Legendary Prince Edward Island fiddler and step dancer Richard Wood came to Thompson's Letkemann Theatre at R.D. Parker Collegiate Nov. 17 for the second show of he season in the City of Thompson Concert Series for 2011-2012 and gave an electrifying performance that ended with a standing ovation and shouts of "bravo" from a three-quarters packed house. Wood was ably accompanied by Saskatchewan-born guitarist and vocalist Gordon Belsher, who has made his home in Guernsey Cove, P.E.I, for more than 30 years. Wood and Belsher have been playing concerts together since 1995.
Wood, who started off as a child prodigy, has been performing for more than 20 years all across Canada, as well as in the United States, Europe and Japan. Highlights of his career have included TV guest appearances with Shania Twain on "David Letterman" and "Good Morning America," performing at Carnegie Hall in New York City with Irish legends The Chieftains, appearing as a featured performer on CBC's Canada Day on Parliament Hill, as well as with "Rita MacNeil and Friends," and with Jean Butler of Riverdance on "Celtic Electric."
Wood also entertained Canadian Armed Forces troops stationed in Bosnia and made two trips to Afghanistan to entertain combat soldiers. He has five previous CD recordings and has won three East Coast Music Awards (ECMAs). Maclean's magazine named him one of the Top 100 Canadians to watch in the 21st century.
