By Katie Ryan
One Lashburn native is returning to his ‘home stomping grounds’ in support of the community.
Headlining the Spring Cabaret at the Lashburn Sportsplex is Chad Klinger, who is gearing up to release his first CD at the party on April 16.
Klinger, who now resides in Edmonton with his family, is looking forward to returning to his roots to share his work, The Man I Am Inside, but more importantly to support the new Sportsplex.
“I grew up playing hockey pretty much every day of my life whether or not it was in the old barn in Lashburn or outdoors. I have family and friends who have been working hard, raising money before the complex was built. I always knew that I was going to do another music project, one of the first things that I wanted to do was make sure I went back and raised money,” said the country singer.
All proceeds from the event will go towards the Lashburn Sportsplex and rightfully so added Klinger.
“I hope the event in Lashburn is well received, I would like to raise as much money for the Sportsplex as I can.”
Klinger had chart burning success in 1999-2000 with a three single EP featuring “Who Needs the Moon” and “Bring It On,” but with a young family Klinger decided to step away for the industry and focus on what mattered most to him – the ones he loved.
“When I had singles that did fairly well, I ended up having a baby and when you are in clubs and bars all of the time, I was gone a lot,” he said. “I said ‘I am going to have to make a decision, whether or not I am going to practice what I preach in the songs that I write.’”
After touring with Lonestar and opening for acts like Ricochet, Sherri Austin and Paul Brandt, Klinger started working in radio in sales with three stations.
“I am inundated by music every day, I think that is probably why I got into radio when I stepped away from music for the time being way back when. Radio was as close as I could get to it without being in it,” he said.
About three years ago Klinger began chipping away at his first full length album, which features songs he’s written over the past 10 years.
“I have lived a fair bit more of life now and I am a little bit more grounded than I was. There was a time where I might have thought the world owed me a favour, but now I owe it a favour,” he laughed.
“Children and life experiences always seem to bring you back. I think I am more ready to go after this and have a good head on my shoulders, hopefully for right now.”
The title song, “The Man I am Inside,” is one Klinger wrote about his father, who passed away when he was 18.
“I wanted to have my Dad part of the next project,” he said, adding he hopes that the songs resonate with his listeners.
From songs about his kids to small town life, Klinger said “there is a little bit of flavour on all different sides” to be found on the album.
“Country music sometimes gets a bad rap for your dog dying and all that stuff,” he chuckled. “What I love about it is that it is truly a story telling genre. Aside of folk, country music allows most people to listen to lyrics, know what it (song) is about. Those songs will take them to a place in their life that they remember. I always thought that successful country music is always going to be something that the masses can relate (to) and I wanted to make sure as much as possible that most of my songs people can relate to in their lives.”
Klinger is looking forward to Friday night, reconnecting with old friends and for the road ahead.
“It’s crazy – I’ve got the day job, a family, this going on, plus I’ve got a company that writes and produces advertising jingles – there are lots of things going on all the time.
“With my hands in a whole bunch of things, hopefully I do one or two of them well. That will help direct my future,” he laughed.