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Canadian Arts/Media Job Posts For January 20, 2015

Proper Television is looking for a Producer for a live studio show. Applicants should have considerable experience in live production, including packaging, continuity, storytelling, directing talent and contestants, and control room crew.

Cineplex’s Content & Creative department at their Home Office in Toronto is currently recruiting for the position of Multimedia Designer, Content & Creative Group, reporting to the Senior Producer, Digital Media.

HEATING PLUMBING AIR CONDITIONING (HPAC) magazine, which is part of the Business Information Group in Don Mills, ON, is seeking a full-time assistant editor.

CTV Saskatoon has an opening for a News Director.

CTV Vancouver and The Beat 94.5, 103.5 QM/FM, and TSN Radio have an opening for a Promotions Coordinator.

Live Nation in Toronto is looking for a highly organized, experienced, motivated individual with dynamic interpersonal skills who will assist their Promoter & Marketing team in day-to-day tasks, concert booking procedures and managing relationships in the live event industry.

ArtsBuild Ontario is looking for a part-time Executive Director to lead the organization for an initial one-year term focusing on Business planning, opportunity development and relationship building.

FACTOR is a private, non-profit organization that distributes grants and loans to the Canadian independent music industry, and they’re looking for a Project Coordinator.

Canada Boy Vinyl is looking for a Supervisor overseeing 4-7 production and shipping personnel, including maintenance staff, electroplating staff, press operators, packing staff and shippers.

Rdio in Toronto has an opening for a Director of PR: Canada who will lead all public relations efforts for Rdio in Canada as needed.

Jazz FM is looking for a Director of Operations.

Kindred Home Care is seeking a hard-working, passionate, reliable Marketing Coordinator to become a member of their team. They are currently hiring a team member to work full time in St Stephen NB.

Videographer? Graphic Designer? The Barefoot Walk is looking for an undergraduate or recent grad with graphic design or video editing experience to become a part of their team.

Canadian Music Week is Canada’s leading annual entertainment event dedicated to the expression and growth of the country’s music, media and entertainment industries, and they’re looking for a Bookeeper/Accounting Position.

NOW Magazine is looking for an exceptional Personal/Administrative Assistant to provide personal and administrative assistance to the Editor/Publisher of NOW and NOW Group of companies.

Idea Workshop in Toronto, ON has an opening for a Senior Account Manager who will take a leadership role in a fast-growing Toronto based PR agency.

Choice Hotels’ Director, Marketing and Loyalty is looking for an established Public Relations Manager to help us tell their stories through industry network and media, as well as direct to consumers through social platforms, to nurture our brands’ positioning in the market.

Capture the spirit of racing as you can be the next Thoroughbred Race Announcer at Woodbine Racetrack!

Mavencare is an angel-funded online marketplace revolutionizing the health care client and service provider experience, and they’re looking for a Digital Media Intern.

TIFF, a vibrant not-for-profit arts organization, is accepting applications for the contract position of digiPlaySpace Coordinator.

Canada’s Wonderland is our nation’s premiere theme park and hires over 4,000 talented, enthusiastic and outgoing candidates each year, and they have an opening for a Assistant Manager, Special Events & Social Media.

Canadian Music Week is looking to hire a Communications & Development Coordinator.

Google is hiring a Music Business Development Manager, responsible for forging Google Play’s music partnerships and certain licensing efforts in Canada.

The AGO has done extensive research into best practices and has committed to digital as a key pillar of its future identity. The new Director, Digital will work closely with senior management to shape this vision and to ensure it is fully realized.

Vancouver-based film and TV production company River Road Films is looking for a Researcher and a Assistant Producer for a new landmark wildlife documentary series beginning February 2015.

Shoppers Drug Mart is one of the most recognized and trusted names in Canadian retailing, and they are hiring a Marketing Manager, Media.

ScribbleLive is seeking a Social Media & Content Manager to manage and execute social media strategy, PR campaigns, and content development to drive brand awareness and generate inbound leads.

Canon is looking for a dynamic, results-oriented individual with a passion for social media and the creation of meaningful, relevant and engaging digital content.

