On the 50th Anniversary: Judy Collins & The Global Virtual Choir Re-Release Her Version of “Amazing Grace” in Aid of the WHO Solidarity Response Fund, a much needed monetary initiative in the current state of the world crisis.

Over the past few weeks, 1000 singers from across the globe — professional and amateur, alike — answered Judy Collins’ call to sing “Amazing Grace” with her as a sign of solidarity in this unprecedented time.

This new version of Judy’s historic recording is out now, and Ringo Starr, Alan Cumming, Judith Owen, Steve Earle, Madeleine Peyroux, Mandolin Orange, and Tift Merritt — plus internationally known choirs like The Sixteen, New York Choral Society, Voices International, and GOA University Choirare — are just some of the singers who participated in this Global Virtual Chorus event.

All proceeds raised from this single will be going to the World Health Organization Solidarity Response Fund: covid19responsefund.org/

Swedish alt-pop outfit The Magnettes, consisting of front duo Rebecka Digervall and Sanna Kalla and producer Tomas Bäcklund Tuneström reveal their new single “American”, a driving, anthemic Springsteen-esque runaway drama.

“We have a problem with America. Or maybe with ourselves. America is all about the things we love and the things we hate. Since we were babies, it taught us what love was and how to live the dream, and like junkies we swallowed it all in chunks.”

“Dylan, Denny’s and Dawson’s Creek, the twists and turns of teenage drama, extra salt, extra sugar. We viewed the world through that filter and plastered American Romance on our surroundings, until slowly but surely we realized what we already had was kind of OK too.”

Born in Vienna and raised in Canada, Micah cut his teeth in the cabarets and jazz clubs of Toronto while still a teenager before joining A Capella Vocal group The Nylons in 1989. Recording & Touring with the guys brought Micah into the global music scene and a busy concert, TV and Media schedule throughout Europe, Asia and North America, introducing Micah’s rich soulful baritone voice to music fans around the world. 

Micah Barnes joined the globally popular Nylons  as a (baritone from 1990–1994 and In October 24, 1992, The Nylons sang “O Canada”at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia preceding Game 6 of the 1992 World Series in which their hometome team, the Toronto Blue Jays, won their first championship. May 30, 2014, the Nylons performed a show in Toronto which included the participation of every living past or present member of the band. In fall and winter 2016, The Nylons toured and performed their farewell show throughout Canada

In the late 90’s Thomas Wade was a household country radio name, like his hit record said he went from “Zero to Sixty” with Thomas Wade and Wayward, and between 1997 and 1999 they received seven CCMA Awards (winning best group and duo three times and independent single and song awards for ’97 and ’98. They were also nominated for three Juno Awards in ’97, ’98 and ’99, and placed twelve videos in the Top 20 on CMT.

And now he is back but let’s talk about what got him here – back to giving his fans a prime performance on his new single “Haggard and Jones” out to radio now – and as always Thomas Wade along with Colin Amey have nailed it.

Watch the video here:

When Drake Jensen started on his musical odyssey 10 years ago he had two mandates; one - he wanted to do the country music he grew up listening to in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, “I grew up listening to real country music, Patsy Cline, Hank Williams Sr and Merle Haggard.” And two - he wanted to stay true to his identity as a gay man. Being a country artist is a tough enough row to hoe  but being the first openly gay country artist doubled if not tripled his odds.

Drake was the first openly gay country artist in Canada and never once thought about not revealing his homosexuality to make the road easier, like some U.S. artists who built straight careers before coming out and that never really worked out so well.

“I’m proud of who I am and was not going to try and fool people about my preferences to get accepted. It took me a long time and lot of bullying and abuse to get the strength of my conviction. It’s not been easy but worth every minute.”

It seems that Julian Taylor keeps evolving as an artist, covering different genres but he doesn’t really see it that way.

“I’m a singer/songwriter first and foremost and I’m comfortable in many genres.” 

So although to some Julian’s new CD ‘The Ridge’ may sound like a departure of his usual sound to some of us to Julian it’s just how he wants to express himself at this time. And it all makes sense. Labeling can be confusing and limiting. I remember talking to folk legend Eric Andersen about his folksinger legacy and he said he didn’t consider himself a folksinger he was a singer and a songwriter, no need to label it. 

Julian Taylor falls into that category.

The state the world is in right now we could all use some hope and inspiration.

