Pop

‘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…


‘I’m still a student of music’ — Sting reflects on his long career ahead of his Toronto show

The solo artist and former Police frontman on his history with Toronto, his “unlikely pairing” with Shaggy and his ongoing love of touring. By Nick Krewen Whether it was with The Police or on his own as a solo performer, Sting has always had a special relationship with Toronto. The man born Gordon Sumner in Wallsend, England – and who will be appearing at Budweiser Stage on September 5  – has…


“I still love being a Temp”: The last original Temptation, Otis Williams, on more than 60 years in the Motown supergroup

Otis Williams looks back as the musical “Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations” returns to Toronto. By Nick Krewen Special to the Star Sixty-three years on, Otis Williams is still at the helm of one of the greatest Motown acts of all-time, The Temptations. Not only does the tenor and baritone vocalist continue to tour with the group into its seventh decade as its only original member, but…


Milli Vanilli’s Fab Morvan: ‘There was a human side to the story I think that was never told’ he says ahead of new documentary

Story of the scandal-plagued duo that’s not been told before gets airtime in new Paramount Plus film “Milli Vanilli” by Nick Krewen Special to the Star Thirty-three years after the revelation of one of pop music’s more explosive scandals, Fab Morvan is finally getting to speak his truth. If Morvan’s name is familiar, he was one of the two original “frontmen” — along with Rob Pilatus — of Milli Vanilli, a…


Her first album was about escaping sexual abuse. Her second leans into the ongoing work of survival

“There are days when you feel the triumphant, nothing can bring you down. And then there are days when you struggle,” says Allison Russell. By Nick Krewen Special to the Star They say you shouldn’t meet your heroes, but becoming acquainted with Joni Mitchell more than met the expectations of Allison Russell. The Montreal-born Americana singer-songwriter, who released her second solo album, The Returner, on Friday and plays Venus Fest…