Go With The Flo: Gordie Sampson’s mom releases debut album at the age of 78

Cape Breton musician Flo Sampson shows off her first album, "Go With the Flo." (Darryl Reeves/CTV News Atlantic)

Cape Breton performer Flo Sampson has been surrounded by music her entire life, from raising Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Gordie Sampson, to becoming an East Coast Music Awards (ECMA) favourite with her annual showcases.

Now she’s marking another musical milestone with the release of her first album, “Go With The Flo.”

“(It’s) a compilation CD of all the older songs that I used to play when I was a very young girl and some of the musicians that are on the CD are actually affiliated with it because they’re people who had a huge influence in my life,” she told CTV News Atlantic’s Darryl Reeves.

“The CD consists of a few of the older tunes, but favourites of mine, and musicians, of course, were very important in my choice.”

Sampson says she made sure to have her family involved in the album as much as possible, with her daughter, son and granddaughter all featured.

“This album is special to me, well number one because I took so many years to decide to do it. I am 78 years of age, I’ve been thinking about this CD for a very long time,” she said.

“I spoke to Fred Lavery about 15 years ago at one of the bars at ECMA and I mentioned it to him, and he was so encouraging and he said, ‘It has to get done.’”

Sampson says music has always inspired her, and her father, well-known Cape Breton fiddler Bernie Ley, taught her everything she knows, beginning when she was 11.

“(He) threw me in the ring at that age in front of 250 people and from there it was all uphill. I never regretted it to see the joy that we were bringing them and the smiles on their faces really did something for my heart,” she said.

Sampson still stays busy with various performances and has been involved in the ECMAs for years with her “Flo-cases.”

“It’s a late night where all the musicians who have performed in the various concerts kind of (get together) to relieve them of their stresses, to come around the piano and they play or don’t play, it doesn’t matter, and it’s just one big jam session,” she explained.

Sampson hopes those who listen to her new album will hear its versatility.

“The musicians are widespread, not only in how they play, but their instruments, so I have violins, I have banjo, I’ve guitar, I have bass, I have drums, I included just about everything that I could possibly do so that there would be something on the CD for everyone,” she said.

She also hopes “Go With The Flo” will inspire others.

“If somebody is considering at my age or older even to release their very first CD, I would suggest put your ideas out there because everybody has to remember it’s not only a CD full of your music, but it’s a legacy that’s history of your life and those songs – just go with the flow!”

With files from CTV News Atlantic’s Darryl Reeves

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page