The upcoming North of Nashville — Volume 1 concert has seen some last minute changes to its line up with local musician Richard Sales taking over for his daughter, Hayley Sales.
“(I’m) very excited for my dad and producer to perform,” said Hayley, who had to drop out of North of Nashville due to reasons related to her next album.
Haley was the one who suggested that her dad take her place.
“This is very exciting,” said Richard. “I’m looking forward to it.”
Richard has been a professional musician since 1968, performing with The Jefferson Street Jug Band, Sky Cobb, Red Sales and The Sunsets and others.
He has also written music for film and commercial video, with clients ranging from Nike, Apple, PBS, ESPN, Intel and The Oregon Symphony to independent films and documentaries.
In 1981, Richard also started working on the production side of the music business with his recording company GlassWing Studios, which he founded in Washington, D.C.
His focus cemented here, behind-the-scenes, around ten years ago after his last big show at the 2004 Vancouver Island Music Festival. That was the year that Hayley started writing songs and Richard said he knew it was time to take on the role of supporter instead of performer.
“I immediately changed focus,” he said.
Richard said that he was particularly interested in giving Hayley a clear shot at success. “It just kind of happened that way,” he said.
Though Richard toured with Hayley from 2006-2009, his main role in her career has been as her producer. He co-produced her album Sunseed and produced When The Bird Became A Book for Universal Music at GlassWing, which moved to Vancouver Island with the Sales family in 2003.
That being said, Richard also continues to write and play his own music in his spare time. In fact, he said that his family had recently been talking about how he should start performing again when he got the call to replace Hayley next weekend.
“It was very serendipitous,” he said.
For this show, Richard will perform a set of his country-influenced music.
“I love country music,” said Richard. “One of my top fav songwriters of all time is Hank Williams Sr.”
He also added that his music is “far more country than Hayley’s.”
Richard said that he plans to perform solo with a guitar, though he might have Joanne Sales join him as a guest singer.
Richard is one of three big names playing at North of Nashville, which takes place on June 19 at the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre. Headlining the show will be DarkHorse, and Canada’s most acclaimed Johnny Cash tribute band David James and Big River will be supporting.
Tickets for the show are available now at Mulberry Bush Bookstores in Parksville and Qualicum Beach, as well as on the Port Theatre’s website (porttheatre.com).