Strategy is seeking an experienced News Editor to join our team. As Canada’s national marketing publication, strategy uncovers and shares “bold vision, brand new ideas” by delivering marketing/advertising industry news and in-depth analysis of today’s issues.

E!, M3, MTV and Much are hiring someone to lead the development of the marketing strategy and plan for Bell Media’s Music and Entertainment portfolio based in Toronto.

You Need Some Beach Boys’ Isolated Vocals

Here’s what you need for this chilly day – 3 absolute classics from The Beach Boys’ and their isolated vocals for you to blow your mind.

California Girls: Listen for a few spots of imperfect harmonies. That would have never pass if it was released today, which makes it all the more brilliant.
http://youtu.be/y2L25Ptl5ys

Wouldn’t It Be Nice?: Brian Wilson described the song as “what children everywhere go through … wouldn’t it be nice if we were older, or could run away and get married”.
http://youtu.be/rH0x_UGqE7o

Sloop John B: The Kingston Trio’s 1958 recording of “The John B. Sails” recorded under the title “The Wreck of the John B” was the direct influence on The Beach Boys’ version.
http://youtu.be/_YeV0Rk2OCY

Queen’s Isolated Vocals, Guitars And Drums For “We Are The Champion”

“We Are the Champions” by Queen for their 1977 album News of the World, isn’t just one of the band’s most famous and popular songs, it’s among music’s most recognisable anthems.

The song was a worldwide success, reaching number two in the UK Singles Chart, and number four on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. In 2009, “We Are the Champions” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, and was voted the world’s favourite song in a 2005 Sony Ericsson world music poll. In 2011, a team of scientific researchers concluded that the song was the catchiest in the history of popular music.

VOCAL only (Freddie Mercury):

GUITARS only (Brian May):

DRUMS  only (Roger Taylor):

VOCAL (Mercury), PIANO (Mercury), RHYTHM GUITAR (May) only:

Canadian Arts/Media Job Posts For January 14, 2015

Heritage Mississauga is a not-for-profit charity whose mandate is to research, record and communicate Mississauga’s heritage, and they’re looking for an Outreach Coordinator.

Barrie Radio has an exciting opportunity for an experienced Morning Show Announcer at their Barrie location. Reporting to the Brand Manager, the successful candidate will be responsible for hosting the CHAY Morning Show, Monday to Friday.

Canadian Living Magazine is looking for an Art Director to oversee the strategic development and creative execution of the magazine’s visual “language”, look and identity across all media platforms to drive sales, engagement, retention and positive consumer experience.

The Telegraph-Journal is the provincial newspaper for New Brunswick with a long history of award-winning journalism and is home to the dynamic online news operation telegraphjournal.com, and they’re looking for a Reporter – Legislative Bureau.

Working as part of the CTV Regina Morning Show team, Bell Media is looking to hire a Weather/Community Anchor who will be responsible for writing, interviewing and presenting weather and community information to an audience live and on tape. Other related duties as assigned.

TC Media, owner of the Telegram, The Western Star in Corner Brook, and 11 weekly community newspapers in Newfoundland and Labrador, is seeking a full-time Junior Reporter.

CBC is hiring a Reporter/Editor (assigned to Sports) for Radio-Canada, a role that will consist of preparing and presenting news stories and sportscasts for CBC/Radio-Canada.

Citynews is looking for a next-level journalist capable of using traditional and non-traditional mediums to provide industry leading local news coverage. Reporting to the Senior Manager, Editorial, the Reporter will demonstrate exceptional reporting skills while producing compelling stories that will make people talk, for web, television and other media platforms.

Canadian Korean Times has an opening for a Newspaper reporter based in Toronto.

The Burlington Post, an award-winning community newspaper, is looking for a hard-working full-time Reporter to work in their busy newsroom. This position requires strong writing ability, news judgment, and proficiency in Adobe’s InDesign and Photoshop.

York Region Media Group/Bradford Topic has an immediate opening for a full-time reporter, covering local council and general assignment news and features. Availability for regular evening and weekend shifts is required.

