Barry Stagg was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada where he lived for the first 29 years of his life. Although he resides in the US, he still spends summer months in Nova Scotia and maintains a Canadian address and passport.

He has written and recorded songs for Gamma Records, United Artists, London Records, RCA, and Cashbox Records. Barry is well known for his world hit song "To Love Means To Be Free,” released on his Green and Stagg album in 1969, which earned him the Canadian Business Music Industry’s writing award.

I caught up with Barry at his home and he still has all the enthusiasm of a young artist starting out.

“I just got back off the road doing a US promotional tour for both radio and television for ‘One Heart At a Time”. I was humbled by the reception and accolades we got every stop we made. I feel blessed that after all these years I still get to do what I love most. Write my songs and perform for people. There is nothing better than seeing the reaction to your material.”

Stagg has quite a legendary career behind his name:

Submitted by Sandy Graham

The Academy of Country Music® announced today the first group of performers for the 54th ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS™. Brothers Osborne, Kane Brown, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Reba McEntire, Maren Morris, Thomas Rhett, Chris Stapleton and George Strait will take the stage for can’t-miss live performances at Country Music’s Party of the Year®. The awards telecast, hosted by Reba McEntire, will air LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 7, 2019, at 8:00 PM ET / delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.

As previously announced, ACM Dick Clark Artist of the Decade Award winner Jason Aldean will perform on the telecast. Additional acts and presenters will be announced in the coming weeks.

BTW is given over to saluting the musicians who have so graciously and generously donated their time and energies on my behalf by performing at Lenny, We Got Your Back! This benefit concert for yours truly takes place at the Horseshoe Tavern, Mar.28 with an 8PM showtime. My heartfelt thanks to everyone, and there have been many of you, who have had a hand in making this happen. I am humbled and grateful. Gonna be a hot show, tell your friends.

Jaymz Bee is an artist, musician, philanthropist and broadcaster who has produced countless events, over a dozen albums and been a member of several bands including The Tiki Collective, Tuk, The Royal Jelly Orchestra, Bonzai Suzuki and Look People. He's hosted and/or produced charity events for JAZZ.FM91 (over 16 years), Unison Benevolent Fund, Covenant House and the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation (amongst others).

Few recording artists are as creative and prolific as Bruce Cockburn. Since his self-titled debut in 1970, the Canadian singer-songwriter has issued a steady stream of acclaimed albums every couple of years. But that output suddenly ran dry in 2011 following the release of Small Source of Comfort. There were good reasons for the drought. For one thing, Cockburn became a father again with the birth of his daughter Iona. Then there was the publication of his 2014 memoir Rumours of Glory.

“I didn’t write any songs until after the book was published because all my creative energy had gone into three years of writing it,” Cockburn explains, from his home in San Francisco. “There was simply nothing left to write songs with. As soon as the book was put to bed, I started asking myself whether I was ever going to be a songwriter again.”

Suzi Kory has waited patiently for her time to come to live out her dream of performing under the bright lights and showing her talent to the world. And now the time has come. Born in Beirut Lebanon where the idea of being a performer was not looked upon in the brightest light she and her family relocated to Canada and she discovered the music Guns n Roses and was fascinated by frontman Axl Rose.

“Watching his raw and no inhibitions style and his charisma stirred something in me and it still does” Suzi decided to park her dream and raise a family and having now done that has reignited the spark. “ A few years ago I made the trip to Malibu and looked up where Axl Rose lived. I drove up there and there he was walking down the road in his sweats. I approached and he was amazing. We talked for a while, took a photo and we went our separate ways. But a part of me was so determined to pursue my dream after that encounter’” Her music doesn’t sound like Axl Rose but his determination and showmanship is evident when you see a Suzi Kory show

For the first time ever, the essential studio recordings of Britain’s legendary Zombies and 2019 Inductees into the Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame are assembled in one place on vinyl via Varese Sarabande, Feb 22nd, 2019. This is a 5 Box Vinyl Set which includes two original US albums: She’s Not There/Tell Her No and Odessey & Oracle; Two important compilations: R.I.P which was compiled by CBS Records and intended to be a follow -up to Odessey and Oracle, but then cancelled and never pieced together until now, with only a few tracks appearing on various collections and some originally released as singles, and I Love You, which was only released in the UK and Japan. Also included, a bespoke collection of rare singles and UK-only album tracks: Oddities & Extras. This LP includes new notes from the historical producer/engineer Andrew Sandoval known for multi-artist presentations such as the British Invasion Tour. There are new photos for the album cover and slipcover. This is the most comprehensive vinyl collection of The Zombies’ work ever constructed.

