Features

Dave Charles – Still Rockin’ Radio After All These Years

Submitted by cashbox on Fri, 03/15/2013 - 00:18
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Submitted by Sandy Graham

Dave Charles talks with the enthusiasm of a teenager, which is what he was over 4 decades ago when he first started out as a young disc jockey at CJBQ (Belleville) in the news department, circa 1964. This enthusiasm is what gave the station the faith to give this young music fan his own show, and so the romance between Dave Charles and radio began.

‘Back then dances were a great way for Canadian bands to get new fans and it was a great way to meet our listeners and get ‘out there’. My first pay cheque in radio was $37.00 and I got it up to a whopping  $55.00. Running these shows in the arena sometimes brought in $ 2,000.00 a week. Connecting with the fans and bands. It was the beginning of my love for Canadian music. I got to book Mandala, David Clayton Thomas, JB and the Playboys, MG & The Escorts, you name them, I probably had the pleasure of booking them.’

Charles also played 50% CANCON on the radio station, long before the CRTC made in mandatory.  A true champion of the true north, his dedication to finding these records and playing them earned the station in Belleville the nickname ‘Belleville – the Capitol of Canadian Music’.

‘I was at the right place at the right time. I had the pleasure of working with and playing bands on the air like The Stampeders, The Staccatos (Five Man Electrical Band) Chad Allan & The Guess Who. I started to send RPM Weekly our charts, and Stan and Walt used them to gauge what was going on out there. If you sent me your single, everybody got a shot.’

Go Green In Celebration of St. Patrick’s Day

Submitted by cashbox on Thu, 03/07/2013 - 16:11
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Submitted by Sandy Graham

Cover Photo Credit: William C. Smith

In 1847, over 100,000 Irish immigrants migrated to Canada in what would be the result of the infamous potato famine. Nearly 40,000 of these people passed through Toronto, which at the time had a population of just under 20,000.  In the summer of 1847, 863 Irish people died in the fever sheds that were erected at what is now Toronto’s thriving theatre district at King Street West and John Street. In total 1,100 people lost their lives during this tragic time, many died trying to nurse the sick back to health. Next time you walk the streets of downtown Toronto, look for the plaque erected in their memory, right in the heart of the theatre district.

More claim they have Irish ancestry in Canada than any other group in the world. I believe the statistic would be around 300,000 in Toronto alone, an estimated 700,000 in Ontario. So it would make sense that the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Toronto is one that is well attended.

The 26th annual Toronto St. Patrick’s Day Parade takes place on Sunday, March 17th. Up to 500,000 people are expected in downtown Toronto for the fun and excitement. The two hour parade has truly become an end of winter fixture on the Toronto calendar.

The parade is organized by the not-for-profit St. Patrick’s Parade Society.  The Society, through the Parade, works to promote and celebrate all things Irish, while incorporating bands and floats from various communities, representing Toronto’s multicultural diversity.

Ladies Lead the Way Ambre McLean and Tara Holloway

Submitted by cashbox on Thu, 03/07/2013 - 16:03
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Submitted by Michael Williams
Photo: Tara Holloway

Gary Santucci and Barbra Milne opened The Pearl Co. in 2006 in Hamilton. It is an old acoustically perfect room that feels like an old hippie living room, full of friends, with old comfy couches and good sight lines to the stage on the floor. The Pearl Company has become my favorite venues showcasing films, theatre, dance and live music.

Recently at the Pearl Company I saw Tara Holloway and Ambre McLean perform as they have been touring southern Ontario together. While I had seen Ambre several times before, this was my first time seeing Tara Holloway live. Very impressive!

Tara’s voice was fresh with wonderful control and strength. Her material was well chosen for a voice that kills most of what is on the radio today. She has a voice uncharacteristic of her generation. The lady has tons of chops and learned them from the road and her dad’s old record collection.  Tara is a great voice waiting to be discovered by radio. Her debut, “Sins to confess”, is well worth the price. Tara as a solo artist is raw and can be heard perfectly without a microphone. This is when you really get a sense of the magnitude of her vocals. I am in love with her voice and her songs.  I was very impressed with Tara Holloway’s set.

