By Jay Scott Kanes

Watching Canadian singer and guitarist Rodney Savidant shine in his hometown – Summerside, Prince Edward Island -- created a lasting impression.

The master of a vast repertoire, Rodney glided from Gordon Lightfoot’s “Did She Mention My Name?” to Murray McLauchlan’s “Farmer’s Song” to Stompin’ Tom’s “The Hockey Song” and Clint Black’s “Leaving Here a Better Man”. Lyrics leaped to his lips, prompted by requests yelled from the crowd. Between tunes, Rodney bantered, calling out by name to people he recognized.

“I believe I’m accurate in saying that I know 3,000-4,000 songs,” Rodney said. A purveyor of country, roots, traditional and gospel, velvet-voiced Rodney has entertained solo and in bands for five decades.

“I always welcome requests,” Rodney said. “My purpose is to play what the people want, not what I want. Rarely does anyone request a song I don’t know.”

Why not write songs too? “I’ve never had the inkling to write a song,” Rodney confessed. “Maybe the desire’s not in me.”

For Rodney’s gospel CD, Keep Your Eyes Upon the Master (2003), he relied on stellar songwriters like Carl McLean, Gene MacLellan and Charlie Hansen. Rodney’s second gospel CD, Bless Your Children Once Again, appeared in 2005. He won a 2004 PEI Music Award for gospel.

Apart from a stint (1980-84) in Calgary, Rodney always has lived on PEI. He’s a regular attraction at the Silver Fox Curling and Yacht Club.

Smooth duos are another Savidant specialty. Working with Neil Matthews as The Last Resort, Rodney recorded two albums: Crossing a New Bridge and The Last Resort, Live at the Silver Fox. In the 1980s, he teamed with Susan Walsh as The Illusions.

In 1960, Rodney switched from his first band, folk singers the Sunnysiders, to rockers called the Monarchs. “I started with the Sunnysiders in 1958,” he said. “We were all 12 or 13 years old. Nightclubs needed special permission to hire us. At intermissions, they hid us in backrooms so we couldn’t have access to liquor or see people drinking.”

By 1967, Rodney formed a five-piece rock ‘n’ roll band, The 13th Hour (later renamed The Crescendos), active until 1978. “The Crescendos became Summerside’s most popular band,” Rodney said. “No matter where we played, the places were jammed solid.”

For seven years starting in 1986, Rodney handled lead vocals and rhythm guitar with Scalawag, a country-rock and rock ‘n’ roll group. Three Scalawagers previously played in Reflections. “We had Bruce MacDougall on drums, Wayne Giffin on lead guitar and Mike Smith on bass,” Rodney said, “and we played from Tignish to Souris.”

Rodney once worked as a radio announcer. He also has sold insurance, electronics and furniture.

“I love music. I love playing,” Rodney said. “The response makes me want to continue. I don’t just sing. I entertain people.”

The preceding text comes from the book, Island Toes A’Tapping (Jay Scott Kanes, Cairns Media, 240 pages, 2006), which assesses the music and musicians of Prince Edward Island, Canada’s smallest province.

ARCHIVES

Rodney Savidant knows

the songs his listeners love.


Neil Matthews (right) teamed

with Rodney in The Last Resort.