"It's just been kind of, like, reborn,'' band founder Hollis Brown said this week, still tickled to have received an e-mail from a new fan in Kitchener who had purchased the album at her local HMV.

It's not unheard of for a local musician to go this far, but how many don't even start their careers until their into their fourth decade?

"I'm going to turn 49 on March 26, so it's crazy,'' says Brown.

In fact, Brown didn't even take up the six-string until he was 41. His late blooming is understandable, the result of a crystal meth addiction that Brown conquered in 1988. Coming out with his story has inspired many, leading to speaking engagements quite apart from the band work. Brown's message applies equally to music and recovery:

"It's never too late, and you're never too old, and if I did it, you can do it too.''

Brown got his biggest boost in the music industry when he met Tom Cochrane and Red Ryder guitarist Kenny Greer. Greer agreed to produce This Is It. Suddenly, Brown went from music listener to music maker.

The first single, Why Baby Why, was championed by hometown radio station Rock 102 and got spins across the country. When the band Staggered Crossing came to town, Brown traded CDs and won another ally in Julian Taylor, a member of Staggered Crossing and Bent Penny Records

"One thing led to another,'' says Brown. "It's amazing. I have to pinch myself that we actually got distribution."

Bent Penny now represents Tango Sierra nationally for marketing, publicity and distribution through MapleNationWide and Universal Music.

"Universal's personnel in all major and many secondary markets coast to coast will help give Tango Sierra's CD This Is It the retail exposure it deserves,'' Bent Penny says.

Released nationally at the end of February, This Is It is now making playlists with the latest single Just A Man. In fact, Montreal's CHOM is doing a half-hour feature on the band on Sunday, playing five songs.

"We never expected this amount of success. Any success you get in this industry is good,'' says Brown.

"I don't know what to think of it. There are so many good artists out there. There's an incredible amount of talent in this city.''

Brown is not one to lose perspective, not about to quit his job selling cars. And he's not interested in fame as much as simply having people hear his music.

"I'm not into the whole rock star persona thing at all.''

Friday's show at the Odeon features Greg Hargarten's Ricasso, a natural choice since Hargarten did the graphic design on This is It. Hargarten has reason to celebrate as well; his song Suck It Up was a finalist in the recent Canadian Radio Star National Songwriting Competition.