The fifth time was the charm.
Throughout Norman Foote's long career, the popular children's entertainer who grew up in Squamish has received four prestigious Juno Award nominations only to walk away empty-handed.
That all changed April 18 when he landed his first Juno Award for his latest album, Love My New Shirt.
Although the musician now lives in West Vancouver, his lone Juno can be linked directly back to his Squamish roots.
Foote's eighth album, Love My New Shirt recalls a young Norman's experiences watching his parents Merv and Lorraine run Merv Foote's Menswear, a staple Cleveland Avenue store throughout the 1960s, '70s and '80s, where the current Service Canada office now sits.
"My mom was an unbelievable sales woman, she could sell a suit to a logger," said Foote. "I'm not kidding you, she really could."
Merv and Lorraine's hard work and caring led Foote to dedicate the Juno-Award-winning album to his now-deceased parents.
"I figure I owe everything to my parents. They were the ones that gave me my guitar and supported me. I really had fantastic parents."
Although Foote said it was nice to just be nominated for the national music award, he admits it's a whole lot better to actually win.
"It felt really good to win, I totally admit it," he said.
"I was thrilled that I actually won, you know the old guard. I'm one of the entertainers of this type that's sort of lasted a long time in the business."
Foote said he was especially excited to hear he won a Juno Award for Children's Album of the Year since he was competing against so many other good children's musicians such as Bobs and Lolo, Charlie Hope, the Bee's Knees, and the Kerplunks.
"My reaction? I was over the moon. I was beside myself for a good couple of days and then I went back to normal again."
Foote wasn't actually present at the St. John's Newfoundland Juno ceremony last month because he was busy touring, but he jokingly said he'd attended before and always walked away empty handed, so perhaps it was best he stayed away.
"Maybe if I had gone, I wouldn't have won," he laughed.
Foote wrote most of the album while he was living on Vancouver Island, although he's since moved back to the Mainland. He collaborated with fellow British Columbians Phil Dwyer on flute, clarinet and sax and John Forrest on bass, accordion, piano and tuba and Linda Kidder on back-up vocals.
"Really great musicians on it."
Foote said he still draws inspiration from his five kids aged 32, 30, 17, 15 and seven as well as from his two grandchildren.
"My little guy he totally has inspired me. All my kids have inspired me and my grand kids now," said the 55-year-old.
"It's no different than any different artists you gather up your material through life."
The kids in Foote's life have served not only as inspiration but also as sounding boards and test audiences.
"I've tested out all my material out on them. I've practically force fed them my material."
He said when his oldest kids were in Grade 1, 2 and 3 he used to put on school concerts at Brackendale Elementary. As little kids, his daughters loved his performing at schools, but when teenage rebellion came into the dynamic, Foote could use his work as a disciplinary measure.
"We then got to high school and I couldn't control them. I used to say to them 'If you don't behave I'll come to your high school and sing those songs,'" he laughed.
Foote is currently writing music for a kid's TV show called Max and Ruby, and said he plans to soon start working on another collection of adult oriented music.
"Honestly, people always tell you your career is a certain length but that's not true. It's how much you believe in yourself, and how much you believe and how much good energy you put out.
"Follow through on your ideas and stick with it until it's blossomed into something your really proud of."
