They're All About You Bart

Bart McKay, a keyboardist who got his start in Portage, was awarded the Canadian Country Music Association's (CCMA) 2010 Recording Studio of the Year Sunday for his recording studio, Bart McKay Productions, located in Saskatoon.

Doc Walker picked up the award for Group of the Year.

On the road back from Edmonton, where the CCMA award ceremony was held, McKay shared his thoughts on becoming part of Canada's country music elite.

"I'm very grateful that people would vote for me, believed in me and think I'm doing a good job," said McKay. "At this point it's more about the people liking the product that's coming out of your studio then anything," he added.

McKay explained that his journey to the top was a good one, starting out in Portage gaining experience from local bands like Double Eagle and other prairie bands like the Johner Brothers out of Saskatchewan.

"I owe a lot to my mentors," said McKay, touching on how recording with bands like the Johner Brothers gave him knowledge about the recording business - eventually enabling him to open up his own studio.

McKay said after recording a Johner Brothers album, more requests from other musicians started to present themselves and because of the solid work being done at Bart McKay productions, they didn't stop.

"It seemed like if you did a good job you would get another project," said McKay.

"I just hope it leads to longevity for me in the business and that I can keep doing it .... It's gratifying for sure to know that people believe in you, but there are a lot of great people doing the same thing as I am," he said.

According to Sheila Hamilton, executive director of the CCMA, the process behind winning these awards is a long one.

CCMA members first nominate candidates for the awards starting in May and then after three rounds of voting the winners are announced in September, said Hamilton.

"What they're looking for is high quality in the studio, that he produces top country acts and good quality music," said Hamilton. "(Members) had to go through three levels of voting to get to the top five nominees, so they're the cream of the crop," she said.