Ryan Van Lee Wins Samsung Contest

Ryan Van Lee recently was named as one of three fan favorites in the Samsung True North Tunes Top 3 and while that fame might seem sudden, it represents years of the Haliburton native putting in the work. He beat out 2,000 other singer songwriters in the Samsung True North Tunes Contest recently is sure to give him the much-needed boost to pursue his musical dreams going forward.Van Lee's career to date reads like a movie script. He was born in Haliburton County, raised for many years in West Guilford, or West G as he likes to call it, moved to town, went to school at Hal. High with loving parents Wilfred and Shelley and family who believed in him. In fact, had it not been for his mother catching him playing a toy guitar in his bedroom, Van Lee might not have become the country music artist he is today.Paired with the inspiration he found when his grandmother who took him to see legendary performer Johnny Burke, and you have the makings of a heartwarming story of a homegrown local boy finding success. For him, it's all about taking risks and swinging for the fences.Van Lee sat down with CanoeFM recently to talk about his career to date and the advantages that come with being from a small town.