11/14/2008 - THE LEBLANC NEWSLETTER - ISSUE #25
QUICK TAKES
RANDOM CHUCKLE
FINAL NOTE
MOVERS AND SHAKERS
DON CHERRY SURE KNOWS HOW TO WRITE A TRIBUTE
LIKE A COCKROACH, METRONOME LIVES ON
THE CANADIAN MUSIC CREATORS COALITION—THE BLEAT GOES ON

In this issue:        TOP
* Shopping with Loreena.
* Chuck McCoy (Still Sagacious After all These Years).
* Ian Tyson, Still A Stud at 75.
* Swing Like a Metronome.
* Now that Steven Page Has Some Free Time.

QUICK TAKES        TOP
. Canadian independent label Quinlan Road is offering customers via its web store a complete and immediate 112 K download of Loreena McKennitt’s new recording “A Midwinter Night's Dream” as well as all albums from all of her catalog when they order the CD. The offer runs until Jan. 31, 2009. McKennitt seeks to ensure that her fans have the music while they wait for the new recording to arrive.

Hop to Loreena shop at: http://quinlanroad.com/explorethemusic/5.asp

. CBC-TV’s “The Hour” host George Stroumboulopoulos received the Bob Edwards Award today (Nov. 14, 2008) in Calgary. Stroumboulopoulos is a former MuchMusic VJ (Yo George, that handle follows both you and CNN’s John “J.D.” Roberts forever). The award is passed out to Canadian journalists who possess the same literary spirit as Edwards whom columnist Allan Fotheringham calls “the finest journalist Canada has ever had the pleasure of reading.” Edwards passed in 1922 after irregularly publishing the Calgary Eye Opener for 20 years.

. It may have taken him 12 album and over a decade but Nova Scotia MC/producer Classified (Luke Boyd) has signed with a major label, Sony Music Canada. The Enfield, Nova Scotia (population 3,245) home boy was scouted in the mid ‘90s by several Canadian majors who all passed. Classified is currently guesting on the Canadian, UK and European tours of D-12 with Royce Da 5’9”, Obie Trice and Joe Budden. A new album drops March, 2009.

. With the recent passing of legendary Canadian punk rocker
Frankie Venom (aka Frank Kerr) at 51, Teenage Head co-founder/guitarist Gord Lewis has announced the establishment of a foundation to support artists and those in related occupations with financial burdens due to illness, accident, or old age. Revenues from Frankie Venom and Teenage Head tribute shows will support the creation of this benefit fund. A number of other related initiatives will soon be announced.

Teenage Head is slated perform with guest vocalists during the 2008 Hamilton Music Awards ceremony on Nov. 14 at Hamilton Place. The band will also be receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award. Lewis has a substantial amount of Teenage Head video footage, demos and outtakes. Some of these rarities will be released in 2009.

. Canadian filmed entertainment studio Lions Gate Entertainment has entered into a strategic relationship with Wind-up Records. Lionsgate will exclusively use music from Wind-up Records for its VH1 reality show “Scream Queens,” including Thriving Ivory, Civil Twilight, and Tickle Me Pink as well as feature Wind-up acts, such as Seether, in the upcoming TV action thriller “Punisher: War Zone” premiering Dec. 5, 2008, with the soundtrack dropping Nov. 26.

. Nettwerk Music Group has joined up with Naxos Music Library, the streaming audio resource owned by classical label Naxos. Nettwerk's catalog, including Sarah McLachlan, Delerium, Griffin House, Jars of Clay, Josh Rouse, Junkie XL, Ladytron, Old Crow Medicine Show, and Sixpence None the Richer will be available on Naxos Music Library which launched in 2004.

. According to the Canadian Assn. of Broadcasters’ Report on the Industry, broadcasting accounts for 16% of Canada’s cultural sector’s GDP and represents 9% of direct employment in cultural industries. The report notes that private broadcasters contributed $1.6 billion to Canadian content through Canadian Content Development payments (radio) and on Canadian programming (TV) in 2006-07.

