Maurie Nord is a descendant of Johan Johansson Nord (1795) of Norsjo, Sweden. Johan's great grandson, Gustaf Albin Nord, born 1892, emigrated to Kaslo, British Columbia, Canada, in 1911, where Maurie's father, Alexander (Sandy) Nord, was born in 1917. The music talent comes through Sandy who was an accomplished keyboard player.

Born in Trail, B.C., to Sandy and Audrey Nord, Maurie began playing the guitar at age 11. At Maurie's request, his stepfather, Ernest Franklin McQuary, taught him three chords on a 1946 Martin guitar and insisted that he learn them fluently before proceeding to anything more. This, Maurie eagerly did in the privacy of his bedroom, and much to the relief of listeners. At a young age, Maurie began to experiment with writing poetry, but was determined to be a guitar player and STRONGLY declined to sing. However, involvement in church ministry led him to sing "loud" for "old folks" at retirement homes, and this was due to the STRONG prompting of Rev Art Zapparozan, pastor of the Trail Pentecostal Church.

Maurie was raised with the musical influences of his stepfather: Hank Snow, Jimmy Rodgers, Merle Haggard, Marty Robbins and Jim Reeves. He soon added to those artists: Chet Atkins, Doc Watkins, Brian Wilson, The Four Seasons, The Stamps Quartet, The Beatles, Elvis, Andre Segovia, Carlos Montoya, Barbershop Quartets, Jerry Lee Lewis, Jimmy Swaggart, Randy Travis, George Strait, Alan Jackson, Steve Earle and Bob Dylan to mention a few.

Performing experience has been gained through playing in a rock band at age 18, private parties and solo gospel performances in church and on television. Then came training in voice, music theory and experiences in writing, arranging and performing in choirs, mixed and male quartets. In time, Maurie taught himself country, classical and blues guitar, rhythm style piano, accordion, blues harp, five string and tenor banjo.

At age 21, Maurie was training under Kent Bastien as a barber and supported himself throughout his life in this trade but began to practice songwriting at the age of about 25. In 1987, he submitted a demo tape to Comstock Records of Shawnee, Kansas and found to his surprise, that they liked his songs, but twelve years passed before he would discern it to be the right time to proceed with serious recording.

Experience was gained in performing in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Canada. Maurie sang in a duo act called "Moe and the Catfish", where he discovered that he had a talent for entertaining in comedy as well as song. This he did in the pubs, restaurants, golf courses and ski hill of Okanagan Valley, British Columbia.

Meanwhile, he ministered as a gospel soloist in church and polished his country music songwriting craft while supporting himself through his own barbershop - "Happy Days Hair".

At last, in July of 1999, Comstock's Patty Parker produced Maurie's first two songs: "Redneck Feelin' Blue", and "Wanderin' Kind". This was done in Chelsea Studio, Nashville, Tennessee. Maurie always said, "There will come the right time for me to record and it will be with Comstock Records". That time came in 1999, and he says that, "by God's grace and for His glory, these two songs will be very successful and they will lead to many more recordings."

Fluent in English and French, Maurie is married to Darcy Lynn Nord and together they are home schooling their daughter Rachelle Nord, aged 17. They attend the Penticton Vineyard Fellowship, and like one of his most spiritual musical influences, Elvis Presley, Maurie maintains a deep faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is still playing the 1946 Martin guitar recently given to him by his stepfather.

All photographs Gilbert McQuary