Guitar Legend Liona Boyd Shares Reimagined “Summer Dreams” Duet With Olivia Newton-John

Fri Aug 09 2024
Liona Boyd

Nostalgia has a poignant way of folding in upon itself. That’s what’s happened with “Summer Dreams,” the 2013 duet between Canadian guitar icon Liona Boyd and Australian pop superstar Olivia Newton-John.

When it was first released 11 years ago, the song was a simple, heartfelt ode to weekend vacations past. Now that it’s been rereleased in a remixed and updated production, the record has taken on the extra dimension of a moving tribute to a friendship not even death could dim. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juDUrvK4Op0

“Back in 2013, I asked my dear girlfriend of many years, the late Olivia Newton-John, to be my guest on a song for an album I was releasing that year,” Boyd says. “She happily agreed, and I flew down with my producer, Peter Bond, to record her near her home in Jupiter, Florida.

Prepare to Be Enchanted by Liona Boyd's 'Once Upon A Time' Album and Win a Guitar in Her Remarkable Giveaway

Fri Nov 10 2023
Liona Boyd

Liona Boyd, affectionately known as "The First Lady of the Guitar," is set to captivate music lovers worldwide with her upcoming album, "Once Upon A Time." This enchanting musical journey results from a five-year creative voyage, offering listeners a realm of nostalgia, beauty, and timeless imagination. What makes this release even more remarkable is the simultaneous launch of a generous guitar giveaway initiative sponsored by Liona Boyd in collaboration with Yamaha and Long & McQuade music stores.

Experience Nocturn here:

Canada’s First Lady of the Guitar Liona Boyd Celebrates the Romance and Rhythm of Latin Music with L.O.V.E. Featuring New Single “Gracias”

Fri Sep 02 2022
  Canada’s First Lady of the Guitar Liona Boyd Celebrates the Romance and Rhythm of Latin Music with L.O.V.E. Featuring New Single “Gracias”

With a storied, 45-year-plus career filled with success and accolades to reflect on, Canada’s “First Lady of the Guitar” Liona Boyd has certainly earned that title and the international love she and her music have shown. There’s no resting on laurels going on here, just a lot of gratitude, love and new music to share with the world. Liona Boyd’s 29th album, L.O.V.E. has arrived, along with the new single “Gracias” – check it out on YouTube here:

When our global pandemic slowed the world down to an isolated crawl, the multi-honoured guitarist, composer, vocalist, and author was all about the forward momentum of creating new music.

“I was writing and recording extensively over the last three to four years,” the five-time JUNO winner recently told Canadian Musician.

Liona Boyd With Amanda Martinez Releases New Latin Music-Infused “L.O.V.E.”

Fri Nov 05, 2021

In a song celebrating lovers the world over, five-time JUNO Award-winning and Gold - and Platinum-selling Canadian ‘First Lady of the Classical Guitar’ Liona Boyd infuses vibrant Latin flavours into her unmistakable sound in this, her new single, “L.O.V.E. (feat. Amanda Martinez)”.

Serving as the title track to her forthcoming 2022 album, “L.O.V.E.” is the second of seven Latin-flavoured pieces Boyd and her longtime producer Peter Bond have recorded together as of late.

Check out “L.O.V.E. (feat. Amanda Martinez)” on YouTube here:

“Since living in Mexico as a teenager, I’ve always felt an attraction to the catchy Latin rhythms,” Boyd shares of the newly minted tune and the inspiration behind its infectious grooves and uplifting melodies.

“First Lady of the Guitar” Liona Boyd Releases Retro-Disco Remix of Instrumental Hit, “Popcorn”

Fri Aug 27 2021
Liona Boyd

Five-time JUNO Award-winning and Gold- and Platinum-selling Canadian ‘First Lady of the Classical Guitar’ Liona Boyd presents her newly minted version of the instrumental hit “Popcorn” in new single, “Popcorn (Remix)” .

Check out “Popcorn (Remix)” on YouTube here:

A vibrant arrangement for classical guitar, complete with a retro disco feel, “Popcorn (Remix)” is certain to get audiences up, and out of their seats dancing.

“This version of ‘Popcorn’ has been several years in the making,” Boyd reveals of the newly reimagined tune. “I’m so happy to finally be sharing both this instrumental song and video!”

Filmed in Toronto, as well as Palm Beach, Florida, the playful and colourful video radiates Boyd’s love of life — all while continuing to highlight her tenured career enthralling millions with her signature romantic spin on classical, folk, and world music.