. Astral Media Radio has launched Orbyt, a new national content and marketing division with Jean-Marie Heimrath as president and GM. The new company, also Canada's largest radio syndication network, is intended to reposition the broadcaster's entertainment, lifestyle, and sports content into media brands for web, mobile and other new delivery platforms. Plans also include showcasing emerging Canadian talent through Media Lab, an Astral Media initiative.

. GlassBOX Television will launch AUX , Canada’s first interactive, cross-platform channel dedicated to new music, on Nov. 24, 2008 at www.aux.tv. AUX will feature videos, live performance, artist interviews, in-depth profiles, and news. GlassBOX Television has an application before the CRTC for a category 2 specialty television license for the service.

. Gary Fung, who operates Canadian-based IsoHunt.com search engine has asked the Supreme Court of British Columbia to rule on whether he is violating the Canadian Copyright Act. His action follows receiving letters in May from the Canadian Recording Industry Assn. demanding he take down links to copyrighted music material by its clients. Fung, however, maintains his search-engine website, with BitTorrent files links to more than 1.5 million files online, doesn’t break any laws. While the Motion Picture Assn. of America launched legal action against IsoHunt in 2006, CRIA has yet to do so.

. Toronto-based Yangaroo Inc. has integrated its Digital Media Distribution System (DMDS) with the MusicMaster Scheduling software produced by A-Ware Software based in Brookfield, Wisconsin. As a result, the more than 2,800 MusicMaster Scheduling software users at radio stations worldwide can now import new music and track info available through Yangaroo’s DMDS directly into their music library.

. On Nov. 1, 2008 BBC Radio 2 broadcast a fascinating documentary "The Fourth, The Fifth, The Minor Fall" on Leonard Cohen’s song "Hallelujah.” Summing up, BBC host Guy Garvey said Cohen had "brought a beautiful song into this world and 'let her go'.” Contributors to the program included Helen Walford, Allison Crowe, Kathryn Williams, John Lissauer, Andy Wallace, Imogen Heap, Alex Patsavas, The Bishop of Croydon, Brandi Carlile, Jim Devlin, Christine Collister and John Walsh (Starsailor).

The December '08 issue of Mojo magazine also celebrates Cohen with an accompanying CD tribute and a retrospective "The Incredible Resurrection of Rock's Greatest Poet" by journalist Sylvie Simmons, alongside a separate piece by Phil Alexander. The 15-track "Cohen Covered” features Allison Crowe, Judy Collins, Dion, Linda Thompson, Katie Melua, Nick Cave, and Susanna and the Magical Orchestra.

. Chart Communications, publisher of Chart magazine, has relaunched its website, CHARTattack.com. It now features daily music news; specific content feeds; and sharing and bookmarking tools for readers to save and share content via Facebook, Digg, MySpace, etc. Check: http://chartattack.com

. On Nov. 19, 2008, the Mariposa Folk Festival will induct its former artistic director, the late Estelle Klein as well singer/songwriter/producer Ken Whiteley into its Hall of Fame. Joining Whiteley on stage at Hugh's Room in Toronto will be Sylvia Tyson, Al Simmons, Brent Titcomb, Eve Goldberg, Mose Scarlett among others.

. Toronto-based music publisher ole now represents the publishing interests of Toronto-based livetronica band the New Deal. Formed in 1998, the trio is currently planning a 10th anniversary live album for a 2009 release.

. Canadiana music aficionados might note that the newly-released film “Real Time” released Nov. 7, 2008, features Abraham’s Children’s 1972 hit “Goodbye Farewell.” The Toronto band, renamed The Children, disbanded in 1976 following the album “Time” and a string of Canadian hits, including “Gypsy,” “Thank You,” and “Goddess of Nature” "Goodbye Farewell" was released in Italian as "Bye Bye Bambina Occhi Blue.”

.Mediaedge:cia recently announced the findings of a study that examines what Canadian hockey fans think about the sport. The findings revealed that fighting in hockey is generally, if not unanimously, viewed as an important part of the sport. It also found that fans think Saturday nights won't be the same without the familiar "Hockey Night in Canada" anthem. The study notes that Canadian hockey fans were also not active in picking the new theme.

