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Biography... |
Errol, Wally, Don
1970's
Errol "C-Weed" Ranville
1978 |
Family Roots....
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Born in Ste. Rose du Lac, Manitoba on August 1, 1953 to parents Emile and Mary Catherine Ranville; Errol Sydney was the 8th of 12 children. Errol was a natural entertainer, taking to the stage, guitar in hand, at the early age of 8. Although a shy youngster, Errol discovered confidence while on stage driven, ijn part, by his God-given gift of music.
Several of Errol's siblings became talented musicians and or vocalists - Brian, Stirling, Delphine, Randy, Wally and Don. All of the them, including Errol are self-taught instrumentalists. Errol credits his earliest music mentors to the likes of the Carter family, Bob Dylan, and the Beatles. Somewhere along the way Errol gained the family nickname "C-Weed", and the rest is "history" as they say!  Forming his first band in 1965 while only in high school, C-Weed & the Weeds, the name later changed to simply, the C-Weed Band. Comprising of Errol & siblings Wally and Don, the musical journey began...
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Did you know....
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| C-Weed was nominated for Canadian Juno Awards for the songs Magic in the Music & Run as One in 1985,1986 & 2000 |
| Errol received a "Lifetime Achievement Award" from the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards (CAMA) in 2004 |
| Errol founded the Aboriginal Music Program (AMP) at the Manitoba Audio Recording Industry Association (MARIA) in 2004 |
| Errol produced the Aboriginal Music Juno-fest Showcase in Winnipeg, in 2005 in conjunction with the Juno Awards |
| The CD "Run as One" has sold over 100,000 copies since its release |
| Errol was inducted into the "Manitoba Aboriginal Music Hall of Fame" in 2005 |
| Errol was the Executive Producer for the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards (APCMA's) and the Manito ahbee festival in Winnipeg, in 2006 & 2007 |
| The CD "Hey!" sold over 3500 copies within the first 3 months of its release |
| Errol was nominated for the "Excellence in Aboriginal Business Leadership" Award in 2007 |
| Is the founder and president of cweedband.com Ltd., which, in conjunction with CDPlus, Newcap Radio and APTN, is the largest distributor of aboriginal artists'music in the country. |
C-Weed
Beauval, SK - 1984
C-Weed (2nd from L) was inducted in 2004 into the Manitoba Aboriginal Music Hall of Fame located at NCI Radio, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
C-Weed
Winnipeg, MB - 2007
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#1 and beyond....
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In 1980 the C-Weed Band, still an unknown, stunned the Country Music world upon the release of Robbie Robertson's song Evangeline, on Errol's first album, "The Finest You Can Buy". The song quickly rose to # 1 on the Canadian Country Radio charts, and marks the beginning of C-Weed Band popularity.
Brian Ranville, older sibling to the boys played an instrumental role in creating publicity and C-Weed Band "hype" during that initial period where the band was still unknown. Errol refers to Brian as the "Spindoctor" who worked tirelessly to promote the band, simply recognizing that the C-Weed Band not only had amazing talent and star power, but believing that these young, fearless aboriginal men could shatter barriers in the music industry ...........he was right! With several of their songs being played on mainstream radio, C-Weed Band blazed across Canada and the U.S. in their own tour bus, show after show, year after year, gaining new fans and popularity wherever they played. |
So much more....
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Two years later the C-Weed band struck gold again as the song High and Dry, written by Jagger-Richards, also went #1 on the Country Music charts. Now wanting to write his own music, Errol recorded several albums (and continues to) using his own penmanship. Magic in the Music was nominated for a Juno Award in 1985 & 1986.
In 1987, several albums later, the now well-known Ranville brothers parted ways. Errol continued to record as a solo artist. Errol also tried his hand at the night club business in Winnipeg, then Edmonton, Saskatoon, and for a short time in Thunder Bay, operating under the name "C-Weed's Cabaret". The concept was to give Aboriginal bands a place to showcase their music.
In 1988 Errol released the first of a few solo albums, A Tribute to Southern Rock, along with a video to accompany the song Old Rodeo Cowboys. The video aired on MuchMusic. In 1998 Errol created a new C-Weed Band, and in 2000 released the CD "Run as One". 
Errol wrote and recorded the song (by the same name) Run As One using traditional Aboriginal drumming and chanting, which even today brings a C-Weed audience to their feet.
The song, acclaimed by many as the "Aboriginal Anthem" of the century with catchy guitar hook and heartfeld lyrics, drew a Juno nomination in 2001.
Errol returned to Manitoba
in 2002.
Errol began working for the Province of Manitoba in Dec of 2003. He
then moved to the Manitoba
Audio Recording Industry Association ( MARIA ) to develop the Aboriginal
Music Program (AMP) from April 2004 'til December 2005.
Errol served as Executive Producer for Manito Ahbee, and the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards in 2006 & 2007, in which he created highly successful, internationally acclaimed shows.
In April 2005 Errol was inducted into the Aboriginal Hall of Fame by Eric Robinson, Minister of Culture, Heritage, Tourism & Sport and NCI General Manager Dave McLeod.
Inductees Ernest Monias, Errol Ranville, Ray St.Germain,
Lucille Starr & the late Len Fairchild
- April 2005 |
Errol is the founder/president of cweedband.com Ltd., a stage show production company as well as an established major distributor of aboriginal artists' music. For more information about cweedband.com distribution, please see CDPlus. For inquiries about booking a stage show, please see Bookings. Errol currently divides his time between his home in Manitoba, Canada and a condo in Huatulco, Mexico with his wife Marcie and his boxer Max.
Errol's latest CD release, "Magic in the Music", a greatest hits cd, released May 21, 2010, is anticipated yo be the best C-Weed seller yet..... |
China - 2004
RANVILLE ROAD |
There is a lovely new neighbourhood in Winnipeg, Manitoba called Sage Creek, which runs off Lagimodiere, just south of Bishop Grandin Blvd. There is a street that has been named "Ranville Road" and here is the explanation of the street name, as written on the Sage Creek website :
In 1940, Emile and Mary Ranville moved to St. Boniface with their 12 children. They were involved in the establishment of the Indian and Métis Friendship Centre in Winnipeg in 1958 and were founding members of the Manitoba Métis Federation in 1967. They remained actively involved with both organizations until their deaths.
Several of their children were musically-talented and in 1980, The C-Weed band, consisting of Wally, Don and Errol Ranville, became the first Aboriginal artists in Manitoba to have a number one song nationally. They were also nominated for Juno awards in 1985, 1986 and 2001.
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