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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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Amber Still, executive director of the Polaris Music Prize
Johanna Stickland

Amber Still, executive director of the Polaris Music Prize

Awards

‘Protect the Prize’: The Polaris Music Prize Undergoes Its Biggest Period of Change

Now entering its third decade, the Canadian critic’s prize has expanded its voting pool, adjusted to financial constraints and begun awarding both albums and songs. After years defined by its refined focus, the changes mark a major expansion of the organization’s mission.

In 2025, the Polaris Music Prize celebrated its 20th anniversary. Entering its third decade, the award is undergoing what might be its biggest period of change. From funding to voting process, the organization is continuing to evolve.

The cultural not-for-profit organization has spent the better part of two decades creating a space in the industry for Canadian acts to be recognized based solely artistic merit, rather than sales, genre or support from a record label. Founded in the 2000s as Canada's answer to the Mercury Prize, the organization became a registered Canadian charity in 2017.

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