Juno Talk With Michael Williams

Submitted by cashbox on Thu, 02/28/2013 - 13:25
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I find the nominations of the 2013 Juno Awards a great cross section of Canadian music from last year.

This year  Leonard Cohen is nominated for three Junos including Artist of the Year, Songwriter of the Year (which he shares with his co songwriter/producer Patrick Leonard), and the People’s Choice.  His son, Adam Cohen, is nominated for the Adult Contemporary Album of the Year for his release “Like a Man”, also produced by Patrick Leonard.

Maestro is back 25 years after winning the very first Juno for Hip Hop in 1990, nominated for Rap Record of the Year. He is uniquely Canadian in his selection of music with Classified. His latest “Black Tuxedo” samples Blue Rodeo’s “Try”, one of the best soulful countries ever. Maestro has also sampled The Guess Who “These Eyes” and Gowan’s “Criminal Mind”. You could not be anymore Canadian.

The other rap nominees are producer Rich Kidd, Classified, and JD Era from the Wu Tang’s Canadian Label. Back also is former Swollen Member’s Mad Child. The glaring omission is that of  Drake’s absence in this category.

100 Mile House Brings Transatlantic Folk to Toronto

Submitted by cashbox on Thu, 02/28/2013 - 13:07
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Submitted by Don Graham

Alberta trio 100 Mile House were in Toronto for the Annual Folk Alliance International Conference held at the Delta Chelsea Hotel. Husband and wife team of native Albertan Denise McKay and transplanted Londoner Peter Stone and multi instrumentalist Scott Zubot did numerous showcases, live interviews and “meet and greets”.  I caught up with them at the very intimate Saturday afternoon showcase in the Alberta Room at the hotel.  Just a happy coincidence the name of the room happened to be the same as their home province.

There was no P.A , no stage and a packed room of very attentive music lovers, a tough gig at the best of times.  With Stone on guitar, Zubot on fiddle and mandolin and McKay playing drums on a suitcase, 100 Mile House showed why they are one of top up and coming acts to hit the scene.  The atmosphere was informal and the band showed that truly professional combination of being relaxed and polished.  The vocals were crisp and dynamic and the instrumental blend was superb. Stone’s performance of his award winning song, ”Better Still”,  was captivating and enthralling.

Tom Cochrane To Be Honoured With The 2013 Allan Waters Humanitarian Award

Submitted by cashbox on Thu, 02/28/2013 - 13:03
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Submitted by Cashbox Canada

On February 26, 2013 The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) announced Tom Cochrane as the recipient of the 2013 Allan Waters Humanitarian Award. Throughout his career, Cochrane has supported a wide variety of vital initiatives — from World Vision to Parkinson’s research.

The Allan Waters Humanitarian Award recognizes outstanding Canadian artists whose humanitarian contributions have positively enhanced the social fabric of Canada. Named after CHUM Ltd. founder Allan Waters, Tom Cochrane will be presented to Cochrane this honour at  the 2013 JUNO Gala Dinner & Awards on Saturday, April 20 in Regina.

“I am very honoured to receive the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award and would like to thank CARAS and the JUNO Awards,” said Tom Cochrane. “With that said, it is an odd thing to receive an award for trying to do the right things when those things have presented themselves in the light of the tremendous blessings I have received in my life and career. Every day my fans, family and friends get up and many of them do the right things for other people and the good of our world and country without getting acknowledged. So I share this with you. Love to all. "

Mindy McCready Goes Home To Her Ten Thousand Angels

Submitted by cashbox on Thu, 02/21/2013 - 10:33
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Submitted by Don Graham

