Balladeer and actor John Gogo hails from a musical family in Snuneymuxw (a.k.a. Nanaimo) on Vancouver Island. Best known for writing and performing his folk songs about the people and places, the true and tall tales of the West Coast, John produced his sixth full-length album, Western Balladeer.

The wistful “Cougar Annie” was inspired by Western Canadian legendary pioneer Ada Annie Rae-Arthur. The homesteader carved out a five-acre garden in the wilderness, ran a successful nursery, post office and general store while raising 11 children. She became known as Cougar Annie after word got around about her shooting around 70 cougars and countless bears that had threatened her kids and garden. 

One of the aspects of Ada Annie’s life that intrigues me was that she outlived four husbands. My story of her is sung in the form of a letter written from the perspective of a potential suitor. With just vocal, guitar and Appalachian dulcimer, along with my daughters Jena and Jeri’s background vocals, I tried to give the song a reclusive intimacy. Recorded at my home on Protection Island, the dulcimer track was played by my friend and neighbour Rick Scott, of the legendary West Coast band Pied Pumkin. On that very day, a cougar made its way over to the island!  – John Gogo