-
Retiring T.O. Music Pix (for now)
Note: I can still be contacted by email: website (at) to-music.ca As is apparent to anyone who has visited the website, or subscribed to my newsletter or Twitter feed, this site is retired… at least for now. I originally set up the website in May of 2005, originally as a place to store the growing […]
-
Achilla Orru: Tribute in Globe & Mail & UPDATE re: April 7 event
A wonderful tribute to the late Achilla Orru (see post below) in the March 19 Globe & Mail‘s “Lives Lived“. Written by his friend & fellow Ugandan-Canadian Opiyo Oloya, who is also known by all African music supporters in the Toronto area. Many harried Toronto subway commuters likely never knew his name, where he came from, […]
-
New events added
A few new events have been added to the Events calendar, including Apr. 7: Tribute to, and fundraiser for the late Achilla Orru (and his family) Mar. 14: Kae Sun May 25: Bonga & Don Nikas bring Angolan music to The Opera House Some more Small World Music Asian Music Series events More to come. […]
-
RIP King Achilla Orru Apaa-idomo
Written while listening to Achilla’s 2004 CD, Dho-Mach (Sacred Gift)… The Ugandan and Canadian world music communities received sad news this past week, that lukeme player Achilla Orru passed away at the age of 53. apparently as the result of heart disease. Some information about his passing is on this page, written by Davies Bagambiire. […]
-
“Appalled by Dick Clark”: Joe Boyd on Clark’s Bandstand beginning
He may not be hip, but he was clean Two very, very different rock & roll figures died within a day of each other this past week, and have each received, in their own way, extensive media & internet coverage. Below is one take on Dick Clark. One of the news stories I read about […]
-
From the Twitter- & other -verses
A few odds and ends collected or sent on Twitter (and other sources) recently. See @tomusicpix A retweet from @RootsMusicCanada Fair enough. RT @alannealottawa: Kiran Ahluwalia wasn’t impressed that presenter didn’t attempt her last name #cbcjunos http://yfrog.com/ny3sgsaj Via @RealWorldRec: Creole Choir of Cuba recording ‘Tande’ in the Wooden Room at @RealWorldStudio http://youtu.be/fHBQ-jzgNBU (Creole Choir is better […]
-
Earl Scruggs, RIP
No doubt the most influential banjoist in the world died on March 28, at the age of 88. The website Bluegrass Today, is not surprisingly filled with appreciations of Scruggs’ career, including this article by David Morris, titled “A Legend’s Biggest Moments”. Here’s the irony of being asked to write about the highlights of Earl […]
-
Musical losses in Sudan & North Carolina
RIP: Sudanese singer and musician Mohammed Osman Wardi died Feb 18 at the age of 80. More here Live in Addis Ababa, 1993: And halfway across the world, North Carolina fiddler Joe Thompson died Feb. 21 at 93. More here Thompson was the prime inspiration for the Carolina Chocolate Drops who will be releasing […]
-
Etta James & Johnny Otis
It’s been more than a week since the deaths of those two giant figures of American R&B: Johnny Otis, and his greatest discovery, Etta James. My initial comments on Otis’ death are in a post below, and they’ve both received significant media coverage, especially James, although Lynn Crosbie in the Globe & Mail this week […]
-
RIP, Johnny Otis
A giant of American popular music died on January 17 at the age of 90. Johnny Otis discovered, produced, recorded Big Mama Thornton, Etta James, Esther Phillips and so many others; He helped create the R&B sound in the 1950’s and kept many of its early stars touring and performing through the 60’s and 70’s. […]