New Canadian CD Releases

Canadian CD releases for this week are:



Our Lady Peace - Decade

John Allen Cameron: 1938 - 2006

Born in Cape Breton in 1938, John Allen Cameron grew to become the Godfather of Celtic Music. He left a teaching career at age 30 to resume playing music. His career included playing on the Don Messer Show, opening for Anne Murray and his own CBC TV show from 1975-1981.

He is widely considered a significant influence on modern day celtic music acts such as The Rankins, Ahsley MacIssac and Natalie McMaster.

He passed away in a Toronto Hospital yesterday at 67.

17th Annual SOCAN Awards

The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN), held the 17th annual SOCAN awards at The Carlu in Toronto last night. Awards were handed out in 16 categories including a Lifetime Achievement Award to Kate and Anna McGarrigle, and International Achievment Award to Finger Eleven and a National Achievement Award to Jann Arden.

Other notable winners included Michael Buble, Avril Lavigne, Leanne Rhimes and Nickelback. As well SOCAN classic awards went to the Stampeders for Devil You, Nick Gilder for Hot Child in the City, and Roxy Roller and The Powder Blues Band for Doin' It Right.

A complete list of the winners can be found here, and pictures here.

Recognition for Triumph

70's Canadian rock legend Triumph will be inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame. The band will be honoured, along with songwriter/producer David Foster, at a ceremony on March 10, 2007. Foster's induction was announced previously:

TRIUMPH To Be Inducted Into CANADIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY HALL OF FAME - Nov. 21, 2006:

Canadian hard-rock trio TRIUMPH will be inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame during Rogers Wireless Canadian Music Week. Music veterans Gil Moore (drums/vocals), Mike Levine (bass/keyboards) and Rik Emmett (guitar/vocals) will accept the honor Saturday, March 10, 2007 during the Canadian Radio Music Awards at Toronto's Fairmont Royal York Hotel.

The journey for TRIUMPH began in Toronto Ontario in the summer of 1975, with their self-titled Attic Records debut "Triumph". After gaining popularity in Canada and a gold record, TRIUMPH released the double-platinum album "Rock 'N' Roll Machine" (1977).

My comment? How have they had a Hall of Fame this long without Triumph? Triumph is one of the best bands to ever come out of Canada, although the quality of their music far exceeded their fame. I have been listening to Triumph lately and I can assure you, their music holds up exceptionally well.

Congratulations to the Rik Emmet, Gil Moore and Mike Levine for a well deserved, though belated, honour.

Joe Warmington on Tom Cochrane

Joe Warmington is one of my favourite writers. Yesterday he met up with Tom Cochrane in Toronto, and today we get a great article on Cochrane.

It's especially good because Cochrane has been promoting his CD, as well as the Canadian troops in Afghanistan, and the troops is one of Warmington's favourite subjects:

The highway has taken him a lot of amazing places in this mad world but Tom Cochrane says he's never very far from our soldiers in Afghanistan.

"A lot of people care about them deeply," the Canadian rock legend said he has noticed from travelling coast to coast.

Now more than ever, he said, is the time to show it.

"We have to be pro troops," he said yesterday. "I support the guys and gals."

In fact his backing of the Canadian troops is as solid as has been his career. Tears form in his eyes as the singer of such hits as Life is a Highway speaks of the valour our Canadian soldiers are showing in Afghanistan.

"I have seen their faces," he said. "Courage is a very quiet thing."...

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