Toronto Musician Richard Todd Joins Forces with WoodGreen Community Services to Tackle 'The Forgotten Homelessness' Crisis Through Powerful Charity Single Featuring All-Star Cast

Fri Dec 01, 2023

The homelessness crisis in Toronto has reached a critical point, with over 8,000 people experiencing homelessness every night. These individuals often find shelter in the city, while many more grapple with "hidden homelessness," relying on the generosity of relatives, friends, or strangers with little sense of stability.

The problem is exacerbated by Toronto's severe lack of affordable housing. The wait for supportive housing is several years long, forcing families to spend over 50% of their income on housing, leaving less for necessities like food and medication.

In response, Toronto-based Richard Todd, best known as the singer/songwriter/guitarist for the band Redpath Traffic, has teamed up with WoodGreen Community Services, one of Toronto's largest social services organizations, to address this urgent problem with creating “The Forgotten Homelessness” charity single with a cast of all-stars.
Check it out on YouTube here:

Redpath Traffic Collaborates with Music Legend Chris Birkett on New Single About Hiding As A Gay Man "Do You Love Me Now?"

Fri Jun 30 2023
Redpath Traffic

Hot off the heels of their most recent single "Hey Mona!", Toronto's terrific trio Redpath Traffic is striking a different chord with their latest release, "Do You Love Me Now?", featuring the legendary Chris Birkett on lap steel, keyboards, and backing vocals. Both tracks will be available on the group's debut LP Under The Crimson Sun, available everywhere this October. Check out “Do You Love Me Now?” on YouTube here:

 The electrifying brainchild of drummer Kerem Balci, bassist Mark Fernley, and guitarist/vocalist Rick Todd, Redpath Traffic creates genre-agnostic music that fuses blues and rock with a touch of punk, while weaving through their personal narratives of love, loss, redemption, and change.

Toronto Musician & Producer Chris Birkett Receives Community Recognition Award

Fri Mar 10 2023
Chris Birkett

Earlier this month, Chris Birkett received MPP Chris Glover’s Community Recognition Award. Birkett is a multiple award-winning singer, songwriter, and producer who has worked with such A- list artists as Sinead O’Connor, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Talking Heads, Quincy Jones, and Steve Earle.

He was nominated in recognition of his song “Everyone Deserves a Home”, which shines a light on the growing homelessness crisis in Toronto.

Check out “Everyone Deserves a Home” on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCCgverqy-LH3Gu0rOQOG_zg

 “As someone who experienced homelessness in my youth,” says Mr. Birkett. “I believe that the millions of dollars certain billionaires spend on frivolities such as vacations in space could go a long way to supporting social programs that provide safe and secure housing. Giving a homeless person a place to live helps them to become an active, contributing member of society.”

Listen on Spotify here: open.spotify.com/artist/13EQJBvl1NJaMrpjrQ9tHL

Chris Birkett Releases Holiday Song “Hear The Angels Sing”

Fri Dec 02 2022
Chris Birkett & the  West Plains United Church Choir

In the 1990s Chris Birkett was working around the clock as the UK’s go-to-producer/engineer working on legendary projects, such as Sinead O’Connor’s album I Do Not Want What I Have Not Got, that featured the massive hit single, Nothing Compares 2 U. With artists and labels taking most of his time Birkett had little to spare for his two young children.

Feeling he was missing key moments in their life, the Toronto-based renaissance artist reflects on the importance of work-life balance with his heartwarming new single “Hear The Angels Sing.” Birkett wrote the opening lyrics late one night as his career was taking shape.

Why does it take all of my time,
To go out there and be someone?
There’s nothing left at the end of the line
Nothing left for the ones that you love.

“It’s a question and sentiment people are feeling today” says Birkett. “The music and lyrics of Hear the Angels Sing are an example of angelic gifts, especially during the holiday season.”

Chris Birkett Puts Two Years of COVID, Climate Change & Crass Excess in the Rear View with New Single, “2022”

Fri May 20 2022
 Chris Birkett Puts Two Years of COVID, Climate Change & Crass Excess in the Rear View with New Single, “2022”

When we reached the end of 2020, it could certainly be said that “never has there ever been a year like this.” Then, 2021 came along and upped the ante with more chaotic uncertainty. Now, with just one-third of another year behind us, British-Canadian singer-songwriter, composer, and multi-award-winning producer Chris Birkett is musically posing the question that’s on everyone’s minds: ‘What about you, 20-2-2? in this, his new single “2022” – check it out on YouTube here:

New Year’s Eve makes most of us reflective of the year that was and anticipatory of what’s to come but, for Chris Birkett, it also generated a creative spark.

