They say it’s who you know that counts.
Well, for me, in the case of folkie Norm Hacking, a life time Scarborough resident who will perform at the Renaissance Cafe on Danforth Ave (one block west of Woodbine Ave) during an open stage on November, 11), it’s who records your songs that really counts – at least for me, anyway.
I hadn’t heard of Hacking, a life-long Scarborough resident, prior to coming across a notice for a previous June gig at the Renaissance Café (which I unfortunately was unable to make).
But in doing the usual background research, one finds a tribute album recorded not just by a who’s who of the Toronto folk/roots music scene, but also by Michael Smith, a Chicago-based folk/roots musician, perhaps best known for “The Dutchman”, a cult classic.
While Smith, himself, isn’t exactly a house hold name, he is one of my all-time favourite singer/songwriters, right on par with Paul Simon; and, as it turns out, Hacking feels the same way, calling Smith one of the finest singer/songwriters in the English language.
