Music

Oscar, Golden Globe and two-time Grammy winning singer-actress Irene Cara has died at age 63. (@Irene_Cara/Twitter photo)

‘Fame’ and ‘Flashdance’ singer-actor Irene Cara dies at 63

Performer an Oscar, Golden Globe and two-time Grammy winner

 

The cover for 80 Where Late the Song Birds Sing by Emma Robbins. (Courtesy of James Robbins)

Late the Song Bird: B.C. woman releases her debut country album at 80

Greater Victoria’s Emma Robbins began writing her own songs 15 years ago

 

The Philadelphia Orchestra rehearses with its music director and conductor Yannick Nezet-Seguin at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia on October 17, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Matt Rourke

Composer Nézet-Séguin, producer Boi-1da among top Canadian Grammy nominees

B.C.’s Michael Bublé’s latest effort ‘Higher’ among contenders for traditional pop vocal album

 

Members of Nickelback pose for photographers as they arrive on the red carpet at the Juno Awards in Ottawa, Sunday April 1, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Nickelback to be inducted into Canadian Music Hall of Fame

Induction to occur at 2023 Juno Awards in Edmonton

Members of Nickelback pose for photographers as they arrive on the red carpet at the Juno Awards in Ottawa, Sunday April 1, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Robert Friedman plays a Steinway grand piano once owned by Thomas Edison, with possible bite marks from the inventor visible, on Sept. 28, 2022, in Woodstock, N.Y. Edison, who was hard of hearing, bit into phonographs and pianos to help him better experience music. Friedman purchased the piano last year and hopes to find a home for it where it can be seen by the public. (AP Photo/Michael Hill)

VIDEO: Thomas Edison may have left his mark on piano

Famed inventor left ‘toothy signatures’ on piano

Robert Friedman plays a Steinway grand piano once owned by Thomas Edison, with possible bite marks from the inventor visible, on Sept. 28, 2022, in Woodstock, N.Y. Edison, who was hard of hearing, bit into phonographs and pianos to help him better experience music. Friedman purchased the piano last year and hopes to find a home for it where it can be seen by the public. (AP Photo/Michael Hill)
FILE - Takeoff, left, and Quavo of Migos, arrive at the BET Awards in Los Angeles on June 27, 2021. Houston police say one person was fatally shot and two others injured early Tuesday at a private party attended by members of the rap group Migos. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP File)

Takeoff dead at 28

Migos rapper Takeoff is dead after a shooting early Tuesday outside a…

FILE - Takeoff, left, and Quavo of Migos, arrive at the BET Awards in Los Angeles on June 27, 2021. Houston police say one person was fatally shot and two others injured early Tuesday at a private party attended by members of the rap group Migos. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP File)
A photograph of the CBC building in Toronto on April 4, 2012. Musicians across the country are expressing concern for their livelihood after SiriusXM announced it would not renew their contract with CBC. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Musicians worried for livelihoods after CBC contract ends with SiriusXM

SiriusXM said it is still committed to playing Canadian music in its programming

A photograph of the CBC building in Toronto on April 4, 2012. Musicians across the country are expressing concern for their livelihood after SiriusXM announced it would not renew their contract with CBC. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Theda Lakey, 9, plays the fiddle Saturday, Oct. 1 at the Quesnel Royal Canadian Legion. Lakey, the first fiddle player in her family, took home first place in the little britches (little junior) category. (Rebecca Dyok photo — Quesnel Observer)

Fiddlers converge in Quesnel for 50th annual oldtime fiddle contest

The event concluded with an evening dance at the Legion

Theda Lakey, 9, plays the fiddle Saturday, Oct. 1 at the Quesnel Royal Canadian Legion. Lakey, the first fiddle player in her family, took home first place in the little britches (little junior) category. (Rebecca Dyok photo — Quesnel Observer)
Coolio performs on day three of Riot Fest on Sept. 18, 2022, at Douglass Park in Chicago. Coolio, the rapper who was among hip-hop’s biggest names of the 1990s, died Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022, at age 59, his manager said. (Photo by Rob Grabowski/Invision/AP, File)

‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ rapper Coolio dies at age 59, says manager

Artist won a Grammy for best solo rap performance in 1995

Coolio performs on day three of Riot Fest on Sept. 18, 2022, at Douglass Park in Chicago. Coolio, the rapper who was among hip-hop’s biggest names of the 1990s, died Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022, at age 59, his manager said. (Photo by Rob Grabowski/Invision/AP, File)
Retired music promotions rep RayMan Ramsay, a South Surrey resident, with the two “Promo Monkey” books he’s authored. (Photo: Tom Zillich)