“Music can be very a effective way of speaking to people and letting some positivity and light shine in their lives,” says Canadian singer/songwriter Don Graham, “my hope is it will give the listeners some belief in our fellow man, we’re all in this together.”

Tune in and listen to “You Can Count On Me” here:
https://youtu.be/fAplU7_0Gj4

Stronger Together, Tous Ensemble was a 90-minute Canadian Benefit Concert that aired on April 26, 2020 and was produced and aired during the height of the 2020 COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic and a week after the 2020 Nova Scotia attacks.

How do you start a journey to an unseen but magical desired location? You take a leap of faith, because “that’s how it starts”.

Canadian singer/songwriter Marshall Potts has a new fresh version of “That's How It Starts” and it’s a hit. The song offers an intimate invitation into the heart and soul of the man.

In Marshall Potts’ case the journey is as interesting and inspirational as the destination. The last year has seen Marshall reap the rewards of faith, determination, tenacity and hard work. Realizing this is a marathon not a sprint, he mapped out a plan and strategy that would see him dipping his toes into the ocean of festivals and reaching out to global audiences.

Canadian new wave icons the Spoons are serving a bright dose of inspiration and immense gratitude in this, their newest video for “Landing Lights”.

Watch/Listen on YouTube here:
Landing Lights by Spoons

“Landing Lights” is on the Top 20 Pick Hit Chart for May on www.cashboxradio.ca (available on App for free)

Members Gord Deppe and Sandy Horne’s sentiments stretch two ways, but first and foremost to medical professionals and their ongoing efforts in the face of COVID-19. “We wanted to create a video that reaches out to all of the healthcare workers during this scary time,” Deppe says. “We wanted to thank them, and let them know how grateful we — and the world is — for risking their lives every day for us.”

Internationally-acclaimed rocker and New York City resident, Eden James, applauds people for their displays of compassion and community spirit in these unprecedented times. His newly created single ‘New York’ pays homage to a city that has shown great resilience and a sense of togetherness in a  global crisis, ya gotta love New Yorkers!

A little background on Eden James:

“Growing up in Australia, I was drawn to the sound of the British bands and knew I had to go there to get the full effect of the music. So that was it, I packed up everything and moved to London, where I immediately felt at home and got immersed in the music and the scene. I was like a sponge and started really developing as a songwriter. Then it was off to New York City where I’ve been for over 9 years now. I’m growing every day in my craft and my confidence here in this amazing city.”

The release of ‘New York’is timely for the international rocker, Eden James.

With 23 gold singles, 9 platinum albums and over 100 million records sold worldwide and 32 Billboard hot 100 chart hits, you would think Tommy James (of Shondells fame) would be happy to rest on his laurels and enjoy the royalties that come along with that type of fame.

But that is not the personality or persona of the indefatigable Tommy James.

Speaking to him in his home in New Jersey, it feels like you are talking to an artist in his 20’s just about to launch a new career. He is enthusiastic, curious and still one of the most talented, legendary artists in the business. He tells it straight and not just straight, but straight from the heart.

“I was four years old when my grandfather, Claude Jackson, bought me a ukulele. I loved that thing and played it constantly,” remembers Tommy with a warmth in his voice.

Photo Credit Aleko Alvarez Chamizo

They say that music has no borders, and this is a true fact when it comes to the Royal Flash. I had the pleasure of seeing them perform in Canada at Indie Week 2020 and they did not disappoint.

Cashbox caught up with them back in their home settings in a town outside of Madrid, Spain and they had much to say of how they came to make Royal Flash a reality. Here are there Top Ten Answers:

1) How long have you been together and how did Royal Flash meet?

Jaime and myself have been lifelong friends since primary school and we met Israa later on and also Ray. Edu is the latest addition to the band from a year and a half ago and it was love at first sight.

2) Was there anyone in your families who were musically inclined? if so who?

Yes especially Miguel and Ray’s families. Miguel’s father is an amazing guitarist as well as making his own music, so he grew up surrounded by music and started playing from a very early age. Ray comes also from a renowned musical family on the Madrid music scene.

Tower of Power is an American R&B-based horn section and band, originating in Oakland, California, that has been performing since 1968. 

There have been a number of lead vocalists, the most well-known being  Lenny Williams, who fronted the band between early 1973 and late 1974, the period of their greatest commercial success. They have had eight songs on the  Billboard Hot 100; their highest-charting songs include "You're Still a Young Man",  "So Very Hard to Go", "What Is Hip?", and "Don't Change Horses (in the Middle of a Stream)".