RANDOM CHUCKLE        TOP
Canadian Music Week may have a budding literary giant on its payroll. A recent CMW press release announced that “radio stalwart and sagacious luminary” Chuck McCoy (aka “The Chucker”) will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual Canadian Music Industry Awards on March 12, 2009.

Just so you know (I didn’t), sagacious means knowing, sage, balanced, judicious, levelheaded, prudent, rational, reasonable, sensible, sound, well-founded etc.

The CMW release further indicates that McCoy has long been “a regal force in the Canadian radio broadcasting industry.” Wow, “a regal force.” Damn impressive.

Currently executive VP of programming and marketing at Rogers Radio stations across Canada, McCoy has, in fact, been a standup guy in Canadian broadcasting for decades. He began his career as an on-air announcer at CKY Winnipeg in 1965, followed by a six-year stint at Toronto’s AM powerhouse CHUM, and being PD at CFUN in Vancouver.

McCoy was also a founding director of FACTOR and former chairman of Radio Starmaker Fund.

There’s no mention in CMW’s release of McCoy’s brief stint at CKFH-- Toronto’s dysfunctional counterpart to WKRP--where Don Daynard, Keith Hampshire, Duff Roman, and John Donabie also all worked before successes elsewhere.

But there is six minute on-air CKFH clip of The Chucker from 1968 at: http://rockradioscrapbook.ca/air1968.html.

A great set of pipes, as they say in radio land.

FINAL NOTE        TOP
. Blair MacLean, the surviving member the Winnipeg-based XXX-rated rock duo MacLean & MacLean died Oct. 29, 2008 due to a heart attack. He was 65.

His brother Gary, who was also a radio personality, died of cancer in 2001.

Although the brothers were born in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia., they decided made their homes in Winnipeg. Guess Who front man Burton Cummings was a huge fan of the duo and often appeared locally with them. Cummings also appeared on and produced their album “Bitter Reality.”

MacLean & MacLean released 7 albums and performed over 150 shows a year between 1972-1998. While they made guest appearances on Canadian radio and TV shows, they never had radio hits because of the adult nature of their songs.

MacLean & MacLean songs that can be printed here include: "Doggie Vom," "Bob & Juanita," "Cocaine Hoe Down” and “I've Seen Pubic Hair” (to the tune of Hank Snow’s “I've Been Everywhere”).

After Gary was diagnosed with throat cancer, he and Blair teamed up one final benefit performance to raise money for Gary's family. The show drew more than 2,600 people.

. Veteran Canadian broadcaster Ian Byers, the former owner of Huntsville, Ontario radio station CFBK-FM, passed away in Huntville’s District Memorial Hospital on Nov. 2, 2008. He was 73. Byers spent his early years in the industry with Eastern Broadcasting at CFAN Newcastle, New Brunswick before acquiring the Huntsville, station in the early 90's. After 14 years, e sold the station to the Haliburton Broadcasting Group in 2007.

MOVERS AND SHAKERS        TOP
+ After several delays, EMI Music Canada finally closed its 3109 American Dr. head offices on Nov.11, 2008 and re-opened at its new location in west Toronto. The company’s main telephone number is now 416-583-5000.

. The next session of Parliament begins Nov. 18, 2008 and the Speech from the Throne will be delivered November 19. James Moore, a bilingual M.P. who has worked in radio in Prince George, B.C., is the new Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages. Tony Clement has become Industry Minister. Both are responsible for broadcasting policy while Clement now oversees copyright reform.

. After six years, Aengus Finnan has left the position of executive dir. for the Shelter Valley Folk Festival, effective December 31. The festival’s board is currently conducting an internal search for an interim executive director who will take over until a public posting can be made for the permanent position beginning April 1st. The festival, based in Northumberland County, takes place annually on the Labour Day weekend.

