Music News Digest, July 19, 2019

By FYI Staff

The 10th Anniversary Radio & Records Party was held on the (very hot) patio of Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto yesterday afternoon. The gathering is a favourite of local music industry veterans, and a convivial vibe prevailed. War stories from the trenches were retold, and recently departed comrades remembered. Performers spied included Andy Kim, Luke Gibson, Terry Draper, (Klaatu), Greg Godovitz, Bob Segarini, Sebastian Agnello, Fergus Hambleton, Brian Blain, Marc Jordan, Shirley Eikhard, Prakash John, Bill King, and Lorraine Segato. Industry lions Harvey Glatt and Bernie Finkelstein were in attendance, alongside dozens of industry peers too numerous to mention.

The event was hosted by Jim Campbell, Dave Charles, Doug Chappell, Al Mair, Gary Muth and Tom Wilson, and sponsored this year by Joey Cee, Perry Goldberg, Gary Slaight and Wayne Thompson. Thanks to all involved.

–Triumph, Will Arnett, Mr. Dressup (Ernie Coombs), Mark Messier and Frank Gehry are among those named as 2019 inductees of Canada's Walk of Fame. The event is to be staged at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre November 23, and will air on CTV.

–Ian and Sylvia are to be inducted separately at the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (CSHF), during Country Music Week’s schedule of events. The induction takes place at Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre, in Calgary on Sept. 5. The duo’s appearance coincides with the release of a double-album compilation on Stony Plain Records, entitled Ian & Sylvia The Lost Tapes.

–A celebration of onetime CBS and MCA marketing VP Graham (Glen) Powers is to be held Aug 11, 2-5 pm, at snapd inc. (505 Queen St., Newmarket, ON. Contact info: Melissa @ 289 231-7316. Graham died in Calgary earlier this year after a long battle with cancer. He was one of the good ‘uns.

– John Cody is engaged in a second crowdfunding campaign - this one initiated by Canadian Musician -  to help with expenses towards a life-saving surgery he's to undergo in August. Cody, the singer-songwriter who co-wrote Tom Cochrane's The Secret Is To Know When To Stop and Bonnie Raitt's Fundamental, was expecting to receive several thousand dollars from the Compensation for Victims of Crime Act as a result of sexual abuse by a former high school teacher until the Ontario Ford government scuttled the fund.

 As a result, Cody, who has largely been confined to an electric wheechair, has been caught in a financial shortfall, and needs funds to help him prepare and recover from a metabolic-bariatric surgery that will hopefully eliminate the diabetes he's contracted during his lengthy battle with cancer and neuro-muscular disease. Due to restrictions imposed by the Quebec government - Cody currently resides in Montreal - the Go-Fund Me campaign can only run 30 days. The campaign deadline is Aug 10. Here's the link to the fund - any donation is welcome and deeply appreciated. 

– In major music biz news, Sony Corp. has created a new Sony Music Group, uniting Rob Stringer’s Sony Music Entertainment and Jon Platt’s Sony/ATV Music Publishing. Stringer will be Chairman of the new group. Platt will report to Stringer and Stringer will continue to report to Sony Corp. President/CEO Kenichiro Yoshida.

In a memo sent to employees Wednesday, Yoshida wrote, “The purpose of this new Group is to further strengthen and solidify Sony’s position as a leader in the music industry and create new value for the company.  This unification will help us foster a higher level of collaboration between our recorded music and music publishing businesses, while respecting and maintaining the independence and unique culture of each organization.” Yoshida attributed the move to the rise in streaming services.  Source: Hits Daily Double

– CIMA is staging a third mission to connect the Canadian independent music industry to sync opportunities in film, television and streaming media in the US. This expanded Sync Summit for 10 Canadian music professionals will span over three-days to facilitate new relationships with American music supervisors through the Guild of Music Supervisors. It runs Nov. 4-7 in Los Angeles, and applications are now open, with a Sept. 6 deadline.