The Red Deer Advocate, a daily newspaper, seeks a general reporter for a 22-week term position, starting on March 30, 2015, and ending on Aug. 28, 2015.

Globalnews.ca is currently seeking a Senior Web Coordinator to join their dynamic team. This position reports directly into the Senior Producer, Globalnews.ca.

The National Post is looking for a creative and collaborative producer for its digital team. Applicants should know how to tell a story on a variety of platforms, and which multimedia tools work best for each editorial project.

One of North America’s most prestigious Opera companies is seeking highly motivated, passionate and articulate people to help them generate support from high-level donors and audience members.

Corus has an exciting opportunity for an Administrative Assistant at their Toronto location. Reporting to the Manager, Compensation, the successful candidate will be responsible for administrative support for the HR department.

Canadian Underwriter magazine – Insurance Media Group is seeking a full-time Online Editor working out of their Toronto office.

TIFF, a vibrant not-for-profit arts organization, is hiring for the full-time position of Director, Philanthropy.

The Art Canada Institute is seeking a qualified Managing Editor to oversee approximately 10 digital art books per year as part of the ACI’s Canadian Online Art Book Project.

Canadian Stage is hiring an Audience Services Manager. Reporting to the Senior Marketing and Communications Manager, this position is critical for delivering superior customer service and involves direct interaction with the public.

Reader’s Digest Canada is hiring a senior editor to join the team in their Montreal office.

Historica Canada is the country’s largest organization dedicated to enhancing awareness of Canada’s history and citizenship, and they’re looking for a Program Coordinator.

The Loop is looking for a highly organized, experienced web editor to join its content team. Strong editorial and writing chops are a must, as well as an obsession with all things lifestyle- and health-related.

Historica Canada is the country’s largest organization dedicated to enhancing awareness of Canada’s history and citizenship, and they have an opening for a Researcher and Writer.

News Talk 770 CHQR, has an exciting opportunity for an experienced Traffic Reporter to provide live ground traffic reports as part of CHQR’ afternoon weekday programming in their Calgary office.

Workman Arts Project of Ontario (Workman Arts) facilitates aspiring, emerging and established artists with mental illness and addiction issues to develop and refine their art form through its arts training programs, public performance/exhibition opportunities and partnering with other arts organizations. They have an opening for a Digital Archivist.

CKNW News Talk 980 has an exciting opportunity for a Part-Time Anchor/Beat Reporter at their Vancouver location. Reporting to the News Director, the successful candidate will be responsible for reading hourly and half hourly newscasts and producing material from the field.

FACTOR is a private, non-profit organization that distributes grants and loans to the Canadian independent music industry. Located in downtown Toronto, they’re seeking a PROJECT COORDINATOR for their Client Services department. This is a one-year contract position with the possibility of becoming permanent.

Talk Radio – AM640 has an exciting opportunity for a Part-Time Board Operator in their Toronto office. Reporting to the Assistant Brand Director, the successful candidate will be responsible for the technical operations as well as the content producing side of the radio station (primarily on weekday mornings and weekends).

Corus Radio Vancouver has an exciting opportunity for you. They are looking for a dynamic and entertaining Business Talk Show Host in their Vancouver office. Reporting to the Brand Director, the successful candidate will be responsible for providing the most compelling and entertaining content on all CKNW’s platforms.

Canadian Arts/Media Job Posts For January 13, 2015

Ensil Canada has an opening for an Interactive media writer.

The Globe and Mail has an opening in their Brand Partnership Division, undertaking the project management and communication of multi-platform executions from conceptual phase through to execution and analysis (integrated, special reports, custom features, branded content products, contests and events).

Eligible Magazine is looking for a Digital Marketing Intern, a non-paid, part time position working with the Editor to expand the marketing reach of the magazine in North America both online and for the iPad, iPhone and Smart Phone version of the magazine.

Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) is looking for an Editorial and Events Assistant.

TIFF, a vibrant not-for-profit arts organization, is accepting applications for the full-time position of Senior Manager, Adult Learning.

FACTOR is looking for a Project Coordinator.

