# Terry Carisse

Terrance Victor Carisse (July 11, 1942 – May 22, 2005) known as Terry Carisse, was one of Canadian Country Music's most awarded, decorated and popular singer-songwriters. His awards include the Canadian Country Music Association's Male Vocalist of the Year Award which he has won six times, and still holds this record. He was nominated four times for a Juno Award. In 1989 he was inducted into the Ottawa Valley Country Music Hall of Fame. In 2006, Terry Carisse was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame.

## Biography
### Early life

Carisse was born Terrance Victor Carisse July 11, 1942, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. He started performing in his early teens. at several local talent shows and festivals in the Ottawa Valley.

### Career

In 1971, Carisse teamed up with fellow songwriter Bruce Rawlins. The duo wrote their first hit song together "Hello Mom" for the Mercey Brothers.
Beginning in 1978, Carisse and his band, Tenderfoot, were the opening act for Carroll Baker, performing concert dates in Canada, Great Britain, including the London Palladium. After performing as part of the Carroll Baker show from 1978 to 1980, he began a solo career. In 1980, Carisse left the Carroll Baker Show to tour with his new band, Tracks. Performing in such venues as the Calgary Stampede, the Big Valley Jamboree in Regina, fairs in Lethbridge and Charlottetown, and the first-ever national telecast of the Canadian Country Music Awards(CCMA). Carisse and his band Tracks opened for Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton in Atlantic Canada and toured with, among many others, Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers, Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, Mel Tillis, and Willie Nelson. Carisse has appeared in numerous shows including The Family Brown, The Tommy Hunter Show and the International Country Music Festival in Peterborough, England as well as writing and performing three songs on "The Rowdyman" film starring Gordon Pinsent. He recorded his first album on the Mercey Brothers' MBS label and later recorded with Savannah Records. Over the years, Carisse has released six albums and numerous singles, initially on the Mercey Brothers MBS label and, subsequently, on Savannah Records. His songs have been recorded by Carroll Baker, Marie Bottrell, Ralph Carlson, Bruce Golden, "Whispering Bill" Anderson, Charlie Louvin, Australian country singer, Allan Hawking, the Netherlands' Esther Tims, and Sweden's Teddy Nelson, and his songs have been released in Germany, Australia, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. In 1989 Terry was inducted into the Ottawa Valley Country Music Hall of Fame and in 2006 he was inducted into The Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame.
Carisse died of cancer on May 22, 2005, in an Ottawa hospital; he was 62. Carisse is survived by his wife Aija (Skadins) and sons Steve, Chris, and Sean and a brother, Stephen.

## Discography
### Albums

| Year | Album | CAN Country |
| 1978 | Terry Carisse | — |
| 1979 | Story of the Year | 19 |
| 1980 | We Could Make Beautiful Music Together | 13 |
| 1982 | A Gospel Gathering | — |
| 1984 | The Closest Thing to You | 25 |
| 1986 | None of the Feeling Is Gone | — |
| 1989 | That Was a Long Time Ago | — |

### Singles

| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Chart Positions | Album |
| Year | Single | CAN Country | CAN AC | Album |
| 1976 | "I've Been Thinking" | — | — | single only |
| 1978 | "Lonely Highway Blues" | 26 | — | Story of the Year |
| 1978 | "The Story of the Year" | 30 | — | Story of the Year |
| 1979 | "Time to Go" | 15 | 34 | Story of the Year |
| 1979 | "Sparkle in Her Eyes" | 1 | — | Story of the Year |
| 1980 | "All Her Letters" | 10 | — | Story of the Year |
| 1980 | "We Could Make Beautiful Music Together" | 10 | 15 | We Could Make Beautiful Music Together |
| 1981 | "Windship" | 7 | — | We Could Make Beautiful Music Together |
| 1981 | "Ode to an Outlaw's Lady" | 17 | — | We Could Make Beautiful Music Together |
| 1982 | "Coming Undone Again" | 23 | — | We Could Make Beautiful Music Together |
| 1982 | "Nevada" | — | — | single only |
| 1983 | "Love Blind" | — | — | The Closest Thing to You |
| 1984 | "The Closest Thing to You" | 17 | — | The Closest Thing to You |
| 1984 | "Two Broken Hearts" | 17 | — | The Closest Thing to You |
| 1985 | "Counting the I Love Yous" | 13 | — | The Closest Thing to You |
| 1985 | "Sweet Blue" | 10 | 20 | The Closest Thing to You |
| 1986 | "Love Sweet Love" | 6 | 28 | None of the Feeling Is Gone |
| 1986 | "It Must Be October" | 23 | — | None of the Feeling Is Gone |
| 1987 | "Old Photographs" | 3 | — | None of the Feeling Is Gone |
| 1987 | "Starting Forever Again" | 10 | — | None of the Feeling Is Gone |
| 1987 | "None of the Feeling Is Gone" (with Michelle Wright) | 13 | — | None of the Feeling Is Gone |
| 1987 | "Give In" | 12 | — | None of the Feeling Is Gone |
| 1988 | "Thought Leaving Would Be Easy" | 8 | — | None of the Feeling Is Gone |
| 1989 | "Loveproof Heart" | 28 | — | That Was a Long Time Ago |
| 1989 | "What About Her" | 36 | — | That Was a Long Time Ago |
| 1990 | "Start of Something New" (with Tracey Brown) | 6 | — | That Was a Long Time Ago |
| 1990 | "Is Your Heart Taken" | 22 | — | That Was a Long Time Ago |
| 1991 | "That Was a Long Time Ago" | 38 | — | That Was a Long Time Ago |
| 1992 | "My Old Man" | — | — | single only |
| 1994 | "Daddy's Girl" | — | — | single only |
| 2005 | "Because of You" | — | — | single only |