– Canadan folk music great Mose Scarlett died on May 30, and his close comrade Ken Whiteley has organized a musical celebration of life, set for The Tranzac in Toronto on Aug. 7. Look for performances from Dave Barrett, Victor Bateman, Jackson Delta, Bill Garrett & Sue Lothrop, Eve Goldberg, Hotcha!, Big Rude Jake, Magoo, Doc McLean, Tony Quarrington & Zoey Adams, Mr Rick, Margaret Stowe, Anne Tenner, Brent Titcomb, David Wall & Rebecca Campbell, Whiteley, and more. There's a suggested donation of $20 to cover the hall and ongoing expenses.

– Confederation Centre of the Arts has announced that David Carver Music has acquired the world-wide touring rights to the acclaimed Kronborg-The Hamlet Rock Musical. On July 20, the production wraps up a successful three week run at The Charlottetown Festival in PEI. David Carver Music has been a major concert tour producer, and plans to tour Kronborg in Canada, Australia, the UK and the US. Created by Cliff Jones, Kronborg-The Hamlet Rock Musical first debuted at The Charlottetown Festival in 1974. Source: Broadway World

– Alberta Music is the theme of the 2019 K-Days Parade taking place in downtown Edmonton today, July 19, beginning at 10am. Some of the Alberta Music members performing at this year's K-Days include: Punch Drunk Cabaret, Amelie Patterson, The Pits Planet Earth, Michela Sheedy, El Niven and the Alibi, The Jivin' Belles, Calling All Captains, Lyrique, Mouraine, King of Foxes, Renegade Station, Whale and the Wolf, Rellik, Carter and the Capitals, Laurelle, and Letters From Pluto. There's an Alberta Music Showcase from 3-10pm on July 27 on the Tim Hortons North Stage.

– Espanola is the solo project of in-demand pedal steel player Aaron Goldstein (City and Colour, Lee Harvey Osmond). A self-titled debut album has just come out, featuring such noted players as Luke Goetz, Dan Edmonds, Rich Knox, Glenn Milchem, Anna Ruddick, Darcy Yates, and Carleigh Aikins. Espanola opens for Ian Blurton's Future Now at This Ain't Hollywood in Hamlton tonight (July 19) and Toronto's Horseshoe, July 20.

– Music Nova Scotia is accepting applications for music and industry award nominations for the 2019 Music Nova Scotia Awards. Nominations will be extended until July 23 at 5 pm.

– CIMA, in partnership with BuzzAngle Music, publishes weekly Canadian independent-only music charts, the CIMA 20 and CIMA 40. The two charts represent the market success of independent artists in Canada, by ranking their current album packages encompassing music sales, downloads and streams. Check them out here

– Shirley Montague is being honoured with a lifetime achievement award at this year’s Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival. She has been a fixture in the Newfoundland and Labrador folk scene, and is particularly known for celebrating Labrador culture and history through her songs. Earlier this year, Montague was awarded an Honourary Doctor of Laws Degree from Sir Wilfred Grenfell College as a testament to her efforts to create and sustain Labrador cultural heritage over the course of her long and storied career. Source: Music NL

RIP

Freddie Keeler, a guitarist who played a crucial role in the development of the Toronto Sound in the '60s, died on July 14. Age and cause of death could not be verified.

Keeler was a constant presence on the Yonge Street music scene as a member of David Clayton Thomas’ band The Shays. He went on to play with such combos as Cameo Blues Band, Jericho, and Robbie Lane and the Disciples.

Lane tells FYI that " Freddie was a Disciple when I reformed the band in the early '80s. He was one of the greats. He's on my list of the top 5 Guitar Players of the Toronto Sound. A good friend and a real family man. We will miss him."

A private family ceremony  this weekend in Pickering, ON, is expected to be followed by a celebration of his life at a further time. Sources: Larry LeBlanc, Robbie Lane, Facebook