Canada’s ‘First Lady of the Classical Guitar’ Liona Boyd Wants to Wish You a “Happy New Year”

Fri Dec 18 2020
Liona Boyd

Multi-award winning and Gold- and Platinum-selling Canadian ‘First Lady of the Classical Guitar’ Liona Boyd — and her multi-talented friend, singer/songwriter Amanda Martinez — want to wish you a very special “Happy New Year” with this, their newest single — available now!

“It occurred to me many years ago that, apart from ‘Auld Lang Syne,’ there was no well-known celebratory song that welcomes in the new year while bidding farewell to the previous one,” Boyd recalls. “Even then, ‘Auld Lang Syne’ is, in itself, a slow and nostalgic song that mostly looks backwards, so I decided to write an upbeat pop song with joyful lyrics that people could enjoy dancing to…

“Play this happy song, be sure to sing along and dance around, even if you’re on your own,” she continues. “I guarantee it will lift your spirits!

Enjoy “Happy New Year (feat. Amanda Martinez)” here:

BTW - Catbite, Omnigone, Liona Boyd, Matt Weidinger, Call Me Malcolm, Martha & Rufus Wainwright, Unison Benevolent Fund, Busty & The Bass

Fri May 15 2020
Catbite

This week’s spotlight: Bluffs Food Bank  33 East Road, Toronto.

Thursdays 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., by appointment, the Bluffs Food Bank is open to give groceries to those who need help.  Sandwiches, hot soup, coffee & tea are available. Drop off grocery or boutique donations on “Welcome Wednesdays” 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Please help Scarborough’s most enduring food bank.

‘First Lady of the Guitar’ Liona Boyd is “Sending Love In The Time Of Corona”

Mon May 11 2020
Sending Love In The Time Of Corona

Multi-award winning and Gold and Platinum-selling Canadian, ‘First Lady of the Guitar’ Liona Boyd is “Sending Love In The Time Of Corona” by way of a new single available now.

Watch and Listen here to “Sending Love In The Time Of Corona”

Proceeds from the song’s release will be directed to the Unison Benevolent Fund to help support musicians and industry professionals with counseling and emergency economic relief.

“While bicycling early one morning near my winter house in Palm Beach, Florida, I was anxiously thinking about my friends, family and fans scattered around the world and how we are all having to cope with rapidly changing times due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Boyd shares of the song and its heartfelt inspiration. “I began to hum the melody and lyrics to a little song, which would become ‘Sending Love In The Time Of Corona.’

Legend Liona Boyd Awarded Lifetime Achievement By National Guitar Museum

Fri Feb 14, 2020

The National Guitar Museum, based in Orlando, Florida and founded to promote and preserve the legacy of the guitar has awarded Liona Boyd their Lifetime Achievement Award.

“Every year The National Guitar Museum recognizes a guitarist who has made a significant contribution to the legacy of the guitar. For the tenth anniversary of our Lifetime Achievement Award, we are presenting it to Liona Boyd. Long known as “The First Lady Of The Guitar,” Liona was one of the first women to popularize the guitar internationally, and was certainly the very first in the world of classical guitar. Her career has been an inspiration to guitarists around the world, and her recording history is among the most extensive of any classical guitarist. Her ability to branch out into the other realms of music, and work with other notable guitarists, makes her unique among her peers. We are honoured to have Liona as the recipient of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Previous lifetime honorees include B.B. King, B.B. King, Glen Campbell and Bonnie Raitt,” said Harvey Newquist, director and founder of the National Guitar Museum.

Liona Boyd No Remedy for Love

Fri Feb 23, 2018

Liona Boyd has lived the kind of life that most folks only dream of. She has performed around the world for kings and queens and world leaders, been awarded the Order of Canada and inducted into the Guitar Gallery of Greats, sold millions of albums, won five Juno awards and was romantically involved with Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. The long-awaited sequel to Liona’s memoir, "In My Own Key", "No Remedy For Love" is a must-have for Liona Boyd fans and music lovers.

We caught up with Liona at her winter home in Palm Beach where she was enjoying the warm weather. “Life is good. I couldn’t be happier. I’m enjoying my home and being creative, writing songs and playing music. I’ve been very fortunate my whole life to achieve what I’ve achieved and still have so much more to do. I love it here in Florida, I do my yoga and I’ve rediscovered bike riding. Keeps me fit. I can still wear the same size clothes I wore in University.”