Carrying ON A Legacy

The sultry summer heat of 2017 was a catalyst for a meeting destined to happen. Kennie Henderson and Harley Whitehead, and their other bandmates, were on a collision course with Richie Cudmore and his bandmates, and Low Budget Rock Star was born with a grand purpose—to save rock and roll! The small and mighty three-piece band of Henderson (guitar, vocals), Whitehead (bass) and Cudmore (drums) from Opaskwayak Cree Nation (The Pas, Manitoba) set the airwaves ablaze before their whole world crumbled.

After Cudmore’s cancer diagnosis, the three friends wrote a worst-case scenario “what-if” song expressing their fears of losing him. Would they find themselves thrust into the unknown streets of Winnipeg, Manitoba, feeling lost, tired and alone? What would they do without their friend? Sadly, this was not a hypothetical scenario. Richie Cudmore passed away in July 2022 at the age of 58, just before the release of the band's single “More Than Ever”.

Called "prophets of our time" and "saints of the north," by publicist Eric Alper, their gritty, down-to-earth flair with a pop-rock sound has become their calling card, but how do you cope with the loss of your friend, as well as a founding member and the steady pulse of your band?

We pay tribute to Richie Cudmore, his life, impact and achievements. With a larger than life personality, a love of the lake and hockey, Richard Cudmore’s greatest passion was his family and his music. A father, husband and dear friend to many, Richie will be greatly missed but never forgotten as he leaves a legacy of musical and poetic greatness for others to aspire to. SAY Magazine recently reached out to his bandmates to find out more

Tabout what the future holds for Low Budget Rock Star. First, they say, reality needs some time to take root, and this may not happen right away. "Often it finally hits you in your quiet space—away from busy schedules and the demands of life," says Henderson. "When this happens, there is no option but to grieve."

Remembering plays a large part in grieving this loss. Remembering, with gratitude, what Richie brought to their lives and being humbled by the honour it was to have had him in their lives. Each of them has had their share of personal traumas, and music is the outlet that provides comfort and improves their mental health. Spiritually, Henderson and Whitehead have their own forms of prayer and use them to provide stability in their minds, bodies and spirits.

There is a road ahead that will be more lonely since the loss of their dear friend, but they will honour his memory by continuing with their shared dreams: to bring music to music lovers far and wide, and use music as a medium to help others in their dark times, whether it’s by watching a live performance or hearing a song on the radio. Low Budget Rock Star aims to capture the spirit of the listener and impact their lives in the same way Richie impacted theirs.

Know your Audience

Having a very narrow audience does not have to be a bad thing; it means you can target the people who truly want your product. How would you describe your audience? What is their age? Income? Marital status? The smaller your market is, the better acquainted with them you need to be. Think relational as opposed to transactional.