A father's death. A mother's mission. A family's desire to share its music with others. Put these ingredients together and you get The Scott Woods Show — a six-person ensemble playing old-time fiddle music, helping churches raise money, and hopefully drawing non-church-goers into a sanctuary for the first time. “This is music that brings fellowship, and brings people together who may not otherwise come to church. It's uplifting, and maybe we're making things seem a little brighter, and maybe people leave with a bit of inspiration,” said Scott Woods.
The band traces its roots to 1950, when Mervyn Woods, the family patriarch, started the Merv Woods Orchestra. A heart attack in a grocery store in 2003 ended the senior Woods' life. True to showbiz form, the family put aside its sorrow and only two days after the funeral, played two concerts. “People asked what we were doing there,” said Woods. “We just told them, Dad would want us to keep playing, so here we are.”
A man of quiet faith, Merv Woods instilled in his family a concern for others. “He made sure we played for the hospitals and nursing homes,” said Woods. “He used to say, 'Maybe one day you'll be in that situation and you'll be glad to have someone visit.' I think he'd be happy and proud of our accomplishments.” It was this passion and devotion for music that inspired the family to continue playing.
Woods attends St. Andrew's, Fergus, Ont., along with his mother, Carolyn who plays piano (and is also an elder and choir member there), and sister Kendra Norris, on fiddle, accordion and clarinet. Woods' brother Bruce attends Duffs, Aberfoyle, and plays drums and fiddle, and the band's long-time bass player, Karl Watson, is a regular at St. Andrew's, Arthur.
The band is rounded out by Woods' niece, Meryl Norris, a champion step dancer who sometimes lends her talent to the show; family friend Ivan Felker, guitar player and vocalist; Ben Norris, Woods' nephew, plays fiddle, guitar and drums; and Gini Williams is a guest vocalist. Woods himself is a Canadian fiddle champion, has performed throughout Canada, the United States and Europe, and can turn somersaults and step dance while playing the fiddle.
Woods began playing the violin at age four. His dad played old-time fiddle music, as did both of his grandfathers. “I heard it all my life, so it came easily for me,” he said. This rich heritage keeps him true to old-time music, leading to his break from the Memories of Don Messer's Jubilee — a long-running fiddle show that Woods was a part of, but bowed out from when the music became too modern. He left it in November to lead the family band.
It was his mother's heart for mission that bore the idea of using music to help others. After Merv died, Carolyn Woods told her son that she wanted to go on a mission. “I told her it wasn't really for me. And she said, 'Maybe you should use your talents to help others. Maybe the whole band should do it.'”
Carolyn Woods did end up going on a traditional mission trip to Haiti, but she is also a part of the music ministry her family is now involved in. The tour kicked off in the fall of 2004 with a 12-show test run. Today they play across North America to help churches and charities raise money for various projects. The band handles just about everything from set-up to clean-up and can even help advertise the event. Tickets to the show are $15, split 50/50 between the church and the band. “It really is like a ministry for the band,” said Woods, as the profits they make on the shows are largely spent on travel and production costs.
Proving the old adage that the family that plays together stays together, the Woods family derives the most joy simply by being on stage and synchronizing their fiddles with each other. “If we didn't make any money, it would still be fun,” said Woods. “The outreach is just a bonus for us, and traveling around and meeting great people is another bonus.”
Visit www.scottwoods.ca for a show schedule or to book a concert.
