BARRIE TODAY article by NIKKI COLE

August 18, 2025

They say music brings people together — and that couldn’t be more true than for Oro-Medonte couple Ralph and Pat Guinn, who spend their days performing together for local seniors.

The local couple first met more than 40 years ago when they were set up on a blind date by friends. 

During the date, they connected over their love of music — Ralph, a guitar player, had been playing music since he was a teenager, while Pat often played for her kindergarten students and ran the school choir.

After years of playing in bar bands, Ralph decided to make a change, opting instead to create a trio called Pot of Gold. After a few years of working during the day — she as a teacher and him working for a local plumbing supply manufacturer — and performing at night, the trio decided to call it quits, but they knew they wouldn’t be out of the spotlight for long.

Several years later, after having performed for a family member’s birthday at a Barrie senior’s facility, the couple received a call from staff asking if they would come in and put on a show for all of the residents, they told BarrieToday. It was from there that The Paraguinns were officially born.

Since then, Pat and Ralph have been performing together in retirement homes across Simcoe County.

Each show, said Ralph, is one hour long and includes a different musical theme.

“We used to take our black binder, and as many songs as we could get done in the hour … but it got boring,” said Pat, noting the book was organized alphabetically, which means they typically found themselves singing the same songs over and over.

That has since changed, she said, adding they now have multiple binders filled with different types of music, and they switch it up every month to help keep things “fresh”.

“We do a lot of medleys. That way you only have to learn a little bit of the song,” she said, adding they really enjoy being able to interact with their audience. “As much as we can, we put in songs that they can sing along with.”

After multiple inquiries by audience members as to where they could listen to their music after the show, the couple decided it was finally time to record their first album. After about a year in the making, The Paraguinns officially released their first CD, which includes a combination of the covers they perform during their shows as well as a few originals. 

Included is a song Ralph wrote called 'The Simcoe County Song,' which he wrote after realizing that nothing had been created celebrating the region.

“I’ve heard songs about some of the places … but nothing about the county at large,” he said. “It seems to be (getting) quite popular.”

The experience in the studio was unique, they acknowledge, pointing out everything related to the making of the CD — from recording the music, to the insert, and even the CD itself — was done locally.

“It was interesting because we had to record the instrumentation, and then we sang vocally, by listening to the instrumentation. I wasn’t expecting that. I am very auditory, so that for me was a challenge,” said Pat. 

“It was definitely a bit strange. I am used to playing and singing, and now all of a sudden I am not playing … but it actually helped,” Ralph added.

Now, a full year later, being able to physically hand someone a copy of the music is exciting, they say. 

“The fact that people want them (the CD) is nice. We were playing in a long-term care home and a gentleman came up and wanted to buy a CD to give to a friend who lived there. Every time someone wants one, it’s a story,” he said.

It’s also a nice gift to leave for their grandchildren, they acknowledge.

“They want the hard copy, even if they don’t have a CD player,” she said. “It’s very heartwarming that they care that much.”

While they don’t expect chart-topping success, the couple is happy to continue performing together, and simply hope that the thing that brings so much joy to their own lives — music — will continue to bring joy to others.

“We like to put smiles on the hearts of the people that we play for. That is the main focus for our music,” said Ralph.