Pop

Bass, Canada, Canadian Music Hall Of Fame, Country, Country Rock, Drums, Guitar, Indie, JUNO, Piano, Pop, Rock, Rock 'N Roll, Songwriter, Toronto, Voice August 24, 2023

A look back at Blue Rodeo’s ‘Five Days in July’ — ‘We had no idea that it would be as important as it ended up being’

As Blue Rodeo’s bestselling album celebrates 30 years, Jim Cuddy recalls how it was made on Greg Keelor’s farm and what it meant. by Nick Krewen Special to the Star Hard to believe that the classic Blue Rodeo album Five Days In July has accumulated three decades of memories. Recorded in 1993 on band co-founder Greg Keelor’s Clarington farm, the effort ended up becoming the group’s all-time bestseller, moving 600,000 copies…

Adult Contemporary, Grammy, In Memoriam, Jazz, k.d. lang, New York, Pop, United States, Voice July 21, 2023

How singer Tony Bennett embodied a life well-lived

Tony Bennett, who won 19 Grammys, died on Friday at age 96. By Nick Krewen Special to the Star Few artists are lucky to have the type of career that was afforded beloved Italian crooner Tony Bennett. Bennett, who died Friday two weeks shy of  his 97th birthday, may be best remembered for his golden standard “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” and as the peerless interpreter of the Great American Songbook,…

Blues, Canada, JUNO, Pop, Rock, Rock 'N Roll, Songwriter, Toronto, Voice July 20, 2023

After 23 years out of the spotlight, a Canadian superstar returns with a new album: “Nobody was waiting for the record.”

Amanda Marshall is back with Heavy Lifting, her first album in two decades. By Nick Krewen Special to the Star Music comeback story of the year? Well, that would belong to one Amanda Marshall,  the Toronto-born vocal powerhouse that is finally emerging from the mists of time following a 22-and-a-half-year hiatus between albums: Heavy Lifting, a 12-song opus featuring 11 Marshall originals and a cover of Floetry‘s “I Hope She Cheats”…

Adult Contemporary, Arranger, Bryan Adams, Business, Composer, Grammy, John Hiatt, Los Angeles, Mariachi, Music Industry (Trade), Music Publishing, Pop, Producer, Record Labels, Trumpet, United States May 10, 2023

Herb Alpert brings 60 years of hit-making to Toronto’s Queen Elizabeth Theatre

 By Nick Krewen Special To The Star You may remember him for his No. 1 smashes “This Guy’s In Love With You” and “Rise” – and for his signature “happy” trumpet sound fronting The Tijuana Brass –  but Herb Alpert has worked his way into your musical DNA probably more than you realize. Yes, there were the familiar ’60s instrumental hits like “The Lonely Bull,” “A Taste of Honey,” “Spanish Flea”…

Arranger, Concert reviews, Elton John, Events, Grammy, JUNO, LGBTQ, Oscar, Piano, Pop, Rock, Songwriter, United Kingdom, Voice September 9, 2022

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…