Workman Arts Project of Ontario (Workman Arts) facilitates aspiring, emerging and established artists with mental illness and addiction issues to develop and refine their art form through its arts training programs, and they’re looking for a Digital Archivist.

Sugar Media Experiential is looking for Brand Ambassadors for National Tour.

ScribbleLive is seeking a Social Media & Content Manager to manage and execute social media strategy, PR campaigns, and content development to drive brand awareness and generate inbound leads, and they’re looking for a Social Media and Content Manager.

Smucker Foods is looking for a Marketing Intern.

Belleza Moda Magazine in Mississauga has an opening for a Marketing Coordinator.

The National Post is looking for a creative and collaborative producer for its digital team. Applicants should know how to tell a story on a variety of platforms, and which multimedia tools work best for each editorial project.

CKNW News Talk 980 has an exciting opportunity for a Part-Time Anchor/Beat Reporter at their Vancouver location.

Corus has an exciting opportunity for an Administrative Assistant at their Toronto location.

Talk Radio – AM640 has an exciting opportunity for a Part-Time Board Operator in their Toronto office.

Bier Markt Montreal is looking for an Assistant General Manager to support the General Manager in managing store operations to ensure profitability and superior guest experiences.

Corus Radio Vancouver has an exciting opportunity as they are looking for a dynamic and entertaining Business Talk Show Host in their Vancouver office.

OLG in Thunder Bay has an opening for a Player Services Representative.

Q92 in Sudbury is looking for someone who is creative, fun and totally gets social media and listener engagement.

Rogers TV is looking for a Supervising Producer.

Harlequin is looking for a HR Business Partner responsible for providing a superior level of Human Resources support to designated employee groups in order to support the achievement of Harlequin’s objectives.

Barrie Radio has an exciting opportunity for an experienced Morning Show Announcer at their Barrie location.

The Weather Network is looking for a Digital Journalist. The Digital Journalist position will be rheir first hire for our US TWN Operation. Initially, this position will be based in Oakville, Ontario. The incumbent will work for up to twelve (12) months in our Oakville Headquarters until we open their U.S. location, at which time, this position will transition to the U.S. (City location TBD).

Postmedia has an opening for a Web Team Lead, a highly-motivated, results driven person who provides direction for the continual development of the solutions that power Postmedia’s major city newspaper websites across Canada.

Fit Foods in Port Coquitlam is currently looking for a Social Media Assistant.

CityNews and 680News are looking for a news leader to oversee their growing digital properties. Based out of the City Toronto newsroom at Yonge & Dundas, you will be responsible for both the day-to-day operation of the site (including breaking news, content, social media) and content strategy of the sites & mobile apps.

Bell Media in Toronto is looking for a Corporate Communications Coordinator.

ECCO Shoes Canada is currently recruiting for a Marketing Coordinator. Reporting directly to the Marketing Manager; you are the intermediary between the E-Commerce Manager, Retail Divisions Manager and Marketing Manager.

Ranstad’s client in the Niagara/St. Catherines area is currently seeking a marketing assistant for a contract placement. This individual will be responsible for developing, coordinating and execution of programs and promotions, special events, PR campaigns and advertising.

CarePartners is focused on finding new ways to connect with its 4,500 employees across the province to achieve engagement, collaboration, and learning, and they’re looking for a Social Media and Marketing Manager.

CTV Sakatoon is seeking a breaking news writer, to generate original stories and other content for website. Candidate will have at least 2 years experience in a newsroom, wire service or online operation.

Trent University has an opening for a Media Relations and Strategic Communications Officer.

Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance is seeking a Full-time Assistant Event Coordinator to work closely with the Event Coordinator and management teams in planning, and executing the third annual Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

CP24.com is looking to grow its dynamic team of web writers. They’re looking for an experienced writer who has a passion for digital journalism and who thrives in a live, breaking news environment.

Rogers in Toronto is looking for a Manager, Social Media, responsible for strategy, governance and tools used for social insights and data.

Lionbridge in Toronto has an opening for a Social Media Internet Assessor, contributing towards making internet search more exciting, relevant and interesting for all end users in Canada.

