Neil Davidson, The Hamilton Spectator
June 6, 1996
After years of frustration, Patricia Conroy has cracked open the door to the United States country market.
Conroy, 38, finally has a record deal in the United States. And come August, her music will be in United States stores - and, more important, on United States country video stations.
There is a lengthy Canadian tour. Then a trip to Europe. And a few other dates that Conroy can't remember.
"It's great,'' she said in a recent interview.
"Actually, I'm having more fun than I ever have. And lots to look forward to. I think that's part of the fun.''
Conroy has reason to savor the moment. Despite success in Canada, she has run into her share of roadblocks outside the country.
The Canadian Country Music Association female vocalist of the year in 1994 couldn't interest a United States record company. Warner Music in the United States, parent of her Canadian label, "weren't interested.''
And neither was anyone else, it seemed.
"I can't explain it,'' Conroy said. "I don't think anybody owes me anything. I just go about my business and do the best I can and hope for the best.
"But I must admit it was a little frustrating there for a while.''
So Conroy went the independent route, putting out the single Somebody's Leavin' herself. The United States-based Country Music Television network added it to its rotation, only to pull it a week later.
Conroy was caught in the crossfire when the CRTC pulled the plug on CMT in favor of the Canadian New Country Network. CMT, which also broadcasts in Europe and the Pacific, retaliated by refusing to play Canadian artists who didn't have United States record deals.
"I lost a lot,'' she said with a bittersweet laugh. "And not only momentum.''
Conroy, a native of Montreal, had even moved to Nashville to pursue her career. Only to have her music declared off-limits.
Enter Intersound, a Nashville-based record company with a roster of traditional country stars such as the Bellamy Brothers and Roy Clark.
"I finally found a label that couldn't actually believe that this album wasn't picked up by somebody else and just jumped on it,'' Conroy said.
The album that hooked them was You Can't Resist, a sweet-sounding recording released last fall.
The album has already spawned several hits here, including What Else Can I Do and Somebody's Leavin'.
"It's almost as if we hit the nail on the head with this album. People seem to like the songs as much as I did when I heard them and chose them.''
Conroy wanted a distinctive sound for her third album - "something that was Patricia Conroy.
"And so I went out of my way to find a slightly different production team, slightly different players and slightly different songs.''