Troubled country singer Mindy McCready has died of an apparent suicide at her home in Heber Falls, Arkansas at the age of 37.  McCready hit the top of the charts in 1996 with her sassy anti chauvinist song ‘Guys Do It All The Time’. She also had a hit with ‘Ten Thousand Angels’ that same year and the album of the same name sold a whopping 2 million copies. In 2004 she was charged with obtaining the pain Oxycontin fraudulently, a charge which she pled guilty to and received three years probation.  In May 2005 she violated that probation when she was arrested for drunken driving. Then came an attempted suicide in July, 2005, overdosed in September of that year and slit her wrists in December 2008.That was also the year she was charged in Arizona with hindering prosecution and unlawful use of transportation. Those charges stemmed from an alleged attempt in June 2005 to purchase two
high performance boats, but she claimed she was trying to stop a con man. She also made several trips to rehab and appeared on the VH1 reality show "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew" in 2010. As a side note she is the fifth celeb to die after appearing on that show. There was Joey Kovar who died of an overdose in 2012, as did former Alice in Chains bassist Mike Starr in 2011. Also Taxi’s Jeff Conaway and Rodney King.

Ranchers for Peace-No fun Walking Around Black

Submitted by cashbox on Thu, 02/14/2013 - 12:42
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Story:Lenny Stoute

On Feb. 26 2012 in Sanford, Florida a black teenager Trayvon Martin was shot dead during an altercation with white neighbourhood watch coordinator George Zimmerman. Evidence indicated that Zimmerman had set the altercation in motion. He was subsequently charged with second-degree murder and the case is currently before the Florida courts.

This incident outraged people across America and galvanized a songwriter thousands of miles away into speaking out in song.

Name’s Charles Duncan and with 17-year-old daughter Ray, makes up folk/roots rock outfit Ranchers For Peace.

“ I’ve been involved with civil rights for most of my career. I’m also old enough to remember the violence against the Civil Rights movement in the Sixties.

“ When I first head of the Trayvon Martin case I was shocked, outraged and deeply saddened. I really thought we'd gotten past the point where a black teenager could walk down the street without incident. It’s troubling because if we can’t get on the same page regarding basic civil rights, then we’re in a lot of trouble.

The single, “Walking Around Black” came together quickly, with Ray Duncan providing the urban flavour and tweaking the beats to come up with an appropriate sound.

“Once we got it down, we decided very quickly not to put it on the album we were working on. We didn’t want to profit from this tragedy in any way but we did want it to be heard, so we put it up as a free download.

The CMAO Announces Inaugural Awards Show

Submitted by cashbox on Thu, 02/14/2013 - 03:46
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Submitted by Anya Wilson Promotion & Publicity

The Country Music Association of Ontario (CMAO) announced its inaugural Awards Show. The event will be held on Monday, May 27th, 2013, at Markham Theatre at 171 Town Centre Boulevard, Markham, Ontario. The CMAO has confirmed that multi-award winning celebrated singer-songwriter and recording artist from the Ottawa Valley, Charlie Major, will host the awards. Major has enjoyed many #1 singles including fan favourites such as ‘I Do It For The Money” and “The Other Side.”

Charlie MajorCharlie MajorAlso confirmed to perform at the concert and accompany the show’s performers are renowned top musicians The Western Swing Authority, a group of seasoned professionals whose bio includes multiple Canadian Country Music Awards, Juno nominations, as well has a résumé that spans from playing with Gordon Lightfoot, John Cowan. George Canyon, to Kellylee Evans.

The Country Music Association of Ontario (CMAO) is an endeavor by a number of energetic individuals in the country music industry in Ontario and is the only Country Music Association that represents Ontario as a whole.

Heard It In A Love Song

Submitted by cashbox on Thu, 02/14/2013 - 03:37
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Submitted by Don Graham

Love songs have been around forever. As far back as 4000 B.C. Back in ancient times, poetry was sung. We see drawings of the poet playing a lyre or other stringed instrument and although none of the melodies for these early love lyrics have survived we can imagine a softly strummed harp or lyre and a  melodic voice singing the words that have been preserved.

When we fall in love today, we feel what men and women felt in centuries past: desire, joy, disappointment, yearning and fulfillment.

So just how far back can we trace love songs? When Pharoah Rameses wanted to tell a beautiful, Egyptian lady that he found her desirable, did he have a court musician sing something that sounded like “Unchained Melody’?  Maybe he did? They have recovered 3500-year-old Egyptian love poems from pieces of papyrus and pottery fragments. They are filled with the same kind of language and sentiments that we hear in love songs today.

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