I’m honoured that I'm still remembered for my work as songwriter-in-residence for CBC radio. Best known was my work as a regular guest on “Basic Black”.. Arthur Blacks' National show, wherein I was required to write a rather silly song every week based on one of the interviews or features on the show. I also did a regional show in Southern Ontario as part of the “Ontario Morning Programme” called Hometown Tunes, 30 years ago, and I'm pleased to say that there's now a touring live show with the best of the songs.
The idea was that listeners would write me letters (Often beautifully hand-written ones!)- about something that they would consider ‘songworthy’ from their towns. An historic incident, a local character, a current event, etc. . I’d pick a letter each week, write a song about the topic suggested, and perform it live on the air in Toronto, usually at 7:30 in the morning after driving in from MY hometown of Guelph. Some of the songs ended up in the repertoire of my former band Tamarack too, so the songs had a good afterlife.
This project gave me a valuable connection with much of small-town Ontario: name a town, I probably have a song about it!
Last year Kerrie Gill at the Woodstock Museum discovered the songs I had written with Woodstock themes in her archives. (It’s a dubious honour to be archived in a museum):) She asked if I could do a presentation about the whole ‘Hometown Tunes’ experience in an informal performance/chat, of course featuring the Woodstock songs, ( including one about a famous murder there). I put a programme together and it was really appreciated by the attendees. With the basic presentation complete, I’m now offering it in other towns featured in the series: , at museums, libraries and town halls.
Here's me singing a ghost story from Sterling Ontario: Spook's Hollow!
AND … Here's a highway robbery tale from Tweed ON.
AND: from pretty Tobermory ON on the Bruce Penninsula: Ice-Breaking Day
AND Here’s a link to one of the two albums that were produced from the radio broadcasts so you can check out some of the other songs.
In Benefit of SCAN- Seniors For Climate Action Now
Canadian songwriter, playwright, author, activist and former politician James Gordon has a history of producing topical ‘one-man’ shows. His last, “James Gordon’s Emergency Climate Musical” was a success across the country, so much so that there’s demand for a reboot since the show didn’t actually seem to solve that crisis. In looking at the possibilities, James observed that nothing can really be accomplished in climate mitigation until we work to remove the biggest obstacle in keeping our planet sustainable and thriving: the Oligarchy!
Smashing the Oligarchy, filled with insights, humour, visual images and some grim reality observations, has 15 original songs, some ranting, and a post-show discussion. Tuesday June 2.
296 Broadview is not yet a fully wheelchair accessible venue, with stairs between all levels. Our goal is to fix that, and we need your support to do so - please consider making a donation towards our goals to make HRL the best listening room in Toronto!