The Music Industry’s Most-Loved Albums Of All Time, Part 34

This is part 34 of an ongoing series where the kind folk of the music business reveal their favourite album of all time.

Ask people in the music industry the seemingly simple and straightforward question, “What is your favourite album of all time?” and you’ll find that it’s not always easy. After all, my industry peers listen to hundreds of albums a month – thousands of songs during that time. Because the question isn’t the best album of all time – the one that’s made them the most money in sales – but the one release they personally can’t live without, that one title they have two copies of in several formats, in case one breaks. It’s also about that album that for them has the best back stories and the one that has the most meaning in their lives.

IATW

Suzanne Raga, founder of After The Show
I Am The West, Lovers

The strength of the lyrics is what first struck me – with the clever, playful, poetic use of language in individual songs and with the recurring animal imagery throughout the album as a whole. The 10 tracks on I Am The West successfully bridge tender, intimate, and thoughtful vocals with catchy, upbeat electro-pop in a way that I’ve never heard before. I Am The West is full of dichotomies – but it’s how Carolyn Berk of Lovers manages to balance and sometimes blur the lines between the extremes that makes this album so special to me. The songs are introspective but not tortured, full of yearning and confusion yet resolved to accept the uncertainty. The album is rooted in a gentle, calm, and kind purity of spirit, which you can hear especially clearly in the vocals of “Let’s Stay Lost” and “I Have Been The Moon.” Sonically, she blends the cold rigidity of electronic drums with warm, emotive strings and guitars. As someone who usually dislikes electronic drums, I was shocked to love this sound. But by blending indie/folk/rock instrumentation with an almost hip-hop vocal percussiveness (another thing I usually don’t like!), Berk provides all the rhythmic complexity needed with the speak-singing she does in some of the songs’ verses. And because the drums are mechanized (imagine the exact opposite feeling that free form jazz evokes), your ears have the space and freedom to focus on everything else — like the smooth, somehow effortless shifts from staccato vocal delivery to soaring, mellifluous guitars.

Britney_Spears-Blackout-Frontal-300x300

Gregory Miller, New York Post
Blackout, Britney Spears

The absolute best blend of sugary pop and dark grit that pop music has ever seen. No album has so succinctly reflected the essence of a celebrity at this level. Spears’ empty, robotic vocals are hypnotic, giving all the more power to gut-wrenching lectures on how fame destroyed the pop princess in tracks like “Piece of Me” and “Gimme More.”

51D3EoKsfwL._SY300_

Cam Schwarz, Friendly Fire Distro
Ommadawn, Mike Oldfield

I was entering an age of family circa 1999. My son was born, got married and things where in need of change. Learning how to keep myself grounded and being a giant music aficionado classic/psychedelic/prog rock of the underground was really driving it’s way into my life. Hence my 2nd child Emerson (now where’s Lake and Palmer, ha!) I noticed this album had this Jesus type face full blown on the cover of the album, and knowing Mike did the soundtrack for The Exorcist got me to thinking. Is this Jesus who did the soundtrack for The Exorcist? What else can he accomplish? The album didn’t really hit me right off the bat since it is so unconventional in it’s ways. Worldly instruments and only 2 songs. It’s a trip that needed some full blown attention. Then it finally came, everyone went out for the night and I had the place to myself. I put the record on and it began. What was I seeing? What was I hearing? Where was it taking me? What is happening? After listening to the album 10 times that night I knew things would be different from here on in. I woke up and the whole world was nothing like it seemed and for Mike Oldfield’s Ommadawn I would never look back.

chet-faker-album-cover-300x300

Kateryna Topol, Quip Magazine
Built on Glass, Chet Faker

The album is very together, each track leads into the next and they almost need to be heard in order, though on their own they are equally magical we well. I love the story, the voice and impeccable production of this album.

