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…
The Toronto-born superstar, who was supposed to kick off his “After Hours til Dawn” tour Friday, talks about sharing his creative visions and his good fortune. By Nick Krewen Special to the Star Does Abel Tesfaye ever sleep? Judging by the hectic pace of his life these past few months for the 32-year-old, Toronto-born superstar sensation known as The Weeknd, one would have their doubts. Aside from being knee deep…
By Nick Krewen Special to the Star For his new, brilliant gospel-flavoured soul album Heavy Sun, seven-time Grammy winner Daniel Lanois had to convince a Shepherd to leave his flock. Describing himself as a “now-and-again” guitarist for the Hallelujah Train band at the Shreveport, Louisiana-based Zion Baptist Church run by Brady Blade Sr., the Hull, Québec-born artist and award-winning producer of blockbuster albums by Peter Gabriel, U2 and Robbie Robertson says…
Nick Krewen Special to the Star You may know him as the artistic director of the currently paused Beaches International Jazz Festival or hear him on one of the three radio programs he either hosts or co-hosts in the city. But did you know that Toronto’s Bill King, a three-time Juno Award nominee, also served as music director for blues-rock singer Janis Joplin, the stylistically versatile Linda Ronstadt, The Pointer…
Nick Krewen Special to the Star John McHugh remembers the time he accidentally became Joni Mitchell’s matchmaker. McHugh, who owned the Yorkville-era clubs The Penny Farthing and The Half Beat back in the ‘60s, recalls meeting “Joanna Anderson” when she came around to one of his venues around 1963-64. “It was at the Penny Farthing that (singer) Cathy Young brought this young lady in with her,” McHugh recalled recently…
