Three decades later, and the Music Jam continues to go strong for the Whispering Hills Country Music Association.
The association held its first jam of the 2019-20 season at the Athabasca Seniors Drop-in Centre Oct. 6, with 41 people gathered in the building to watch 18 people perform. The jam is held on the first Sunday of the month from October to May each year.
One of the musicians, 44-year-old Brenda Roberts of Perryvale, said she only started performing three years ago.
"I started singing two weeks before I took up learning the violin," Roberts said. "I love being with the people who come out and watch all the performances. It's no competition, it's just everyone who wants to come out and to have some fun. We see performers come out from all levels, from beginner to veteran."
Roberts also handles the sound system for each performance. She said it was a great outing for everyone involved.
Aggie Thomson, whose late husband Art was one of the groups founding members more than 35 years ago, said it was the longest-ever running jamboree in the entire province of Alberta.
"We originally had a competition as part of the performance called the Harvest Gold Fiddle Competition," she said. "It was held every year for 34 years every Labour Day weekend, and it was province-wide."
Her brother-in-law Hugh Thomson said the family tradition remains alive and well.
"My younger brother George primarily took over running the Athabasca event after Art passed away, while I primarily run a similar event out in Westlock," he explained. "We still love doing it and the people who watch it keep wanting more."
Hugh Thomson recounted that one year, he attended 14 jamborees in the span of just one month.
Another one of the performers, Athabasca's Bonnie Nichols, said the jam is a great opportunity for local-area musicians to get together and to have some fun.
"It's my first time at the seniors centre jam, and I will definitely be coming back," Nichols stated. "The back-up musicians are amazing and versatile, and it makes it much easier for the performers to be on stage."
Nichols, who also performs herself, said she does more modern country and classic rock.
"I'm also part of a band called Little Red Pill, and we often perform at the Grand Union Hotel," she continued.
Nine-year-old Kyle Gellings said the Oct. 6 jam was a great show.
"I just loved the singing," Gellings said. "I really love country music, including all the classics."
Debbie Morrison of Rochester said it was great to hear all her favourite songs that were first released during her generation.
"It was great to listen to it again," Morrison reminisced.
Mary Olson, a current member of the association's executive, said the next jam will take place Nov. 3 at the Seniors Drop-In Centre.
"The association also takes part in lots of sponsorships, with grants going to people from the Athabasca area," Olson said. "We help fund both the Town and Edwin Parr Composite School bands, and we will be handing out more grants Dec. 1. But the deadline to apply for each grant is no later than Oct. 31."
She said they handed out 30 $250 scholarships in 2019 for children to attend summer workshops all over Alberta.
"We will be handing out more scholarships in Dec," she stated.
