advertisement
FYI

Mark Howard Cancer Fundraiser Attracts Major Star Power

The acclaimed Canadian record producer/engineer is fighting melanoma at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. A high-powered lineup of Canadian stars will perform at a benefit for the Centre at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto on Oct. 6.

Mark Howard Cancer Fundraiser Attracts Major Star Power

By FYI Staff

On Oct. 6 at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto, a star-studded lineup performs at The Mark Howard “Princess Margaret Cancer Centre” Grand Concert. It includes Randy Bachman, Sass Jordan, Sarah McLachlan, Sam Roberts, and Ian Thornley, plus multiple unannounced special guests.


An all-star band for the concert includes; Brady Blade (Emmylou Harris, Jewel, Steve Earle), Doug Pettibone (Joan Baez, Jewel, Mark Knopfler), Hal Cragin (Iggy Pop, Joni Mitchell, Sarah McLachlan), and Vince Jones (Grapes of Wrath, Sarah McLachlan, Cowboy Junkies). Tickets for the concert are on sale now, priced from $100 to $250.

The event is a fundraiser to help further immune therapy research and is named for prominent record producer/engineer Mark Howard. He is a Melanoma cancer patient of Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and is bringing awareness about this disease into the public eye and raising funds that will assist research. 

advertisement

Howard's extensive cv includes work with Bob Dylan, U2, Willie Nelson, Peter Gabriel, Lucinda Williams, Emmylou Harris, Neil Young, The Tragically Hip (he earned a Juno nomination for producing Day For Night),  Robbie Robertson, kd lang, and many more. He began his career in Hamilton, Ontario, mixing shows in local clubs, and touring across Canada with King Biscuit Boy. In 1986, while working at Grant Avenue Studio, he connected with Daniel Lanois, beginning a long and fruitful musical partnership.

An earlier GoFundMe campaign to assist Howard has raised $54.5K.

advertisement
EMPIRE's Tina Davis (left) and Girl Connected's Lola Plaku at Conversations with the Pros at Toronto Metropolitan University in Toronto on March 28, 2025.
Courtesy of Girl Connected

EMPIRE's Tina Davis (left) and Girl Connected's Lola Plaku at Conversations with the Pros at Toronto Metropolitan University in Toronto on March 28, 2025.

Record Labels

EMPIRE President Tina Davis Gives Strategic Advice to Women in Music at Girl Connected's New Speaker Series

On Friday (March 28), the president of EMPIRE, the Bay Area-independent label and music company, came to Toronto for Conversation with the Pros offering tangible advice to the mentorship program's community. Davis also spoke to Billboard Canada about her impressive journey in the industry.

Girl Connected has launched a new series that connects the next generation of women in Canadian music with powerhouse executives for the global industry.

On Friday (March 28), Tina Davis, president of EMPIRE, sat down with Girl Connected founder and music industry veteran Lola Plaku at Toronto Metropolitan University for the first in-person Canadian edition of Conversations with the Pros (Billboard Canada was a supporting partner). The series brings in inspiring music industry figures from Girl Connected's international network to talk about their journeys and offer actionable information and advice to help the budding music professionals develop their skills and reach the next level of their careers.

keep readingShow less
advertisement