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By Joy Josephine
The Maine Country Music Hall of Fame held its 43rd and 44th annual Induction Ceremony and Show at the Silver Spur in Mechanic Falls on Aug. 8. Because of COVID-19 delays, the organization combined its 2020 and 2021 ceremonies into one event.
Among the inductees honored for their contributions to country music in Maine was the first inclusion of country music promoters, including Norm Pouli,n of Sidney, whose nearly half-century long connection to country music has helped keep the genre alive in Maine.
“If the ticker ticks, the music clicks, and they come from the cities and out of the sticks,” Poulin, 81, said.
From the time he was a boy — growing up in the house he still resides in to this day — Poulin has always loved country music. As a young man, listened to the Grand Ol Opry and WWVA’s Wheeling Jamboree. He would ride his bike to Augusta’s City Hall to watch the local country musicians, armed with his flashlight for the ride back home later in the night. At the shows, Poulin would befriend the performers backstage, which grew into life-long relationships both professional and personal. Poulin was the Maine State Fan Club representative for Loretta Lynn for 10 years. He always had his heart in the music.
Back when Poulin was working at WKCG radio in Augusta, he heard Yodeling Slim Clark give an interview on the station. Clark mentioned that the old-time players did not have many venues to play in around the state. This gave Poulin the idea to start putting on shows to get these musicians in front of the crowds they deserved.
Poulin’s entrepreneurial spirit and skills created many shows since his first in 1970, including promoting the Ragin’ Cajun Doug Kershaw for eight shows; soon a string of shows evolved into the Country Music Pioneer Show. These shows feature Maine country musicians that helped shape the face of the genre in the state. The musicians, coming together from all corners of Maine, featured the likes of Frank Coffin and Malinda Liberty, Denny Breau, Danny Harper, Sharleen Hooper, Ira Allen and many more; most of the shows were emceed by D.J. McCoy. shows have reached many Maine towns, including Augusta, Waterville, Biddeford, Presque Isle, Ellsworth, Rumford, Jackman, Rangeley, Belfast, Southwest Harbor, Mechanic Falls, Solon and more.
One of the original pioneers, Gene Hooper, had the idea to start a mailing list at shows to help grow the crowds more every year. They were instantly into the 1,000 head count in no time, and the shows were booming.
Poulin’s proclivity for advertising also helped get the chairs filled in a hurry. He promoted through print ads, tv, radio and flyers, soon realizing that photographs of the players really drew attention to his ads and flyers.
“If you want a big crowd, you’ve got to tell a lot of people,” Poulin said. The first year Poulin advertised with Turner Publishing, he sold the most tickets in advance in the history of the production. He calculated that 70 percent of the people buying tickets mentioned they heard about the show in their local Turner Publishing newspaper ad.
Of his induction into the Maine Country Music Hall of Fame Poulin says he is “honored to be in as a promoter nominated by my best friend, Danny Harper.” When asked what instruments he plays, Poulin said, “I don’t pick or sing. I have a hard time playing the radio!”
Poulin’s next show will be Sunday, Oct. 10, in Hartland at the Community Center. For information, call Poulin at 207-547-3444.