51XlPOhGeML._SX300_
Bill Knowlton, We Love Metal
Heaven & Hell, Black Sabbath

The doom oriented feel of the title track combined with the soaring vocals of Dio brought me back to metal when I had started to stray. As music is therapy, personal issues in my life prevented me from doing things I really wanted, but I took the last few dollars I had at the time and bought a used copy of the CD. I consider it life changing in the fact that I knew at that moment getting off the couch and making the changes needed would be my only ticket to getting the life I wanted. How this is attributed to the gloominess of Black Sabbath I will never know… My life long obsession with Ronnie James had begun and his music was something I turned to when I needed that extra push, but if I needed to be “shoved” Heaven & Hell is what I turned to; and still do to this day.

Steve Albini thinks journalism is in trouble

“There are some things that are blown out of proportion in terms of their media presence. Some years ago where Amanda Palmer had a crowd funded record that was very successful, it made her a million dollars. Then she mounted a tour to promote that record and she was trying to crowd source musicians to play her music on stage with her. That just seemed incredibly cheap to me.

“I made a couple of comments about that and that became what passes for music news these days, which is that somebody said something about somebody else. So I had to deal with that for a couple of weeks and that seemed overblown and ridiculous. I don’t think I was wrong but I also don’t think that it was that big of a deal.

“So it’s actually considered legitimate journalism now to see something on a message board or twitter and copy it and paste it into a news release and to say that this happened on twitter. And that this is suitable copy for journalism. I find that staggering. That something as insignificant would be used to substitute legwork and reporting and research, and general knowledge and everything that I’ve described is a result of that. It has nothing to do with me speaking out about something or something catching the public consciousness, it has to do with the manner of journalism now. It has been reduced to very superficial stuff. Literally stuff being copied off twitter and presented as news.” –  Steve Albini

Via

Today in 1958, “Great Balls of Fire” by Jerry Lee Lewis hit #1. Here Are 5 Fun Facts, Goodness Gracious!

JLL_Great_Balls_single_cover

Today in 1958, one of the greatest rock and roll songs ever released, Jerry Lee Lewis’ “Great Balls Of Fire” hit #1 on the US Billboard Chart. It’s the very first single I ever bought with my own money, after hearing the song once in 1976 on CHUM AM while in the car with my parents. 1 minute, 52 seconds. That’s the entire length of the song, and the length of time it took me to really understand the power of rock and roll.

To celebrate the chart-topping time, here are 5 fun facts about the song:

1. Even though it will forever be Jerry Lee Lewis’, he didn’t write the song. It was written by Otis Blackwell and Jack Hammer. Blackwell was no stranger to success by the time he was done in music – he wrote Little Willie John’s “Fever”, Jerry Lee Lewis “Breathless”, Elvis Presley’s “Don’t Be Cruel”, and “All Shook Up”. Hammer didn’t fare so well, even though he wrote many songs during the “Twist” fad of 50’s and 60’s, including an album released under his main stage name, Jack Hammer, under the title “Twistin’ King” released in France.

2. “Great Balls Of Fire” was an instant hit. The song sold one million copies in its first 10 days of release in the United States and sold over five million copies, making it both one of the best-selling singles in the United States, as well as one of the world’s best-selling singles of all time.

3. The song was featured in a performance by Jerry Lee Lewis and his band in the 1957 Warner Brothers rock and roll film Jamboree, which also featured Carl Perkins, Fats Domino, Buddy Knox, and Dick Clark.


JERRY LEE LEWIS – Great Balls Of Fire – Jamboree by rockinbart

4. The song title comes from a Southern expression, which some Christians consider blasphemous, that refers to the Pentecost’s defining moment when the Holy Spirit manifested as “cloven tongues as of fire” and the Apostles spoke in tongues.

5. Among the artists who have covered the song? Let’s see…There’s The Kingsmen, The Crickets, Electric Light Orchestra recorded a version for their 1974 The Night the Light Went On in Long Beach, Fleetwood Mac, who included the track on the 1999 release of the Shrine ’69 album, even Tiny Tim recorded a version as his b-side to “Tiptoe Through the Tulips.” Garth Brooks did a version for his Blame It All on My Roots: Five Decades of Influences album, and Ronnie James Dio & the Prophets recorded this song for the Live at Domino’s album.

http://youtu.be/mkdVviY2hgs

Kurt Cobain’s Suicide Note

While working for Cobain’s wife Courtney Love, Tom Grant, best known for his unproven theory that Kurt Cobain was murdered, was given access to Cobain’s suicide note and used her fax machine to make a photocopy, which has since been widely distributed.

