Submitted by Cashbox Canada
Photo: Sonny Burgess, performing at the Country Music Hall Of Fame in Nashville in 2015

Rockabilly singer, songwriter and guitarist Sonny Burgess passed away on August 18, 2017 in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Burgess made his career when he became one of Sam Phillips/Sun Records' stars, with signatory whoops and howls all along accompanied by his furious guitar.

Born May 28, 1929, Burgess was raised on a farm near Newport, Arkansas. He grew up listening to shows from the Grand Ole Opry, and started out playing with friends in local bars and dance halls in a band they called The Rocky Road Ramblers. His original dream was to be a professional baseball player, but after a couple of years spent in the minor leagues, Burgess entered the U.S. Army, and served in West Germany during the Korean War. After advice from Sun record producer Sam Phillips, the group expanded to form the Pacers, at first called the Newport Pacers. Burgess was sharing dates with the likes of Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash.

Marketing, promotions and PR firm, The AristoMedia Group has announced two redefined positions. This announcement is released in conjunction with the rebranding of AristoMedia’s digital department.

Formally known as AristoWorks, the rebranded digital department is now AristoDigital. The continued goal for AristoDigital is to provide first-class digital marketing, content promotion, influencer engagement, online advertising, SEO, building websites, and design & development services to clients.

Casey Childers has been named Brand & Creative Coordinator. Childers will focus on providing artistic direction for branding & promotion, content curation and strategy, and digital advertising. A graduate of the University of North Alabama, Childers earned a dual degree in entertainment industries and marketing. Childers interned at Bluewater Music before joining AristoMedia’s digital team in April 2016. Childers can be reached at casey@aristomedia.com.

Multi-media, modern rock band, Starset, recently passed the 1 billion milestone total views on YouTube with their official videos and User Generated Content (UGC) videos combined. The band’s cinematic sound and rabid fan-base have driven huge numbers at the video streaming service with fans uploading an unprecedented amount of their own videos using the band’s music, giving the band, led by singer, Dustin Bates, an unparalleled digital foothold. Starset’s stronghold at radio has added to this ascension with the band’s first single from new album, Vessels, Monster, currently the #2 most played song of the year at mainstream rock.

Starset tapped into powerful YouTube communities including anime and gaming, which are much larger than that of music on the platform. Many fan-uploaded Starset videos have hit multi-million views and YouTube data shows Starset videos gaining nearly two million new views per day. With only two albums released to date, Starset has exceeded the total view counts of most other contemporary rock bands and have views in the same league as the Foo Fighters, Muse, Bring Me the Horizon and AWOLNATION.

\When I got the word that Glen Campbell had passed away my reaction wasn’t the same as when I heard of other passings. When Glenn Frey passed I was shocked, when George Jones and Merle Haggard passed I was sad, when Canadian teen idol and friend Bobby Curtola passed I was devastated. But when I heard about Glen Campbell passing the first word that came to mind was finally, finally free from the grip of that horrible disease Alzheimer’s. I was also terribly sad and nostalgic to hear but felt a great relief for him and his family. The last days of his life he couldn’t speak, communicate or interact in any way. Who knows for sure what was going on in his head. His family released a statement on his website “It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and legendary singer and guitarist, Glen Travis Campbell, at the age of 81, following his long and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease … In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Glen Campbell Memorial Fund at Bright Focus Foundation through the CareLiving.org donation page.”

Severn Records announces an October 6 release date for The Last Shade of Blue Before Black, the new album from the legendary Original Blues Brothers Band, featuring guitarist Steve Cropper and sax player “Blue Lou” Marini, with special guests Eddie Floyd, Joe Louis Walker, Paul Shaffer, Dr. John, Matt “Guitar” Murphy and Joe Morton.

“Had anyone told me in 1978 that in 2017 I would still be traveling around the world and playing with the Blues Brothers’ Band, I would have said they were out of their minds,” says “Blue Lou” Marini. “But, amazingly here we are with a new CD and still playing all over the world. This album is a true labor of love and I’m so proud of the organic way it came about. We really wanted to honor our history and to include some of our favorite musicians that we’ve worked with and loved over the years. We have the legends, Eddie Floyd and Dr. John, plus our original band leader, Paul Shaffer and the great bluesman Joe Louis Walker.

Music Canada has recently unveiled new updates to their Album Award protocol, which will now include digital song sales and stream count equivalents towards new certifications. This new development has had huge implications towards Open Road Recording’s overall roster, deeming five albums certified Gold, and one album has become certified Triple Platinum.

“It’s exciting to see digital analytics now taken into account, and the numbers overall speak to the success of the country genre when it comes to streaming and downloads. We are so proud to see Dean add 3 Gold Albums to his long list of accolades, as well as Tim Hicks, High Valley and Johnny Reid,” said Ron Kitchener, Founder of RGK Entertainment.