REVIEWS—WHAT’S ON LARRY’S IPOD

There’s plenty of tips for my IPod sessions In “The Pitchfork 500,” a new book published by Simon & Schuster. The editors of Pitchfork Media, the Chicago-based daily Internet publication devoted to indie music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews, have come up with reviews of the greatest songs from punk to 2006. You won’t Bryan Adams’ “Summer of ‘69” here but you will find a review of Johnny Boy’s 2004 prickly protest song “You Are The Generation That Bought More Shoes and You Get Whatever You Deserve” along with sharply-edged reviews of songs by the New Pornographers, Broken Social Scene, Green Day, the Cure, and Black Flag. Don’t expect predictability, Journey’s 1971 hit “Don’t Stop Believing” receives a nod. Fascinating stuff.

Meanwhile, I’ll crank up the new Serena Ryder(EMI), Seal (Warner/143) as well as the pair of Kensington Market reissues (Pacemaker).

OL’EON AT 75

If craggy American character actor Harry Dean Stanton warbled professionally he’d probably sound like Canadian folk patriarch Ian Tyson on his new album "Yellowhead to Yellowstone and other Love Stories" released by Stony Plain on Nov. 11, 2008.

At age 75, Tyson didn't reckon on his rich, recognizable voice betraying him, the victim of strain and a virus that has left him with just a croak. Nor did he expect his 20-year second marriage to come to an end. Nor did he expect he’d record what may be the most reflective album of his career. And he doesn’t look 75 in the album’s cover art.

Still a cowboy pinup.

One of the album’s best songs wasn’t penned by Tyson, best-known for “Four Strong Winds” and “Someday Soon.”

"My Cherry Coloured Rose" was written by little-known Canadian singer/songwriter Jay Aymar.

Aymar explains how the song about legendary Canadian hockey broadcaster Don Cherry and his late wife Rose came about.

“Five years ago, I was with my girlfriend (who lives in Charlotte, NC) watching a CBC feed of ‘Hockey Night in Canada’ in a sports bar. Imagine trying to explain to NASCAR fans who Don Cherry is.

“As I explained to my girlfriend and others Don’s story, it occurred to me how much Rose was an integral part of the story. The next morning the song came easily to me. I wrote it in about an hour….I felt that it was much too personal to record. My girlfriend suggested that I send it to Don as a nice sentiment for him. I sent him a scratch mix and he gave me permission to record it. I recorded it, put in on a new CD (“Memories”) and sent it to CBC Sports. Don called me back a few weeks later saying he and the family really loved the song. That was about three years ago. Never did much with it other than sell my CD off stage.

“In March of 2008, I read an article on Ian Tyson in the Toronto Globe & Mail entitled ‘Tyson Comes Clean.” It was a very moving piece about Ian and his trials and tribulations over the years. For some unknown reason I sent him a very short note of encouragement and mailed the CD to his coffee shop in Longview, Alberta. I didn’t expect anything to come of it. He called me about two weeks later saying he enjoyed my music and thought I was a worthy songwriter. I was truly amazed and honoured. Then he mentioned how he loved ‘My Cherry Coloured Rose’ and would like to record it.

“Mr. Tyson performed the song wonderfully and I am very proud of his version of it.”

Tyson first made his mark on the music scene in the '60s as half of the folk/country duo Ian & Sylvia, who were inducted into Canada's Juno Hall of Fame in 1991. Married in 1964, Ian and Sylvia Tyson were at the forefront of the North American folk movement. They recorded 13 albums before they split in 1975 as both an act and a couple.

One of the songs Tyson penned in the '60s was "Four Strong Winds," with the lines "Think I'll go out to Alberta/Weather's good there in the fall." Twenty years later, he did go out to Alberta and began living the Western cowboy life.

In 1983, Tyson recorded "Old Corrals and Sagebrush," an album of cowboy songs he intended as a Christmas present for friends. However, after his performance that year at the inaugural National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nev., Columbia Records picked up the album for release in Canada. Tyson has since released eight Western-themed albums, seven via Stony Plain and Vanguard.

For a free Ian Tyson download of "My Cherry Coloured Rose" go to:

http://www.stonyplainrecords.com/iantyson
Click on "My Cherry Coloured Rose.”

You’ll be moved. Even if you are not a hockey fan.