62 Tracks of Pure Psychedelic Jazz-tinged Pop and hours of fascination for the determined diehard fans.

With all the grey clouds and freezing rain, thought we’d start with music bright, warm and of curious intent. Victoria pop experimentalist Lief Hall (a former member of MYTHS/The Mutators) is large in Japan, with a nice fan base and two record labels, Moorworks and Fennelly, which are joint-releasing her entrancing new album Roses For Ruins in Japan. The album, released in North America in April 2018, will be available on CD in Japan on March 6, 2019.

Just out is 'Glass & Obsidian', the second music video from Roses for Ruins. With its minimalist beats, distant reverberating squeals and low hushed vocal choruses, the song uses imagery of the earth's elements colliding and transforming to explore forms of renewal and radical change. Earth, metal, crystal and air emerge throughout this video as themes which bring to life the song’s lyrics through sparse, surreal and fantasy-like environments. Dramatic lighting shimmers reflect and flares accentuate the hypnotic and dream-like quality of the music while dancers explore the sound through austere and sensual movement.

Looking at Michelle Wright it’s hard to believe she is entering her fourth decade in the music business. She looks as good as ever and sounds as good if not better than when was riding the charts as one of country music’s leading ladies of song.

And Michelle is just getting started on a new phase in her career.

We caught with the Canadian treasure at her home in Nashville as she gears up for this next adventure. “On March 14, we will be launching the first performance of An Evening With Michelle Wright, the most intimate show of my recording and touring career. Every night, I get to take folks on a musical journey that will span the years with some of the hits, some songs that influenced my style and new songs from my recent studio sessions with producer Bob Funk. I’ll be able to be up close and comfortable with my audience and folks will also hear stories behind the music as it happened. I’ve always wanted to do that. And I have different configurations for shows, as a single, duo or full band.”The shows are being booked in Canada by Julien Paquin and the team at Paquin Artists Agency with the first show at the Casino Regina in Regina, SK.

Many of you know Lenny. The man about town who supports indie artists and live music everywhere. He is also the Editor here at Cashbox Canada and has stuck it out through good times and bad, making us one of the most popular online music magazines on a national and global level.

His credits and history in the music industry is lengthy: entertainment columnist for The Toronto Star (Canada’s largest newspaper) editor of Music Express (Canada’s national music magazine) as well as stints at The Globe and Mail, Eye, Metro, US industry mag Pollstar, and then of course Cashbox Canada and recently Editor for the American Record World Magazine.

Years ago a chance encounter with an extended dog leash, an inattentive dog owner and Lenny running at full speed created the initial injury. It has now, years later, manifested itself into a now critical situation that is threatening Lenny’s well being and lifestyle.

Which leads us to today. Lenny has now become a research subject, trying to determine why he is in pain 24/7, and many MRIs, scans, wands, prods and pushes and practically being put on the proverbial rack, there is still nothing definitive.

“A day of love, a day of gifts between lovers, also a day of reflection on what makes a healthy relationship”, says Kielley Koyote.

A meaningful rap song and video. Inspired by a friend and indigenous poet, and in commemoration to one woman gone too soon, Canadian rapper Kielley Koyote releases a single that addresses domestic abuse, on Valentine’s Day in hopes people open conversation about healthy relationships. Video (directed and photographed by NL videographer "Riley Harnett Photography") release pays tribute to Murdered and Missing Indigenous women across Canada in honour of a recent victim of abuse that met a terrible demise.

