Elton John

‘I was at a breaking point’: Why masked country-pop star Orville Peck dropped everything last year and returned with a terrific duets album

The musician’s new record, ‘Stampede,’ features Willie Nelson, Beck, Elton John and Kylie Minogue. By Nick Krewen Special to the Star Who is that masked man? It’s a question that proudly gay South African country singer and songwriter Orville Peck had been asking himself lately. In fact, when Peck, known for concealing his face in public, headlined the Budweiser Stage on July 3, he revealed to the audience that his…

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He wrote his viral hit song in 35 minutes. Now TALK will live a dream on the Juno Awards stage

he song Run Away to Mars changed Nicholas Durocher’s life. He will perform at the March 24 Juno Awards, where he’s nominated in five categories. By Nick Krewen Special to the Star With a worldwide viral hit in “Run Away to Mars,” a sold-out European tour and five Juno Award nods to his credit, TALK is walking the walk.It’s been about a decade since Stittsville, Ontario’s Nicholas Durocher, now 28, decided to go…


‘I’m proud of the contribution that I’ve made to the Canadian songbook’: Ron Sexsmith on his Massey Hall retrospective

‘Sexsmith at Sixty’: The singer-songwriter has never had a top 40 hit, but he’s earned the admiration of some of the biggest names in the music business. by Nick Krewen Special to the Star Even Ron Sexsmith would admit he’s a bit of an anomaly. On Thursday, as he performs his career retrospective “Sexsmith at Sixty” while headlining Massey Hall for the sixth time, it’s worth noting that the mellifluously…


Elton John pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, confesses love for Toronto in memorable farewell

If this was Elton John’s Toronto swan song in terms of concert appearances — he plans to retire from touring live next year — then it was a doozy. By Nick Krewen Special to the Star If this was Sir Elton John‘s Toronto swansong in terms of concert appearances, then it was a doozy. Performing in front of a crowd of 45,000 fans for the second night in a row…


Elton John talks about the magic of collaboration and his new album The Lockdown Sessions

By Nick Krewen Special to the Star Sometimes no plans are the best plans.  According to British pop superstar Sir Elton John, his star-studded, upcoming 32nd studio album, The Lockdown Sessions,  out October 22, wouldn’t have happened without an invitation from Charlie Puth, the L.A.-based singer and songwriter of the hits “Marvin Gaye,” “Attention” and “How Long,” to write in his studio.  “I had no plans to make any music at all,…