Entertainment

Submitted by Don Graham

Dick Damron has dreamed the dream, lived the dream and is still living the dream , six decades into his musical journey. From Bentley, Alberta to Nashville, Tennessee from Las Vegas, Nevada to Maltazan, Mexico and back to Bentley with stops all over the world, Dick Damron has seen it all. He’s paid his dues and some of yours as well.

I met Dick Damron in the 70’s in a very strange way. I was living in Montreal and the label we were signed to booked us to record a single in Toronto at the old RCA studios on Mutual Street. Gary Buck was commissioned to produce us and I was told to meet him in Yorkville at a predetermined street corner. I arrived at the location at the scheduled time and realized I had no idea what Buck looked like. I stopped everyone who resembled a music guy with no luck. Finally I stopped a denim clad, long haired outlaw type and said “ Excuse me, are you Gary Buck?” He looked at me funny and said “ No, I’m Dick Damron but I know Gary so I’ll show you who he is!”  And all these years later Double Dee is still making music and making us proud.

Submitted by Cashbox Canada

With the release of their latest album Northern Redemption, this talented trio marked a transition to their own distinct sound combining roots with contemporary elements of
country and rock.

The new single, ‘Northern Redemption’ has been remixed for radio by award nominated Jason Barry.

The Abrams Brothers are fourth-generation musicians with musical roots reaching back to their great-grandparents. And despite their age, veteran is certainly not a word out of reach given their credits. They’ve been touring together for almost a decade – and in the past few years, have become Canadian festival favorites.  In 2005, the Ontario-based group became the youngest Canadians to appear on Nashville’s iconic Grand Ole Opry.  They’ve toured Europe, and several times have performed for the Jacob’s Ladder Folk Festival in Israel. In 2006, the band received the Daniel Pearl Memorial violin, given to especially gifted young musicians.

“Northern Redemption” is an album of love gained and lost and one about getting out and moving on.  Yes, The Abrams Brothers have grown up and truly shine as young men on this one – young men with a taste of life whose insecurities fall second to a passion to make their own destiny.

Cadillac Lounge’s Grosso acquires “Elmo”, Plans Major Renos to Build on its Past

Sam Grosso, owner of the Cadillac Lounge in Toronto’s Parkdale area, has acquired the most legendary music venue in Toronto, the El Mocambo.

The downtown club at 464-466 Spadina Avenue just south of College Street, which was built in 1850, had been owned by businessman Abbas Jahangiri, and in its heyday brought major music names to the city. Mr. Jahangiri purchased the venue in 2001 and has since used the earnings to support a wide variety of charitable initiatives both in Toronto and internationally.

Sam Grosso and his partner Marco Petrucci completed the agreement to acquire the property on Monday July 23, but they did not disclose a purchase price. They did, however, announce plans to restore the venue to what they described as “its glorious past as one of Toronto’s best live music venues.”

They plan to renovate both the upstairs room, which can accommodate some 350 people, and the main floor venue, which has room for more than 200. They also plan, in the immediate future, to refurbish the iconic El Mocambo “palm tree” sign, a $20,000 project in itself.

“The changes to the physical structure, both upstairs and down, will have to be done little by little over the next year,” said Mr. Grosso. “There is much work to be done to restore the Elmo to what it was. The stage upstairs will be returned to the north wall, where it used to be, and the sound system upgraded.”

Submitted by Cashbox Canada
Photo at right: Corky Laing, photo by Taffi Rosen

Aldo Mazza, KoSA Founder and Artistic Director of Koza Music has provided top level drum and percussion workshops, camps, and festivals around the world.

Aldo states "Essentially, we know that music is the only universal language. It transcends all social, economic, cultural and political boundaries. Within every KoSA project, this is our core philosophy that with the sharing of music, the world works better, much better. Our camp this year is the seventeenth and it is being held from July 24-29 at Castleton State College in Vermont and it is known as The World's Greatest Drum Camp.

"Keeping up with the times, KoSA is very pleased to announce Live Video Streaming from KoSA 17 on Drum Channel. We are extremely grateful to Drum Channel for providing this link to our world renowned annual event. This will allow those who have been to KoSA to catch up with this year's performances, and for those around the world who may be unfamiliar with the KoSA experience, this live stream offers a tiny slice of the once-in-a-lifetime performances and 24/7 excitement a KoSA event offers."