Purdee

Steve Heron  Born Sterling Ray Burnhouse on December 17, 1980 in Breadalbane, Prince Edward Island, Steve Heron’s life, cut short by a mysterious automobile accident on June 21, 2008, left the folk/rock world stunned. Inspired by Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Lonnie Donegan and Hank Williams, Steve remarkably didn’t start playing guitar until his early 20’s. Fusing his love of words with simple chord changes he created songs that were sometimes heart wrenching in their honesty, Ripple Sends a Wave to humour and frivolity, Baby Toe. 

The only child of Caroline (nee Scott), an English composition instructor, and Raymond Burnhouse, a farm machinery mechanic, Steve’s parents were also to influence him, creating an ‘intellectual road warrior’. Bubba Mackay, a long-time friend, felt Steve was always misunderstood: “I don’t think many people knew just what Steve was all about. And I think what he really wanted was to get a better idea of Mi’kmaq life; that’s what his mother is – Mi-kmaq. And I think Steve wished he were all Mi’kmaq. That’s not to say he had anything against his father, except for his Scottish Presbyterian blood, of course. And yeah, Steve went through a sort of transformation one night down on a red clay road; not sure which one though. There’s lots on the island.  And that’s what his poetry is about.  I wasn’t there myself, and nobody’s certain just what happened, but Steve sure was a changed man after that. And that’s when he changed his name to Heron – he said somethin’ about a spirit guide or somethin’. And then he went out to Vancouver and came back with the name Steve. I don’t know where he came up with that name. Earle maybe? And smart! Darn, Steve was smart as a whip! You’d sometimes hear him recitin’ poetry, Shakespeare or someone like that, when he was out workin’ on his truck. And he always had a book with him, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. Funny thing is Steve never even owned a bike. No, his baby was his ’48 Ford F-1 pickup. He loved that truck. And it’s only fittin’ that he died with it. Intellectual Road Warrior? Okay, sure, but around here, we called him the Road Scholar.”

Regardless of the mystery surrounding the night of June 21, 2008, one thing is for certain — Steve Heron’s music and words will live on for generations to come. This latest compilation of digitally re-mastered songs, Red Clay Face, includes some of the poetry Steve recorded before he died/disappeared.  It also includes four live ditties that Steve had recorded himself at an undisclosed location, and which mysteriously showed up at Barrell House Sound after the accident on the 48 Road, which leaves many to believe that Steve Heron is not really dead, only missing:  

When yer feelin’

A little bit beside yerself

And ya don’t know what to do

Ya reach for the heavens

And ya strike up a rhythm

And ya hum

Dum-diddle-diddle-doo

                                                          -Steve Heron, Reach For the Heavens

Word on the Street

Lost Lagoon-48 rd. 

Red Clay Road