In January, Newfoundland was shaken by the news of Chantel John's murder. The indigenous young woman of Conne River was only 27 when she was murdered by her ex-boyfriend. The news shook Newfoundland, the Maiwpukek First Nations in Conne River and survivors of domestic violence across the Province. Statistics from the Canadian Foundation for Women say a woman is killed every 3 days; at the hands of a partner. Also that Aboriginal women are 6 times more likely to be killed by domestic violence.

Vancouver-based roots musician Buckman Coe has a lot on his plate in 2019. He just released 'Endlessly', the 3rd single from his soon to be released new album Gathering Storm (out February 22nd), and he'll be playing an official artist showcase at Folk Alliance International in Montreal on Feb 13th, before kicking off an Album Release Tour throughout BC and Alberta on March 1st. See below for full tour schedule.

Buckman Coe delves deep into some retro psych soul on his latest single 'Endlessly' with a feature from Portland-based songstress Lynx. Exploring the connection between souls over various lifetimes or pathways, it’s like a sonic and poetic version of the movies Cloud Atlas or Mr. Nobody.

“This song started with the extremely catchy “oooh” section in the chorus and a few delirious late nights jamming after reminiscing and rewatching some of my favourite mind-melting movies about identity, and soul connections over lifetimes," says Buckman Coe.

Anyone who was around when Snow had his breakout hit ‘Informer’ would never think anyone can do it justice in a remake but somehow Puerto Rican hitmaker Daddy Yankee who released

“Con Calma” was produced by Domingo (Big Pun, Fat Joe, KRS-One) and features a cameo—in Spanish—from Snow, as he helps Daddy Yankee reinvent his smash hit single, “Informer,” which spent seven weeks at No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

“It was one of my favourite songs growing up, and to do this the right way I needed the guy to be on the record,” explained Daddy Yankee, who celebrated his 42nd birthday just a few days ago. “You got to give honour to a classic in order to make a new version of it, and once I showed it to him, he said, ‘Wow, it’s amazing. I’ll 100% be on the song.’ So you have a Canadian and a Puerto Rican making Jamaican music. Two pioneers, two people pushing the cultures.”

Jully Black is a true Canadian Icon. Named as one of ‘The 25 Greatest Canadian Singers Ever’, (CBC Music) she has been dubbed ‘Canada’s Queen of R&B Soul’. As a platinum-selling recording artist, her music career has yielded multiple singles reaching the Top 10 pop, R&B and dance music charts. She has taken home Juno and Gemini Awards earned innumerable industry accolades and was hand-selected to sing for the Queen of England.

With her powerhouse vocals, hilarious personality and love of people, Jully Black truly is every woman. Her passion for philanthropy has taken her from the shantytowns of Bangladesh to the villages of South Africa and all across Canada. As a woman of faith, she champions important causes and uses her career as a platform to celebrate and inspire the greatness that lies within each of us.

As a songwriter, Jully has written music that has touched the hearts of her fans and collaborated with industry heavyweights such as Sean Paul, Destiny’s Child, among many others. She has shared the stage with superstars such as The Black Eyed Peas, Kanye West, Celine Dion, Elton John and Etta James to name a few.

Big Win for Ann Vriend! Ann Vriend is more than thrilled that she has won the Toronto Blues Society’s COBALT PRIZE at the recent 2019 Maple Blues Awards event. The event took place Monday night at Toronto’s Koerner Hall where Vriend was handed the award for Contemporary Blues Composition/Songwriting for her song "It’s Happening." Commissioned for a school fundraiser, the students of Sifton Elementary School Choir accompany AV on this empowering and gritty, inner-city soul anthem. This is the second Cobalt prize win for Vriend, who also picked up the prestigious award in 2017 for "All That I Can" (Aporia Records).

As part of the same project, the song “FLAME” was recorded with Edmonton’s Highlands Junior High School

The Toronto Blues Society’s annual Cobalt Prize is judged on a song’s ability to creatively utilize blues traditions within the broad contemporary musical landscape. With a focus on melody, song structure, lyric etc. they also choose the song that “will refresh and enrich blues as an art form."

