'Meant the whole world': Local musician's guitar stolen from his truck
A local musician is pleading to get his favourite guitar back after it was stolen from inside his truck last weekend.
Kelly Bourdages, Trick Ryder's band leader, was gifted a 1964 red Telecaster by Canadian country legend Big George Moody more than 40 years ago.
"I always loved that guitar, and I always wanted that guitar, and he made sure that I got it," Bourdages told CTV News Edmonton. "It's been my main guitar."
"That guitar meant the whole world to me," he said.
Bourdages says he usually keeps his equipment locked up. On Saturday evening, he returned home after a gig, felt tired, and figured his guitar would be okay for the night.
"I just didn't think nothing of it," Bourdages said. "I thought one night shouldn't matter I guess."
Canadian country legend Big George Moody plays a red 1964 Telecaster that Kelly Bourdages now owns (Supplied).
"One lapse of judgement left it in the truck overnight, and wow," he added.
The next morning, his neighbour shared how her vehicle was broken into overnight.
"I looked (at mine), and I was like, oh my goodness," Bourdages said. "My heart hit my throat."
After decades of touring, that guitar has become a part of Bourdages — who even has it tattooed on his left shoulder.
"I wanted something that was going to stay forever," he said. "That represented me, and that was my red guitar, my red Telecaster."
"That's how much I love the guitar," he added. "That tattoo's been with me for many years as well."
Kelly Bourdages even has a tattoo of his beloved red 1964 Telecaster (CTV News Edmonton/Jeremy Thompson).
While he has other guitars, Bourdages says none of them have the same history and feel.
"It's a special guitar," he said. "It's got special pick-ups in it. This thing's been hot-rodded for what I needed it for."
The musician has filed a police report, and local pawn shops and music stores have been informed about it. There's even a cash reward for 'ol red's safe return.
"I just appeal to the public," Bourdages said. "If somebody knows where this guitar is."
"Look in your heart, no questions asked. Somehow get it back. Whether you want to drop it off with the police or anywhere. I need that guitar back. It's my life."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Person on fire outside Trump's hush money trial rushed away on a stretcher
A person who was on fire in a park outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump’s hush money trial is taking place has been rushed away on a stretcher.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Tropical fish stolen from Beachburg, Ont. restaurant found and returned
Ontario Provincial Police have landed a suspect following a fishy theft in Beachburg, Ont.
U.S. FAA launches investigation into unauthorized personnel in cockpit of Colorado Rockies flight to Toronto
The U.S.’s Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a video that appears to show unauthorized personnel in the cockpit of a charted Colorado Rockies flight to Toronto.