The 2023 Canadian Music Corridor of Fame induction ceremony passed off on Thursday at Studio Bell in Calgary, highlighting 4 starkly totally different musical acts with storied Canadian careers through the occasion.
CBC Music host and mezzo-soprano Julia Nesrallah was the MC of the ceremony, the second of its sort. She launched the night’s inductees: Jazz pianist Oliver Jones, Quebecois songstress Diane Dufresne, nation star Terri Clark and rock band Trooper.
Following a standard efficiency by Blackfoot elder and information keeper Eldon Weasel Little one, Jones was the primary to be honoured.
His longtime collaborator, Montreal-based American jazz singer Renee Lee, paid him tribute — noting his humanitarianism, devotion to household and willingness to mentor younger musicians — as she inducted him into the corridor.
“Anybody who has had the privilege to carry out alongside Oliver is compelled to rise to their highest potential,” she mentioned.
Jones remembers legendary profession
Jones was born in Montreal’s Little Burgundy neighbourhood and had his first efficiency on the close by Union United Church. Although he devoted a lot of his youth to jazz — by the age of 9, he was performing across the metropolis — it was solely at 49 years previous that Jones launched into the legendary profession he is now recognized for.
“That is such a beautiful, large honour, and I’m humbled to obtain this award,” Jones mentioned, taking the stage.
“My first live performance efficiency was precisely 84 years in the past,” the 88-year-old mentioned to applause. “And I by no means imagined that it will result in the wonderful profession that I’ve had.”
He advised the gang that he’d promised the Union United Church, the place that first efficiency was, that if he lives to 100 he’ll come out of retirement once more. Jones retired in 2000, solely to take up dwell efficiency once more after a present together with his childhood good friend, Montreal jazz legend Oscar Peterson.
He spoke in regards to the late Daisy Peterson — Oscar’s sister — who taught him piano and “inspired me to excel.”
After Jones’s speech, Lee and Hungarian Canadian pianist Robi Botos carried out.
Dufresne inducted, Lightfoot remembered
Quebecois writer-performer and former Radio-Canada broadcaster Josée Thibeault then took the stage to introduce the subsequent inductee, Dufresne, the Quebec rocker who she described as a “chanteuse, painter, author, trailblazer.”
Dufresne, together with her wild costumes and distinct vocal type, grew to become one of many province’s defining rock voices within the 70s and 80s. Her success rapidly unfold to France.
Dufresne, delivering her speech completely in French, mentioned she was proud to be inducted as a French-speaking Quebecoise.
“Thanks to the general public for being a part of my life,” she mentioned.
She then took to the stage to carry out her track Partager les anges.
Following Dufresne’s efficiency, Nesrallah paid tribute to late Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot, who died on Might 1. Lightfoot’s songs carved themselves “into the nationwide consciousness,” she mentioned.
“It is so essential that we acknowledge and admire the artists on the market penning this nation’s story by track.”
Touching speech by Terri Clark
![Terri Clark is an award-winning Canadian country music singer.](https://i0.wp.com/i.cbc.ca/1.6845207.1684270666!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_780/terri-clark.jpg?ssl=1)
Jann Arden launched her good friend of 25 years, nation star Terri Clark — a world success who left Medication Hat, Alta., to pursue her nation music desires.
“She may entertain individuals hour after hour after hour,” Arden mentioned of Hart’s early days in Nashville, the place she moved to launch her profession.
Clark took the stage and gave the night’s most touching speech, recalling a highway journey she’d taken together with her late mom as a teen for a Calgary music competitors that she’d misplaced — solely to search out out 10 years later that she’d gained however been disqualified from the competitors, which was sponsored by Budweiser, for being underage.
“It actually is not about me. That is in regards to the human spirit and the dream, the perseverance, and utilizing these roadblocks as constructing blocks and never letting them cease you.” Clark then carried out her 2000 track No Worry.
Trooper performs Elevate A Little Hell
![A band performs on a live TV show during the 1970s.](https://i0.wp.com/i.cbc.ca/1.6315001.1684466808!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_780/trooper-in-1977.jpg?ssl=1)
Comic Rick Mercer then stepped as much as the rostrum to introduce Vancouver rock band Trooper, who he known as the best Canadian band: “a seminal a part of the nation’s soundtrack.”
“Given the possibility to do Trooper over again, I’d select to do Trooper over again with you, my good friend,” founding member Ra McGuire mentioned to his co-founder, Brian Smith. Each have been on stage to just accept the award.
Amongst different associates of the band, McGuire thanked its fundamental members Scott Brown, Clayton Hill, Paul Gogo, Steve Crane and David Steele, who joined the band after McGuire and Smith retired.
Smith, taking the rostrum, addressed the band’s followers: “We actually are so lucky to have the very best followers on the planet. Our followers are those who preserve our songs alive and related.”
Their track Elevate a Little Hell grew to become a signature anthem at raucous, roof-raising performances throughout this nation, the place they toured each nook and cranny. They carried out it after their induction to a standing ovation.
Because the night drew to a detailed, Nesrallah invited the inductees to position their plaques on the Canadian Music Corridor of Fame.