Born and raised in Dewberry, Alta., Karac Hendriks, 33, always knew from a young age that music was his passion and would always be a part of his life.
Over the years he's refined a knack for turning simple words into inspirational lyrics and melodies that linger in the memory long after the tunes are sung.
Hendriks was mostly an unknown quantity in St. Albert until this week when he displayed his star power at the 2012 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games.
The Edmonton-based singer-songwriter wrote an uplifting, country-infused theme song for the games. Feel the Magic was unveiled Monday at the Good Buddies Blues Band concert fundraiser at North Pointe Community Church.
But it was at the Games' opening ceremonies on Tuesday with an enthusiastic crowd of about 2,000 spectators that the song's powerful message really shone.
"The crowd was electric all night long. They really loved the song. They were up on their feet singing along and the athletes really loved it," says Jennifer Forest of the events and hospitality committee.
Forest had worked with Hendriks in his day job at the city of Edmonton's property assessment department and was aware that, with an endless supply of energy, he had performed at the Grey Cup, the Brier and the Continental Cup.
She invited Hendriks first to perform and then suggested he write an original song.
"He said he'd take a stab and we were thrilled," she said. "He even included our theme 'Just as Bold, Here For the Gold' as a line. We lucked out that he has the ability and the willingness to do it. That special touch of his made it such a special event."
Musical destiny
Hendriks' musical destiny was almost predetermined after his parents named him after the late son of Robert Plant, Led Zeppelin's lead vocalist. The five-year old Karac Pendragon contracted a virus and died. The Led Zeppelin song All My Love is dedicated to him.
Born into a singing family where any large gathering morphed into a musical kitchen party, the Hendriks won his first singing contest at four. By the time he was six, Hendriks' great-grandpa Chester gave him his old mandolin and taught him a few chords.
"It was destroyed in a flood, but I still have the pieces. It wasn't a collector's item. But it was very old and very sentimental," says Hendriks who so far has collected about a dozen Eastwood guitars – special reissue and bizarre replica instruments from the '50s and '60s.
After graduating with a business administration diploma from Lakeland College, Hendriks moved to Edmonton in 2001. Upon arriving here he hooked up professionally with Tara Lee, a morning show DJ at the once popular country radio station Big Earl. Hendriks' father had been Lee's drummer. She returned the favour by giving junior a leg up in the local music scene.
In spreading his wings, Hendriks has played with numerous Canadian musicians, including country icon Ronnie Prophet.
"He's a legend, one of the best this country has produced. I missed his heyday, but having Ronnie Prophet phone me to set up shows was a real honour," Hendriks said.
And just lately, he completed a stint as a member of Gord Bamford's band, playing guitar and singing backup vocals.
"Here I was singing hits with an artist that wrote and recorded them. Ronnie Prophet was a bit of a showman and he often played other people's hits. Gord is a current artist. He's contemporary and at the top of his game."
Hendriks started writing songs at 14 and in between his supporting gigs he's pulled out his trusty pencil and jotted down lyrics and melodies. As he's grown musically, so have his songs.
"At first as a teen you make up or you use your imagination. As you get older, you tap into your experiences," he said. "As you get older, you feel the ability to let it out. You are less inhibited. It's risky to put yourself out there."
Feel the Magic has become a pinnacle moment for him.
"You write a song and you hope it will have a special meaning for the athletes and the families. Now that Feel the Magic has been written and recorded and put out there, I find it speaks to me in anything we do. If we feel passionate about something, we have to go for what we want and let it happen. And I hope that's what the athletes take from it."
If you want to see more of Hendriks, he's just joined the Adam Gregory band as guitarist and backup vocalist. In February 2012 the Nashville-based Gregory released his new album, Different Places. He'll be returning to Alberta to promote the album this month.
A clip of Feel the Magic is available on YouTube.