‘Promo Monkey’ a B.C. man’s glimpse inside the world of rock stars and record-selling

RayMan Ramsay writes about some of the world’s most famous musicians and B.C. music-biz insiders

Retired music promotions rep RayMan Ramsay, a South Surrey resident, with the two “Promo Monkey” books he’s authored. (Photo: Tom Zillich)
Vince Ditrich. (Submitted photo)

PODCAST: A chat with longtime Spirit of the West drummer turned author Vince Ditrich

TODAY IN B.C.: Second book ‘The Vicar’s Knickers’ released in the Tony Vicar trilogy

Vince Ditrich. (Submitted photo)
Paige Sadler practices with the Quesnel Pipes and Drums. (Rebecca Dyok photo — Quesnel Observer)

Quesnel Pipes and Drums back at practice

New members are welcome

Paige Sadler practices with the Quesnel Pipes and Drums. (Rebecca Dyok photo — Quesnel Observer)
Miranda Currie, seen in an undated handout photo, is a writer, musician, filmmaker and educator who lives in Yellowknife, and is Mushkegowuk and a member of the Opaskwayak Cree Nation in Manitoba. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Miranda Currie

Yellowknife musician wants to ‘change that Indigenous narrative in Canada’

Miranda Currie wants Indigenous kids to feel represented and valued in music, films and books

Miranda Currie, seen in an undated handout photo, is a writer, musician, filmmaker and educator who lives in Yellowknife, and is Mushkegowuk and a member of the Opaskwayak Cree Nation in Manitoba. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Miranda Currie
Members of South Korean K-pop band BTS, V, SUGA, JIN, Jung Kook, RM, Jimin, and j-hope from left to right, pose for photographers ahead of a press conference to introduce their new single “Butter” in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, May 21, 2021. South Korea may conduct a public survey to help determine whether to grant exemptions of the mandatory military service to members of the K-pop superstar boyband BTS, officials said Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022.(AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)

South Korea may conduct survey on BTS members’ military duty

Band’s oldest member, Jin, faces enlistment in December, when he turns 30

Members of South Korean K-pop band BTS, V, SUGA, JIN, Jung Kook, RM, Jimin, and j-hope from left to right, pose for photographers ahead of a press conference to introduce their new single “Butter” in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, May 21, 2021. South Korea may conduct a public survey to help determine whether to grant exemptions of the mandatory military service to members of the K-pop superstar boyband BTS, officials said Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022.(AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)
Rawk Camp ended with a live concert at The Occidental on Wednesday, July 20. (Rebecca Dyok photo — Quesnel Observer photo)

Youth rock at Camp Rawk in Quesnel

The young rockers were mentored by Yukon-based band Speed Control

Rawk Camp ended with a live concert at The Occidental on Wednesday, July 20. (Rebecca Dyok photo — Quesnel Observer photo)
Langley guitarist and producer Mitch Merrett, on the right with his band Black Mountain Whiskey Rebellion, recently had a guitar missing for 15 years, a gift from his parents, recovered. (Special to the Langley Advance Times)

B.C. country musician recovers guitar stolen in Surrey 15 years ago

The Telecaster was a gift from his parents when he was starting out

Langley guitarist and producer Mitch Merrett, on the right with his band Black Mountain Whiskey Rebellion, recently had a guitar missing for 15 years, a gift from his parents, recovered. (Special to the Langley Advance Times)
April 26, 2022 - Aaron Gray photographed in Nanaimo with his bass guitar for Boulevard magazine. Don Denton photograph.

A love of playing live and furniture

Aaron Gray, vice president of La-Z-Boy Vancouver Island

  • Jul 15, 2022
April 26, 2022 - Aaron Gray photographed in Nanaimo with his bass guitar for Boulevard magazine. Don Denton photograph.
FILE – Singer Adele and sports agent Rich Paul attend a game between the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 19, 2021, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. Allen J. Schaben (Los Angeles Times/AP)

VIDEO: Adele says she was a ‘shell of a person’ after canceling Vegas residency

Adele announced the cancellation of her residency one day before the concerts were to commence

FILE – Singer Adele and sports agent Rich Paul attend a game between the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 19, 2021, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. Allen J. Schaben (Los Angeles Times/AP)
Graham Blank, Lia Crowe photo

Life and style

Graham Blank, VP, Director for Tom Lee Music Canada and Steinway Piano Galleries of Canada

  • Jul 1, 2022
Graham Blank, Lia Crowe photo
Drummers celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017. Courtesy of the CDD website.

They got the beat: Canada Day Drumming event aims to pound out world record

Event hoping to unite people through percussion, break own record for simultaneous online drum roll

Drummers celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017. Courtesy of the CDD website.