Bob Rycroft performing one of nearly 600 classic hits he has recorded since April (Photo: Bob Rycroft / YouTube)

By Shaun Penner

Singing away the COVID blues

Former Alberta mayor nears 600 songs recorded during pandemic

Jan 13, 2021 | 7:30 PM

A former mayor of the northern Alberta town of Sexsmith has been taking to YouTube to sing away the COVID blues.

It started as a small tribute to one of his favourite singers and now, Bob Rycroft has performed and recorded close to 600 classic songs since the spring of 2020 following a plethora of requests from friends and family. These have since been posted to both YouTube and Facebook.

Rycroft, who is retired and lives with his wife Jean in Clairmont nowadays, says it all began when he learned of the passing of country music star John Prine back in April. He says he wanted to honour the late singer by performing the song “Speed of the Sound of Loneliness”

“I sang it and put it (online), and all of a sudden my kids started to phone me and they wanted their wedding songs on, and other people wanted their wedding songs on.”

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Rycroft, at that point, told himself he would record about 20 songs.

“I keep asking the people if they want me to quit,” Rycroft teased. “But, they like them.”

Rycroft, who resides at Lakeview Seniors Home, says he’s enjoyed performing and that it has given him something to focus on and look forward to during the pandemic.

“Bobby”, as many know him by, turned 80 just this past month. He adds he suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a disease that affects his breathing.

“I’ve got COPD really bad, but I can sing. I can’t walk much more than 100 feet, but I can holler. I can sing,” added Rycroft. “That’s what keeps me going.”

The list of classic hits he has put his spin on ranges from Hank Williams Sr. to Tom Jones and many artists in between. Rycroft says he is willing to try most any request sent his way.

“Mostly country and western, though,” he says.

Rycroft says memorizing song lyrics has never been his strong suit, but the rhythm and beat of songs that strike him are hard to shake.

“If I hear a melody I like, I can keep that in my brain,” said Rycroft. “I can probably go back and start from the first song and do them all over again without too much trouble.”

After serving on town council in Sexsmith over a lenghty span (most recently as Mayor from 2000-2006) and serving on many community boards and committees over his career in Sexsmith, Rycroft is no stranger to putting in lots of work for what he’s passionate about.

That’s why he says he is more than willing to keep taking requests from anyone interested.

“I said I would keep going as long as COVID-19 was going,” said Rycroft. “I’ve hit 600 (songs) now, and then I am going to start over again and do my favorites.”

Rycroft’s playlist can be found on his YouTube channel, as well as his Facebook page.

(everythingGP)