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FYI

‘Electric Black Man’ Eric Mercury Releases New S/T Song

The Toronto-born songwriter and producer, who performed with ‘60s groups The Pharaohs, Eric Mercury & the Soul Searchers, and Dianne Brooks, before hitting his stride in the US, has teamed up w

‘Electric Black Man’ Eric Mercury Releases New S/T Song

By David Farrell

The Toronto-born songwriter and producer, who performed with ‘60s groups The Pharaohs, Eric Mercury & the Soul Searchers, and Dianne Brooks, before hitting his stride in the US, has teamed up with Montreal composer Anthony Aramouni to release “Bright Eyed Woman.”


Mercury’s first solo album, recorded for Avco Embassy, was Electric Black Man and he followed it with several other releases before finding his niche as a writer, composer, and producer working with artists that include Thelma Houston, Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway, Dionne Warwick, and Kenny Rankin.

Aramouni, who has had success as a soundtrack composer, is credited as writer and producer of “Bright Eyed Woman,” that features in the 2020 coming-of-age dramedy, Blue Tongues.

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Mercury currently promotes himself as music director for CanWood Entertainment, a diversified production and partnership entity.

The new song's official launch on April 25 coincides with the 50th anniversary of Electric Black Man’s release. Watch the official video for “Bright Eyed Woman” here.

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Charlotte Day Wilson
Jessica Foley
Charlotte Day Wilson
Concerts

CNE 2026 Bell SOUNDSTAGE Lineup: Charlotte Day Wilson, JoJo, Finger Eleven and More

As part of its partnership with NXNE and a renewed focus on live music, CNE will also welcome a special soon-to-be revealed global headliner presented by Billboard Canada on Aug. 28.

The Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) is embracing its musical roots with a high-profile lineup for 2026.

The beloved long-running fair, baptized The Ex by Torontonians, has unveiled the full list of artists who will be headlining the newly-named Bell SOUNDSTAGE at the Bandshell to celebrate the event's 147th edition. Canadian stars like Charlotte Day Wilson and Finger Eleven as well as international pop star JoJo have been added to this year's programming, which reflects a diverse mix of renowned names and rising stars across a multitude of genres including pop, hip-hop, Punjabi music and soca, among others. They join previously announced acts like Lights, Lupe Fiasco, Shaggy and more.

This year, the exhibition is partnering with Toronto music festival NXNE, to modernize its musical programming with chart-topping artists and newer acts, and revamping the Bandshell as the Bell SOUNDSTAGE. “Music is such a massive part of who we are,” Mark Holland, CEO of the CNE, told Billboard Canada in April during his Executive of the Week interview. "Connecting everybody to that is a democratic mission that we are really invested in."

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