Rocklands Entertainment, an entertainment promoter originated in Peterborough, is celebrating 40 years of entertainment management and concert promotion in Canada and 25 years in the U.S.

Owner Brian Edwards founded the company as a 17-year-old in Peterborough in August 1980 as Rocklands Talent and Management. He was considered to be the youngest licensed entertainment booking agent ever in North America at the time.

Over the years Rocklands has handled concert management and promotion of acts such as Red Green, Tommy Hunter, Charley Pride, Frank Mills, Carroll Baker, Kitty Wells, Johnny and Bobby Wright, Mickey Gilley, Roger Whittaker, Rita MacNeil, George Jones, Tammy Wynette and the late Stompin’ Tom Connors.

“It all started by working in Peterborough back when I was an assistant to local Peterborough disc jockey, ‘Sunshine’ Sean Eyre,” Edwards stated in a news release.

“I started working with Sean when I was 15. One thing led to another and it soon became apparent that working with live entertainment was my calling. The odds at 17 were all stacked against me getting a booking licence, but the right people pulled all the right strings and made it happen.”

Rocklands Entertainment ranks in the Top 100 promoters in the world chart by Pollstar Magazine, according to the release.

The company has promoted more than 5,000 shows and more than 100 entertainers and continues to arrange performances all over North America.

Rocklands has also branched out overseas with shows in Australia and Scotland.

A recent Red Green tour across the United States placed Rocklands in the Top 100 tours of the week, three weeks in a row, the release states.

Edwards and former Examiner managing editor and book writer Ed Arnold are in the process of releasing a book later this year sharing 40 years of memories of Rockland Entertainment.

Like most other entertainment promoters, Rocklands Entertainment events have been halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the company plans to hit the road as soon as it safe to do so and will make future tour announcements, the release states.

Tributes have been coming in to Rocklands from many of the acts booked by Edwards over the years.

“Congratulations to Brian and all the Rocklands crew for 40 great years,” Charley Pride stated. “Brian and I have been friends for most of those years and I have always enjoyed working with the Rocklands folks.”

“Our association goes back for over 40 years,” Tommy Hunter stated. “We have done over 500 shows together and it was all on a handshake. Rocklands, you are the reason for my success… Thank you!”

“The kindest, most considerate, most decent and most relentlessly honest person to ever work in the field of entertainment,” stated Steve Smith Jr., who performs as Red Green.

“Brian Edwards ably assisted by John Lester and staff operate a very tidy no BS business where getting things done is a way of life,” stated Frank Mills.

“Brian’s motto is simple, and I quote “ Get off your arse and let ’er rip “ reaffirming his no nonsense approach to making every step of the way right and taking care of things when not right. We have had a wonderful and profitable relationship for most of Rocklands 40 years.”

“This I can say without hesitation… I have “not” met many promoters/agents/managers who have maintained such long-lasting relationships with their clients as Brian Edwards has managed to do,” stated Carroll Baker.

“I have total respect for Brian Edwards and his work ethic. As a person, I feel so fortunate to call him my friend. Congratulations Brian Edwards, and to everyone at Rocklands Entertainment. I am looking forward to working with you in the future and many more years of our friendship. Your friend always!”

“I had the pleasure of working with Brain Edwards in Canada. The tour was successful for us yours truly and I hope it was successful for him,” stated Mickey Gilley.

“I would like to congratulate Brian and his beautiful wife for their success and to many more years with Rocklands Entertainment.”

“As a young artist, I was able to cut my teeth and learn so many important lessons in country music thanks to the opportunities Brian Edwards and Rocklands Entertainment provided me,” stated Brett Kissel.

“Some of my greatest memories were sharing the stage as an opening act for the greatest legends in our genre, and I will be forever grateful for those moments. As I matured as an entertainer, started winning awards, and enjoyed having hits of my own, I looked back fondly on the experiences I had with Brian, and still take a moment today to acknowledge how lucky I was to learn from the icons — Brian being one of them.

“You do not thrive for 40 years in this extremely difficult business unless you are the best of the best. Rocklands Entertainment, and my friend, Brian Edwards are the best.”