Chris Birkett’s Mission to “Save Our Beautiful World,” One Stunning Song at a Time

Fri May 14 2021
Chris Birkett

Canadian singer/songwriter, composer, and producer powerhouse Chris Birkett is back and, this time, he’s not alone: the multi-JUNO Award winner and Platinum-selling producer is out to save the world with his new collective, The Happy Campers — and an arsenal of songs that take the musician in a brand-new direction creatively.

Birkett is one of the great music producers of our era, working with Buffy Sainte-Marie, Mel Brooks, Steve Earle, Bob Geldof, Alison Moyet, Dexys Midnight Runners, Talking Heads, The Pogues, and The Proclaimers — not to mention, just celebrated the 30th anniversary of producing Sinead O’Connor’s seismic release I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got — seamlessly weaves his prowess as a leader in the industry among the variety of projects he designs and oversees — The Happy Campers and “Save Our Beautiful World” among them.

During a production session with Berber musician Madjid Chaoui in Paris, the pair collaborated on a powerful climate awareness track combining Chaoui’s already written melodies with new lyrics written by Birkett. The result was “Save Our Beautiful World”, a tale timelessly told as an urgent reminder to protect Mother Nature.

Award Winning Producer, Composer, Songwriter CHRIS BIRKETT Releases New Single “Precious Love”

Fri Mar 05, 2021

Toronto’s Multi-JUNO Award winning and Platinum-selling producer, composer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Chris Birkett has penned a passionate love letter in this, his new single — “Precious Love”. Watch the heartwarming video of “Precious Love” on YouTube:

Written with his muse in mind — his wife, documentary filmmaker Joan Prowse — the newly released song floats forward this month ahead of his forthcoming albums, Songs from the Kauai Hotel Room, and a collection of fun-loving songs with his new collective, The Happy Campers.

“I was performing in concert at Massey Hall with Buffy Sainte-Marie, when I met this attractive woman with a radiant smile,” Birkett recalls. “It was Joan, and she had made a documentary film about Buffy.”

Legendary Producer Chris Birkett Is Now A Canadian Citizen

Fri Mar 13, 2020

Chris Birkett, the award-winning producer, arranger, and composer is officially a Canadian citizen.

His music collaborations with A-list artists like Sinead O’Connor, Alison Moyet, Talking Heads, The Pogues, Bob Geldof, Quincy Jones, Thomas Dolby, Buffy Sainte-Marie, and Steve Earle have sold over 100 million records and earned a Grammy, four Junos, the Polaris Music Prize and three international AMPEX Golden Reel Awards for excellence in the music business.

He proudly says, “Now that I’m officially Canadian, I can fulfil my mission to make Canadian music heard and appreciated throughout the world as a Canadian artist and record producer. Living in Toronto, the most important city for music in Canada, I can tour the musical world without leaving. It’s all here, and I am grateful and humbled by this country welcoming me.”

Free Spirits Release Single “The Power of Our Love” From Debut Album 11.1

Fri Jan 10 2020
Free Spirits 11.11

Multi-JUNO Award-winning Canadian Platinum-status producer, composer, singer/songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Chris Birkett has a newly minted project on his plate, just ahead of a notable career milestone this Spring. 

Free Spirits prides itself on being more than just what meets the ear; The Free Spirits are a musical collaboration shedding light on life, the world, and how artists can help be a positive force for truth and change, they say. 

Together, the duo — Chris Birkett on guitar, drums, bass, and keys, and Tallon on flute, keyboards and vocals — are unlocking sonic synchronicity with a debut album, 11:11, and its premiere single “The Power of Our Love.”

Producer And Songwriter Chris Birkett Releases Debut Album with The Free Spirits

Fri Nov 15 2019
Producer And Songwriter Chris Birkett Releases Debut Album with The Free Spirits

Multi-award winning record producer and songwriter Chris Birkett has announced the release of the debut album with The Free Spirits 1:11.

11:11 signifies a time of serious reflection in the world, heralding a new beginning, announcing an Age of Awakening for the planet.  The 11 songs on the album have titles and lyrics that ask us to explore ourselves and our world.  Listening to this music, you’ll notice a pattern that flows through the album.

Every Day People - “We got to live together” - a new take on the Sly Stone classic

The Power of Our Love - “We are climbers, and we’re climbing to the stars..”

Seeds of Peace - “Find the peace within, and give it to the one you love.”