Russell Bennett

Russell Bennett

Russell Bennett

Willie P. Bennett didn’t have a huge fan base. But every single fan he did have counted Willie as a friend. Not because they knew him personally, although many did. Rather, most felt Willie had spoken to them personally through at least one of his songs.

Bennett came of musical age during the mid-1970s, releasing his first album, Trying to Start Out Clean, in 1975. He followed that up with 2 of his finest solo outings. Hobo’s Taunt, released in 1977, featured such Willie P. classics as C’mon Train and Lace and Pretty Flowers, while 1978 saw the release of Blackie and the Rodeo King.

Since then, he played just about everywhere a guy with a guitar and a song could play in Canada - From folk festival stages to community centres, seedy bars to intimate theatres.