The following albums have been added to the overall totals:

GOLD:
· Dean Brody – Trail In Life
· Dean Brody – Crop Circles
· Dean Brody – Gypsy Road
· Tim Hicks – Throw Down
· High Valley – County Line

TRIPLE PLATINUM:
· Johnny Reid – Dance With Me

Credit Wikipedia

Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers were a soul band from Vancouver, British Columbia Canada. The group recorded for the Gordy Records (division of Motown Records) in 1968, where they had a top 30 hit single, "Does Your Mama Know About Me". As a producer and solo artist, Bobby Taylor contributed to several other soul recordings, both inside and outside of Motown. Taylor is most notable for discovering and mentoring The Jackson 5. Tommy Chong was a member of Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers before he became famous as a comedian.

Bobby Taylor, born February 18, 1934 in Washington, DC, was raised in Washington. As a young man, he moved to New York City and sang in doo-wop groups with singers who later joined successful acts such as Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers and Little Anthony and the Imperials.[1] In 1958 he began his music career as a member of The Four Pharaohs, who released a few locally-selling recordings in the Columbus, Ohio area.

As fans eagerly followed weeks of speculation of exciting artist announcements, Jones & Jones Productions Ltd has revealed the full lineup for JAMBANATM One World Festival 2017. Returning to the Markham Fair Grounds, 10801 McCowan Road in Markham, ON, Sunday, August 6 and Monday, August 7, Canada’s festival devoted to reggae and world music will feature two days of music from over 35 globally acclaimed music, comedy and dance acts.

This year's legendary roster welcomes a diverse range of fan favorites and newcomers, including Wayne Wonder, Culture, 5-time JUNO Award winner Exco Levi, Leroy Sibbles, Half Pint, Dancehall giant Assassin and more.

Tickets for the 8th annual gathering are on sale now and at the door - $20 advance, $25 at the door, children under 5 are free, and children 5-10 years of age are $5. VIP tickets are $50 in advance and $55 at the door. Children’s VIP are $35. Services charges apply

Just released - legendary punk band Descendents share their video for “Without Love.” The emotionally charged track appears on 2016’s Hypercaffium Spazzinate—the band’s first album in 12 years.

Watch the video for “Without Love” here: https://youtu.be/NlA3HrmnNGM

Partially animated—and co-starring the classic Milo cartoon—“Without Love” captures moments from Descendents’ kinetic live show. The video also features behind-the-scenes footage from the band’s recent tours, complete with backstage badminton.

“Without Love” is the first proper video from Hypercaffium Spazzinate, which was released in July 2016. The heavy-hearted but anthemic song was mainly written by drummer Bill Stevenson, with its lyrics alluding to some major health troubles he suffered years ago.

The National Music Centre (NMC) is pleased to launch a new temporary exhibition honouring iconic Canadian singer-songwriter k.d. lang.

The exhibition, called Big, Big Love: k.d. lang on Stage, will be in the National Bank Private Banking 1859 Special Exhibitions Gallery on Level 5 of Studio Bell, and trace the versatile performer’s evolution as one of Canada’s most-loved artists.

“Working on this exhibition with NMC made me look back a bit on my life as a performance artist challenging norms, and how my evolving style became just as important as the performance itself,” said k.d. lang. “I hope the public enjoys the exhibition as much as I’ve enjoyed performing in those pieces and playing those instruments over my career. I can’t think of a place more suited than Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre, to preserve those memories and share them with my fans.”

In the tightknit musical community of Austin, Texas, it’s tough to get away with posturing. You either bring it, or you don’t.

If you do, word gets around. And one day, you find yourself dueting with Bonnie Raitt or standing onstage with the Allman Brothers at New York’s Beacon Theater and trading verses with Susan Tedeschi. You might even wind up getting nominated for a Best Blues Album Grammy — three times in a row. And those nominations would be in addition to your seven Blues Music Awards, three Austin Music Awards, the Grand Prix du Disque award from the Académie Charles-Cros in France, and a Living Blues Critics’ Award for Female Blues Artist of the Year.

There’s only one Austinite with that résumé: Ruthie Foster.

Canadian wild boys, The Wild!, debuted another wild and crazy music video for their track, Livin' Free, off their new LP, Wild At Heart, exclusively via Alternative Press Magazine. Directed by longtime collaborator Stuey Kubrick, this is the second video we've seen from the band off this release. Their first video for Ready to Roll can be watched here.

"This song is basically a huge cheers to the best years of your life," says frontman, Dylan Villain. "The lyrics in the chorus say it all, 'One for the sun comin' up in the streets. And for the nights we never sleep. Here's to the ones still livin' free.' What a time we had making this one, man. Straight up livin' hard... and LIVIN' FREE!" 

London is gearing up for the return of the Nashville Meets London Music Festival at Canary Wharf. The festival that brings the sounds of the south will once again fill the air at Canary Wharf’s Canada Square Park, Saturday and Sunday, July 22-23. The two-day event is open to the public and free for all to come and enjoy.
Nashville Meets London is on its way to becoming a firm fixture in London’s music calendar and this July will showcase established and exciting new talent from the heart of country music, Nashville, Tennessee and the UK.

This year’s talent lineup will feature US-based acts Russell Dickerson, Lucie Silvas, Ashley Campbell, Sam Outlaw, Angaleena Presley, and Jo Smith, alongside UK-based acts Flats & Sharps, Wildwood Kin, Kevin McGuire, and Raintown.

Legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, Grammy Winner, New York Times Best-Selling Author, and Co-Founder of The Beach Boys, Mom e Love, is set to release a new studio version of the 1968 Beach Boys classic, "Do It Again," featuring the vocals of Mark McGrath of rock band Sugar Ray and honorary Beach Boy John Stamos on drums. "Do it Again" is streaming and available for download worldwide beginning today, July 4th on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon, and more. To listen to the song, click here: http://smarturl.it/MikeLove-DoItAgain.

The single is set for release via BMG as The Beach Boys headline a special Fourth of July concert on the West Lawn of U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. McGrath and Stamos will join the concert which will be broadcast on PBS as part of the annual "A Capitol Fourth" special also featuring The Blues Brothers, The Four Tops and Sam Moore.

Founded and fronted by émigré Trinidadian songwriter Drew Gonsalves, Kobo Town’s music has been variously described as “an intoxicating blend of lilting calypsonian wit, dancehall reggae and trombone-heavy brass”(Guardian) and a “unique, transnational composite of rhythm, poetry and activist journalism.”(Exclaim!) From their home in Toronto, the JUNO-nominated group has brought their distinct calypso-inspired sound to audiences across the world, from Port-of-Spain to Paris and from Montreal to Malaysia.

At once brooding and joyous, intensely poetic and highly danceable, Gonsalves’ songs betray deep roots in Caribbean folk music, while the band delivers them with an indomitable energy that has earned them a considerable following far beyond the niche of world music enthusiasts and calypso fans.

Canadian Music Week has announced the launch of the 1st Annual CMW Sync Awards as part of the Global Creators Summit. The Sync Awards recognize the contribution that sync makes to the creative industries in Canada.

Nominees will include music supervisors, sync teams, publishers, record companies plus the worlds of broadcast and advertising. This event will honour the achievements of music in film, television, advertising and brands, video games and online media.

Submissions open in the fall of 2017 where each category has been selected to acknowledge the importance of music placement and the collective achievements of an individual artist.

The awards will be judged by a panel of industry professionals according to commercial and creative criteria.

The Sync Awards is created by Canadian Music Week in association with Sync Summit.

Returning for its ninth year this September, the Canadian Music Café capitalizes on the international attention placed on Toronto during the Toronto International Film Festival to bring the very best in new Canadian music to the ears of film and television music supervisors and the filmed media community gathering at TIFF.

With alumni such as City and Colour, Hannah Georgas, Rose Cousins, Charlotte Cardin, Doomsquad, Martha Wainwright, Scott Helman, Dear Rouge and Terra Lightfoot, the Canadian Music Café has consistently been a launch pad for rising Canadian talent, facilitating connections that lead to song placements in films, television programs and commercials, including Reign, Mary Kills People, The Bold Type, Grey’s Anatomy, Degrassi, Castle, Beauty and The Beast, Ugly Betty, The L Word and more.

The 2017 edition of the Canadian Music Café takes place September 11th and 12th in the heart of downtown Toronto (venue to be announced soon). Canadian artists are encouraged to apply for showcase consideration at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/cndmusiccafe2017.

Honey Jam, now in its 22nd year, completed a nation-wide search in Canada for female artists, ages 14-25, representing pop, hip hop, jazz, soca, r&b, gospel, rock, dancehall, blues, alternative, opera, country – all styles of music. Artists at the live auditions in Toronto had one minute to show their talent in front of a dozen music industry judges including the legendary Director X. "One of the most inspiring things to watch is young people going after their dreams," said Ebonnie Rowe, founder of Honey Jam.

The hair flying rock 'n roll of J. Roddy Walston & The Business is back and the quartet has released their first new song in four years; titled "The Wanting".

The band's forthcoming record came to life in their own Richmond, VA recording studio and was co-produced by the band and Phil Ek (Fleet Foxes, Father John Misty, Built To Spill). It will be released this fall. "I personally fell in love with writing music again," Walston explained. "It took awhile but once I realized I had room to try things that I had never tried before, I became addicted to the process." He elaborated further by explaining how "The Wanting" describes the relationship of an estranged father and son: "Even though it is a dark song with a brutal ending, I find hope and beauty in the idea of these two people that had a shared sense of both regret and longing for each other."

As one half of Peter & Gordon, Peter Asher‘s voice “literally soared through Carnegie Hall” (Fox News), while Albert Lee has been called “the ultimate virtuoso” by Eric Clapton. Influenced from their earliest days as musicians and performers by great American artists like Buddy Holly and The Everly Brothers, Peter Asher and Albert Lee bring those influences to the fore in their first series of shows together as an acoustic duo.

Albert Lee began his career as a touring musician in the early sixties, and soon catapulted onto the stage with the likes of Joe Cocker, Eric Clapton, and Emmylou Harris. A 25 year run as Music Director of his beloved Everly Brothers coincided with studio and stage work with Vince Gill, Roseanne Cash, and also Paul McCartney & Ringo Starr (“The Concert for George”). Even with all this, he found the time for over 10 solo and band albums under his own moniker. His numerous studio sessions have led to 4 Grammy Awards nominations and two awards.