New wave diva, wrestling maven, celebrity apprentice, Gay Pride Grand Marshall, anti-discrimination activist, “Time after Time”, Cyndi Lauper finds a way to stay in the public eye. Mostly through a series of re-inventions, and for her latest, the lady sings the blues.

On the line from NY, Lauper is bubbly and focused on Memphis Blues, a collection of classic Stax-era tunes given the Lauper treatment. Lest you think this is a serious changeup for the lady, she says it ain’t so.

“My interest in the blues goes back to a kid in her bedroom singing the songs of (Fifties r’n’b shouter) Big Mabel, who’s had a place in my music ever since. In the Nineties I was mixing pop with hip hop which put me in a place close to where I could think of this album again”. The genesis of this long-coming album is a 1987 dream starring pianist Oscar Peterson.

In  Canada, we have the tradition of the May 24 long weekend, in honour of Queen Victoria. Being the Commonwealth country, we still uphold this holiday, but not so much as a Birthday recognition of a long ago Monarch, but as the tradition of cottages opening up for the season, gardens getting prepared for the summer flowers, holidays being planned and always the music.

Summer brings the radio stations back to playing hits from the past that we all identify with the season approaching. ‘Summer in the City’ by The Lovin’ Spoonful, ‘Summer Breeze’ by Seals and Croft and of course the Canadian summer anthem ‘Sunny Days’ by our very own Lighthouse. Since Cashbox Magazine was known for Charts in it’s heyday, Cashbox Canada has compiled a list of the Top 30 Songs that represent the summer season.

On first encounter with the speaking voice of Andy Kim, you can hear the richness and passion in his words. And he is not even singing. Kim is a combination of amazed and excited about the release of his new CD, ‘Happen Again’, distributed by E1 Canada.

“The CD was recorded in Los Angeles, but it all came to life when I met Eric Alper last November, and E1 expressed serious interest in promoting and marketing Andy Kim and my new product”, explains Kim. ‘’ I have been living in the U.S. for many years, but Canada has always been my home. It is quite fitting that my launch of this new product is right here – in my home country”.

The country market is filled with great singers, talented songwriters and larger than life performers. That is why it is refreshing to hear a CD that has it all.

This new CD by veteran country rock artist, Don Graham (a founding member of Graham County) has it all. Great story telling songs, amazing production, infectious guitar lines and most of all a voice that will keep you hooked from the first song.

The first track, “GOT WHAT IT TAKES”, says it all. ‘An everyday man of everyday means at home in my t-shirt and my old blue jeans’ captures the image of an average man who is comfortable in his own skin.