Updated: 1999/10/11
"All over the map"! . . . . . There's no better way to describe the life and music of Dennis Lakusta.
Like the proverbial rolling stone, Dennis hit the pavement running and his songs are a reflection of many years spent upon the road less traveled. Blessed with a strong survival instinct and a good sense of humour, he was able to raise himself out of the "ashes of the sixties" and his ability to turn things around has further added to the depth and immediacy of his lyrics.
Dennis was born 1946 in Edmonton, Alberta and his earliest musical influences were the pure country and western sounds of Wilf Carter, Kitty Wells, Hank Snow and Hank Williams. Dennis bought his first guitar in 1969 during the "boom" in folk music and includes Gordon Lightfoot, John Prine and Bob Dylan as his influences during that period. today in the late nineties he listens to the likes of Richard Thompson, Paul Gerimiah, and Taj Mahal.
As a songwriter Dennis generally stays true to his gypsy roots, drawing upon a wealth of inspiration from a wide berth of subjects, which include working for three major railway companies and living and traveling for many years in Europe, the United States and Mexico. But the subject closest to his heart is his aboriginal roots and the perspective he gained from his Metis ancestry. It is the power of this bloodline that compels Dennis to create his deepest and most passionate work, entwining native chanting and haunting harmonies with the simple stories of Canada's aboriginal people.
Dennis's own grandparents were both survivors of the native residential school system in Alberta.
"Crowchild" is Dennis's third recording and its emphasis is on the celebration of this country's distinct aboriginal culture, which includes the first nations, the Inuit and the Metis. The world as seen through the eyes of a child, is a theme that pervades much of Dennis's work. The title track from "Crowchild" best represents the spirit of this album. Included on this CD are some of Canada's top folk musicians. From Edmonton: Chris Smith, Shannon Johnson, Luann Kowaluk and Casey Peden. From Calgary: John Hyde and Dwayne Neufeld. From Vancouver Island: Ken Hamm, Tammy Fassaert and Nancy Taylor and from Ottawa: Ron Bankley.
Dennis presently divides his time between Vancouver Island and central Alberta, working as a visual artist. He can be reached at (780) 465-2777 in Alberta or (250) 477-6844 in Victoria.
>From See Magazine -->>
Over three decades, Lakusta has honed his voice to a soulful tool, with a definite likeness to Ian Tyson but with more range. His lyrical originality is at par with any folk songwriter across the land and his countrified musical sense, as presented on "Run With You", is little short of genius. The album takes you through Lakusta's childhood in southern Alberta's Métis community, along the train tracks of North America, to a Lenny Breau gig at Edmonton's The Hovel and various gigs at the Sidetrack Café, and on to the newly-opened casinos of Ontario, all to the backdrop of a carefully kept-in-check country twang.