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Dennis is originally from Sudbury Ontario. At age fourteen he began playing guitar in a dance band named the Bachelor Blondes. The Saari brothers Jarmo, Elias, Matti and Antti were major influences that lead Dennis to continue his playing with Phase VI, The Sudbury Beerfest Band and Music Shoppe.  Additional musical influences included his guitar teacher Ben Rinaldo, and his father who was a great singer and played the guitar, banjo and fiddle. Dennis' early band performance experiences included playing guitar in an evening performance with the Gordie Tap Show, as a session guitar player for a performance of the Ice Capades and playing for Pierre Trudeau at a Liberal convention. 

 

After completing his undergraduate university degree, Dennis moved to western Canada. He developed further his guitar/singer solo act and played in lounges, folk clubs and small bars throughout Alberta. Dennis had the privilege of "opening" for Connie Caldor, Stan Rogers and Maple Sugar at several folk clubs. He also played as a "house musician" in a lounge/bar where Ian Tyson and Stompin' Tom Connors would perform.

Dennis recorded several original songs and co-produced a 45 rpm under his own label of Blackjack Records.  Music was his passion, however, playing music six nights per week was a challenging lifestyle. He decided to continued his  education, completing a Master's degree in special education and develop a career path outside of music. 

Dennis has been involved in a variety of vocations including special education teacher, outdoor education instructor, school band teacher, child care treatment counsellor and instructor in a Faculty of Education and Human Service Worker program. 

Dennis lives in Kelowna BC and over the past seventeen years, has developed a private practice in the areas of special education, learning assessment and remediation, relationship counselling, behavioural management, vocational rehabilitation and career counselling. 

After a very lengthy hiatus from studio recording, Dennis is pursuing his dreams related to music. He has recently completed recording eleven original songs. This is the first step in the production of his full length CD and a very special commemorative CD project related to supporting  Canadian Forces members, their families, our Veterans and military personnel. Visit the Canadian Troops site at www.toourcanadiantroops.ca

Dennis has had the pleasure of working with Kelowna's best musicians including Michael Garding, Malcolm Green, Pat MacGibbon, Fred Gass, Darin Senkiw, Rachel Matkin, Scott Gamble, Jim Ryan, Loni Moger, Dave Favell, Olivia Walsh, Lawrence G. Bourgeois, Derek Turvey, Bob Gabelhouse, Andrea Anderson and Kris Watts. A special thanks to Bob Gablehouse of Big Audio Productions for his engineering, mixing, mastering and production skills.

Dennis' goals in songwriting are to create and produce music that is fun, enjoyable, emotional and hopefully, not confined to a specific musical style. His songs are are in a variety of categories including dedication, adult contemporary, country rock, swing, folk, classic rock, latin and novelty. This variety in musical styling has led to the title "Mix It Up", for his first full length CD

Aside from his passion for singing, playing  guitar and songwriting, Dennis enjoys providing service to his clients, riding his Harley Davidson, weight training and running, cross country skiing, traveling, driving with the convertible top down and spending time with friends.”

Thank you for visiting www.Dennisleclair.com, listening to Dennis' music and for supporting our Canadian troops. He looks forward to your comments either on the site guest book, telephone 250 870 1618 or at ocanadaproud@gmail.com