In the summer of 1968, tenor saxophonist/vocalist Emilio Castillo met Stephen "Doc" Kupka, who played baritone sax. Castillo had played in several bands, but Castillo's father told his son to "hire that guy" after a home audition.

Within months the group, then known as The Motowns, began playing various gigs around Oakland and Berkeley, their soul sound relating to both minority and rebellious listeners. 

My Son the Hurricane is a multi horn, multi drummer, multi singer brass funk beast—No dance floor is safe. The giant band returned with a full-length album “Ride the Bullet” (Vegas Funeral Records) in 2019 and a 7 month Canada/USA/European tour that saw over 50 sold-out shows. Hurricane features a large horn section, full-throttle rhythm section and 2 SUPER energetic front people and has been called a “brass beast thrift shop circus” and are like a voltage enhanced Lawrence Welk.

They work hard to be “the most energetic act in North America” and with 100 plus dates a year and headlining spots all over North America this 10-12 piece act has been catching the attention of the global buyers as well as fans.

Hailing from Niagara/Toronto, the perennial festival closers and dance floor inciters mix New Orleans style grooves with funk, jazz and hip hop.

You may not know the name Peter Åstedt but if you’ve been to a major music festival anywhere on the planet in the last 10 years or so, chances are real good you’ve seen him there, doing his usual networking, connecting and introducing his colleagues to each other.

“I probably attend close to 50 musical festival events a year around the globe as a panellist and ambassador for my birth country,” Åstedt said from his home in Sweden. 

The amiable Åstedt is a wealth of knowledge and wisdom and his unassuming approach to his interactions with his associates and panel mates is a large part of his success.

The talented artist who showed us that ‘the heart of rock & roll is still beating’ is back with a new 7 song offering, and my personal opinion is this is a ‘Lucky 7’ EP – with seven awesome tracks from the cheeky bad boy of the 80’s Huey Lewis.

In an interview a few years ago with David Letterman Huey  Lewis talked about hitchhiking across the country and how he learned to play the harmonica while waiting for rides. He talked about hanging out at the airport for three days until he stowed away on a plane to Europe. In later interviews, Lewis would reveal other encounters he had traveling around Europe. While visiting Aberdeen Scotland, with no money and nowhere to sleep, he claimed that the locals were very hospitable by offering him somewhere to stay. In Madrid, Spain, he became an accomplished blues player as he hitchhiked and supported himself by busking with his harmonica. He gave his first concerts in Madrid, earning enough money to buy a plane ticket back to the US.

The fifth edition of the leading music conference and showcase festival in Romania, Mastering the Music Business (MMB) is taking place between 17-19 March 2020 in Bucharest. MMB is dedicated to all independent artists and professionals in the music industry. At MMB, key professionals from the local & international music business and related industries come together to discuss various relevant topics.

More than 500 attendants each year- successful artists, business managers, booking agents, record company execs, PR agents, online & digital specialists, advertisers, radio broadcasters, publishers, songwriters etc. – are exchanging know-how and ideas under the same roof.

MMB 2020 in short:

Iconic British pop pioneers The Zombies announced a North American tour which includes three Southern U.S. dates in Baton Rouge, Birmingham and Biloxi, before heading North for eight shows in Canada.  These dates will follow the group's performances at sea aboard two popular music cruises - The Flower Power's 5th Anniversary Cruise and the On The Blue Cruise - both sailing the Caribbean Sea out of Miami.

The Zombies will perform selections from their 50+ year career, which began with the 1964 smash “She’s Not There”, and show no signs of slowing down.  In fact, the band will be debuting new material on this tour, as founding keyboardist Rod Argent shares: "We’re so excited because we’ve started to record tracks now for our next album, and we’ll definitely be including two or three of those new tracks in our live show!"

Watch The Zombies “She’s Not There”
Live on Hullabaloo 1965
https://youtu.be/_2hXBf1DakE

Legendary singer-songwriter James Taylor releases his new album, American Standard on February 28th, 2020 via Fantasy Records. The album's lead track, the Gene De Paul / Sammy Cahn classic, "Teach Me Tonight”.

Watch the Official Video here: https://youtu.be/vbeQqteag_k

The new collection marks Taylor's 19th studio album and his first release since 2015's Before This World, his first #1 career album. On American Standard, Taylor infuses new sounds and fresh meaning into these timeless works of art, reimagining some of the most beloved songs of the 20^th century and making them completely his own.