United States

Americana, Cinema, Country, Emmy, Grammy, In Memoriam, Nashville, Songwriter, United States, Voice, Willie Nelson January 16, 2024

The woman beside the Man in Black: documentary gives June Carter Cash her due

New documentary ‘June’ celebrates country music matriarch who had a career apart from her famous husband, Johnny Cash. By Nick Krewen Special to the Star Over his career, country music legend Johnny Cash always had some interesting Canadian ties. Who can forget those Johnny Cash bank machines, ATM forerunners that the Man in Black was hired by Canada Trust to flog in a TV, radio and print advertising campaign? But there was…

Beatles, Detroit, Grammy, Motown, Pop, R&B, Rock 'N Roll Hall Of Fame, Soul, United States, Voice December 2, 2023

“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…

Americana, Arranger, Blackie & The Rodeo Kings, Bob Dylan, Canada, Canadian Country Music Hall Of Fame, Canadian Music Hall Of Fame, Composer, Country, Folk, Guitar, JUNO, Music Industry (Trade), Neil Young, New York, Producer, Record Labels, Robbie Robertson, Songwriter, Television, The Band, Toronto, Video, Voice, Willie Nelson November 4, 2023

‘I just thought it was time’ — Sylvia Tyson on ‘At the End of the Day,’ her (maybe) final album

If anyone thinks Sylvia Tyson at 83 is any less authoritative an artist, hearing “At the End of the Day” will quickly quell that notion. By Nick Krewen Special to the Star Her singing voice is a little more weathered, but no less formidable; her lyrics are incisively sharp. If anyone thinks the legendary Sylvia Tyson at 83 is any less authoritative an artist, hearing her newly released 12-song album At…

Arranger, Composer, Jazz, New York, Piano, San Francisco, United States, Voice October 16, 2023

She’s the daughter of Bobby ‘Don’t Worry Be Happy’ McFerrin, but she’s forging her own path in music

With her debut album now out, Madison McFerrin brings her world tour to Toronto’s TD Music Hall. By Nick Krewen Special to the Star If the name Madison McFerrin is familiar, it’s because she’s the daughter of Mr. “Don’t Worry Be Happy” himself, 10-time Grammy winner Bobby McFerrin. So one would assume that the elder McFerrin would be forthcoming in offering his 31-year-old daughter advice on tricks of the trade. They…

Americana, Canada, Folk, Grammy, Joni Mitchell, JUNO, LGBTQ, Nashville, Pop, Prince, Québec, Songwriter, Soul, United States, Voice September 10, 2023

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…