DON CHERRY SURE KNOWS HOW TO WRITE A TRIBUTE        TOP
Below is a fine tribute by Don Cherry to his wife for the Rose Cherry’s Home for Kids. It chokes me up every time I read it.

“Rose Cherry was born Rosemarie Madelyn Martini in Hershey, Pa, 1935. At seventeen, met Donald S. Cherry in his rookie year playing for the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League with a big future for the N.H.L. They were married; Cindy was born (while I was away in the playoffs); unfortunately for Rose, Don was injured and the big future didn’t materialize and Don and Rose spent the next 20 years in Siberia; Don riding the buses and Rose packing to move and moving from place to place; if you believe it, Rose packed and moved 53 times.

“The minor career is a tough life for families; one bedroom; Cindy slept on a mattress on the floor, and bathed in the kitchen sink; toilets were in the cellar with cold air blowing through holes in the walls; so cold you had to have blankets around you when you had to go; it was not pretty.

“Rose, 8 months pregnant flying from Spokane, Washington, takes shoes off and feet swell; can’t get shoes back on and has to be carried from the plane in the snow to the airport; then walking through airport in bare feet with 6 year old Cindy; only to catch a smaller plane; carried again; on the way to Harrisburg, Pa and picked up by father (I often wonder what he thought).

“My father dies, her father killed in car accident on the way back from the funeral (still she hangs tough); sent to places like Three Rivers, Quebec; Christmas Eve, must travel all night to play an afternoon game; all the while Cindy in the back seat. In Springfield, come back to our apartment after game on the road, Rose curled up in bed, the place alive with mice and rats.

“The point I’m trying to make is Rose Cherry’s Home for Kids is named after a person who never quit; 16 years in the minors making $4500; 53 moves; having babies alone; traveling pregnant; living in God forsaken places (I am ashamed) and as God is my judge never complained once. I know at times she must have been unhappy, especially at the end of my career, no job, no trade, no education, could not get a job sweeping floors. Sixteen years of this and still she "Hung Tough" as we say in hockey.”

LIKE A COCKROACH, METRONOME LIVES ON        TOP
Do you recall Metronome, John Harris’ improbable and glitzy plan to transform the 1928 Canada Malting silos on Toronto's waterfront into an 800-seat concert theatre, a music museum, a music education centre and so much more?

Despite Metronome Canada Culture/Heritage Foundation being granted charity status; despite drawing contributions from the music, construction and media industries as well as support of $5 million from its lead sponsor Panasonic; despite $5.7 million in PSA media advertising; and despite the support of the late Oscar Peterson, Jann Arden, Jane Bunnett and others, Metronome crashed and burned after a decade of ambitious stick-handling by Harris who is also president of the Harris Institute in Toronto.

Metronome was set back in 2007 when a request for $12.5 million in matching provincial and federal funding was declined; and it was finally shelved by a Toronto staff proposal to use the site for a local initiative.

Now, the Toronto Society of Architects has selected Metronome as part of an exhibition at the Royal Ontario Museum. “Unbuilt Toronto: The City That Could Have Been” from Nov. 5, 2008 to Jan. 11, 2009.

Meanwhile, the Industrial building at One Bathurst Street sits quiet and desolate.

THE CANADIAN MUSIC CREATORS COALITION—THE BLEAT GOES ON        TOP

You might think with the loud bleating that The Canadian Music Creators Coalition has intermittently done over the past two years over copyright reform that the bumptious lobbying group might update its website from June 12, 2008

The Coalition was founded to address the needs of “nearly 200 Canadian acts who share the common goal of having our voices heard about the laws and policies that affect our livelihoods.”

Blah blah blah blah. Yep I know, these are “ the people who actually create Canadian music.”©

Certainly, among its prestigious membership-- Avril Lavigne, Sarah McLachlan, Broken Social Scene, Matthew Good, Metric, Billy Talent, Sloan, , Sum 41, Stars, Raine Maida (Our Lady Peace), Andrew Cash and Sam Roberts—someone could dash off a few lines.

Now that CMCC founding member Steven Page has some free time…..