or to volunteer call Maggie Gervais at 780-324-3627.