J.R. Vautour

J.R. Vautour burst on the Canadian country music scene in the summer of 2000 chalking up a TOP 20 national hit with his co-written lead single and video “You’re The One”.

Since the National release of his debut critically acclaimed self titled CD, this Toronto born, Fredericton, N.B. raised singer song/writer, has become one of the fastest rising Canadian country music stars from the East Coast in quite some time.

J.R.’s self titled debut CD “J.R. Vautour” was phenomenal, racking up string of National radio hits including “You’re The One”, “How The End Should Start”, "Gettin'Our Feet Wet" which spent five straight weeks as the #1 independent Canadian single followed by “Dry Eye” which also reached the #1 Independent Canadian position. The hit singles “Don’t Mean Maybe” and “This Time” also rocketed into the TOP 20 National radio charts giving J.R. six major hit singles to his credit.

Currently J.R. is enjoying National success once again with his most recent radio HIT “Going Home”, the debut single from J.R.’s new forth coming CD “Break”. “Break” features 13 new songs with all of the compositions being written and co-written by J.R. In most recent years J.R. has had a string of hit singles including Top 10 radio and video hit singles “Addicted”, “Kiss Me Goodbye”, “U Make me Love U”& “Don’t Know It Yet” from his 2nd CD “The New Me”. “The New Me” was released in stores across the Nation October.28, 2003. “”Break” is being toted as J.R.’s best work to date.

Long awaited accomplishments are pouring in with National award nominations from the 2004 CCMA Awards for “Chevy Rising Star”, “Independent Male Artist”, “Independent Song of the year for “Addicted”, Canadian Music Week awards for “Favorite Country Artist”, “Best New Country Artist” from the 2002 Juno Awards, “Independent Male Artist Of The Year” from the 2002 Canadian Country Music Association, “Country Music Artist Of The Year” from the 2001 East Coast Music Association, and for “Album Of The Year” at the 2001 Canadian Music Week Awards.

As a youngster J.R. followed in his dad’s footsteps. Gerry Sr. fronted a band known as “Gerry Knight And The Cougars” that toured the Ontario circuit and released an independent album in the late 70’s. J.R.’s other early musical influences were acts like Steve Warner, Conway Twitty, and Ronnie Milsap. J.R. states, “The thing that I really liked about these artists was that they were so versatile in what type of music they would record. One single could be stone cold country and the next could be something a little more on the pop side which is what really kept me interested in their music”.

J.R. has his dad and J.R. Ewing to thank for his stage name. With only one television set in there home, when Dallas (his dad’s favorite program) came on J.R. was unable to watch his favorite show “ The Dukes Of Hazard”. J.R. recalls “There was a big fight every Friday night over who was going to get to watch what. Because my parents knew I couldn’t stand J.R. Ewing they started calling me J.R., and the name just stuck.”

Following J.R.’s long streak of first place singing competitions, not to mention a runner up finish to Canadian star Beverly Mahood in the 12 an under category in Brantford, Ontario J.R.’s parents knew it was time to take him to the next level. At the age of 18, J.R. was off to Nashville to record his first demo.

With early N.B. radio success, J.R. quickly became a major club and concert draw allowing him to open for acts like Box Car Willie, Gene Watson to name a few.

J.R. is best known for his boundless energy on stage. Emoting, communicating, bounding down into audiences; a singer with an appealing country voice and natural charisma…the ability to captivate his audience’s attention and to make them feel like they are a part of his live performances.

Now with his childhood dreams becoming a reality, J.R. is hoping that his new CD will lead to more fan acclaim and industry accolades. With a collection of songs that stir emotions and exude honesty, his career goals are now in sight.