Three years ago Vancouver musician and songwriter Bodhi Jones was confused as to how to make his mark on the Canadian music scene.

"So I thought, maybe if I stand on a corner and sing my heart out good things will happen," the 29-year-old Jones told the Courier this week.

And sing he does, at the corner of Robson and Howe streets where he can be found five days a week from 2 to 6 p.m.

To gain exposure, the young busker entered several local music competitions and will perform and compete at the Red Robinson Talent Show at the Pacific National Exhibition, which opens tomorrow (Aug. 21) at 11 a.m. and runs through Sept. 6. The adult semi-final division Jones is competing in takes place on the PNE's main stage Aug 24. The youth semi-finals take place Aug. 22, while the kids compete for a spot in the finals Aug. 23. The finals for all divisions take place Aug. 25. The winner of the adult division receives $5,000.

Jones took part in the PNE talent show in 2003 as part of a band that didn't win. So he decided to go solo. Now he sings his own original pop-alternative songs accompanied by percussionist Lachlan Taylor.

Jones thought he'd found his big break when American music producer Don Gilmore heard him performing on the street in 2004. Gilmore is famous for producing albums with Canadian singer Avril Lavigne, Linkin Park and Good Charlotte. That meeting led to a three-year co-publishing deal with U.S.-based Mercury Records, but Jones said when the economy took a turn for the worse, the man who hired him lost his job and the contract fizzled out. "But they did give me a $30,000 advance that kept me going," said Jones, who was raised on Saltspring Island.

In 2009, Jones was selected as Virgin Radio's B.C. artist of the month and was voted into The Peak radio station's Peak Performance Project's top 20. He was also chosen to perform for pay during the 2010 Olympic Games at the Vancouver Athlete's Village and Whistler Village.

Jones is planning his first cross-Canada tour this fall in support of his soon-to-be-released third CD. He said the PNE is an ideal place to showcase his music. On average on the street, Jones sells between 15 and 25 CDs per day at $10 each. His record for CD sales in one day while busking is 50.

"I play good honest songs that I write from the heart," he said. "People of all ages seem to like that."

In celebration of the PNE's 100th anniversary, for the first time in years a street parade takes place off the fair grounds. Tonight's (Aug. 20) parade begins in Stanley Park at 7 p.m. and follows Beach Avenue to Sunset Beach.

The Fair's opening ceremony takes place at noon tomorrow, Aug. 21, at the concert stage. This year's special guests include Dal Richards, Lisa Brokop and Red Robinson. KC Bear's Street Party starts at 12:30 p.m. and the Superdogs begin their first performance of the fair at 1 p.m. The On The Edge motorsports show takes place at 1:30 p.m. and the West Coast Lumberjack Show starts at 2 p.m. Admission is free Sunday, Aug. 22, from 9 a.m. until noon.

sthomas@vancourier.com