GRAMMY-winning 12-piece musical ensemble Tedeschi Trucks Band, led by husband and wife, Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi, have announced their new album, Signs, out February 15. Featuring 11 new original songs, the album expands on the group’s omnivorous musical appetites, while facing down troubled times with credence and conviction. World-class musicianship is on full display in the genre-defying collection that runs the gamut from uplifting soulful anthems to bittersweet ballads and driving rock and roll.

The teaser is new single ‘Hard Case,’ which showcases Derek’s peerless guitar work and Susan’s stunning, soulful vocals, done to a rootsy rockabilly shuffle.

“It's Saturday Tonight.”

If there’s one music artist that most if not all Canadians know, it’s Stompin’ Tom Connors. Young or old, the words to “The Hockey Song” are practically encoded in our DNA along with Wade Hemsworth’s Log Driver’s Waltz and Stan Rogers’ Barrett's Privateers.

And much like his songs, Stompin’ Tom’s life story is an unforgettable one, with his legendary journey kicking off at the age of thirteen after running away from his adopted family in Skinners Pond, Prince Edward Island. From there he began his life on the road in Canada, spending thirteen years working odd jobs, writing songs, and literally singing for his supper. This led to that fateful night in Timmins when Maple Leaf Hotel bartender Gaëtan Lepine agreed to sell him a 35 cent beer for 30 cents - and include a free second one - if he would play a few songs. That turned into a 14-month run at the hotel and...well, the rest is history.

This week it’s about music I wasn’t sure about but kept going back anyway.

Soulful, jazz/funk Hammond B3 organ trio JV’S Boogaloo Squad has dropped debut single "SQUADZILLA" (Flatcar Records, Fontana North) and it’s out now and available wherever music is streamed or downloaded. The single is from their soon-come debut album Going ToMarket, which is also now available for pre-order.

They’ve been described as a classic organ trio, very into moving the genre forward, lively showmen who deal in the musicianship of the highest quality, take their craft seriously but know how to have a good time."

The 17th Annual Winterfolk Blues and Roots Festival, taking place in Toronto February 22-24, 2019, is set to present the best of urban, blues, rock, jazz, country, folk and roots music, and will feature returning favourite artists as well as fresh new talent. It’s an all-ages, mid-winter, weatherproof event that emulates a multi-stage rural summer festival. More than 100 artists will be performing at three venues and five stages over a three-day weekend.

Following on the heels of their Friends Sessions comes I Can Hear Music: The 20/20 Sessions. The Beach Boys owed the Capital label one last album before moving own to their own label. The original 20/20 may not have been their most creative release as it contained a number of previously released singles, a few lightweight new songs, and tracks that had been sitting in the vaults. Despite its haphazard nature, it was a solid release. It may not have had an overall cohesiveness but the songs, when taken individually, are better than the whole.

I Can Hear Music: The 20/20 Sessions is only for the hardcore Beach Boys fan, who wants absolutely everything by the band.

There are very few completed songs as the 40 tracks consist mostly of demo’s, early versions, and acapella takes before the music was added. There is an early mono single release of Ersel Hickey’s “Bluebirds Over The Mountain,” and an alternative stereo mix of “Do It Again,” but the gem is “All I Want To Do” with the lead vocal by Dennis Wilson, which is another reminder of just what a beautiful voice he possessed.

Whether you are a country fan or not the signature tune of ‘Forever and Ever – Amen can’t be denied in anyone’s memory of just a stone cold hit song.

Born Randy Bruce Traywick in a small North Carolina town, he learned to play the guitar at the tender age of 8. Two decades later and a slight name change to Randy Travis, the southern superstar has had one of the most successful careers in what is considered staunchly traditional country music.

Now enshrined in the Country Music Hall of Fame, and having survived viral cardiomyopathy and a massive stroke, Travis has lived to tell a tale of stardom, heartache, perseverance and redemption. On May 14th, he will do just that with the release of his memoir, Forever and Ever, Amen: A Memoir of Music, Faith, and Braving the Storms of Life.