After studying the note, Grant believed that it was actually a letter written by Cobain announcing his intent to leave Courtney Love, Seattle, and the music business. Grant asserts that the lines at the very bottom of the note, separate from the rest, are the only parts implying suicide. While the official report on Cobain’s death concluded that Cobain wrote the note, Grant claims that the official report does not distinguish the questionable lines from the rest of the note and simply draws the conclusion across its entirety. One of the biggest ‘what if?’ questions in music, Grant believes there are far more questions than answers.

And so it goes.

Kurt Cobain’s Suicide Note

The note:
“To Boddah
Speakings from the tongue of an experienced simpleton who obviously would rather be an emasculated, infantile complainee. This note should be pretty easy to understand. All the warnings from the Punk Rock 101 Courses over the years, it’s my first introduction to the, shall we say ethics involved with independence and the embracement of your community has been proven to be very true. I haven’t felt the excitement of listening to, as well as creating music, along with really writing something for too many years now. I feel guilty beyond words about these things, for example when we’re backstage and the lights go out and the manic roar of the crowd begins. It doesn’t affect me in the way which it did for Freddie Mercury, who seemed to love and relish the love and admiration from the crowd, which is something I totally admire and envy. The fact is, I can’t fool you, any of you. It simply isn’t fair to you, or to me. The worst crime can think of would be to pull people off by faking it, pretending as if I’m having one 100% fun. Sometimes I feel as though I should have a punch-in time clock before I walk out on-stage. I’ve tried everything within my power to appreciate it, and I do, God believe me, I do, but it’s not enough. I appreciate the fact that I, and we, have affected, and entertained a lot of people. I must be one of the narcisists who only appreciate things when they’re alone. I’m too sensitive, I need to be slightly numb in order to regain the enthusiasm. But, what’s sad is our child. On our last three tours, I’ve had a much better appreciation of all the people I’ve known personally, and as fans of our music. But I still can’t get out the frustration, the guilt, and the sympathy I have for everybody. There is good in all of us, and I simply love people too much. So much that it makes me feel too fucking sad. The sad little sensitive unappreciative pisces Jesus man! why don’t you just enjoy it? I dont know! I have a goddess of a wife who sweats ambition and empathy, and a daughter who reminds me to much of what I use to be. full of love and joy, every person she meets because everyone is good and will do her no harm. And that terrifies me to the point to where I can barely function. I can’t stand the thought of Frances becoming the miserable self destructive, deathrocker she become. I have it good, very good, and I’m grateful, but since the age of seven, I’ve become hateful towards all humans in general. Only because it seems so easy for people to get along and have empathy. Empathy only because I love and feel for people too much I guess. Thank you from the pit of my burning nauseas stomach for your letters and concern during the last years. I’m too much of a neurotic moody person and I don’t have the passion anymore, so remember, it’s better to burn out, than to fade away. Peace, love, empathy, Kurt Cobain.
Frances and Courtney, I’ll be at your altar.
Please keep going Courtney
for Frances
for her life which will be so much happier without me.
I LOVE YOU. I LOVE YOU!”

Willie “Popsy” Dixon, drummer and vocalist of The Holmes Brothers, passes away

http://mailman.305spin.com/users/alligator/images/popsy1.jpg

Willie “Popsy” Dixon, drummer and vocalist of the critically acclaimed soul/blues band The Holmes Brothers, died in Richmond, Virginia on Friday, January 9. He had recently been diagnosed with stage four bladder cancer. He was 72 years old.

Dixon, born in Virginia Beach, Virginia on July 26, 1942, was celebrated for his soaring, soulful multi-octave vocals and his driving, in-the-pocket drumming. He first met brothers Sherman and Wendell Holmes at a New York gig in 1967. Dixon sat in with the brothers and sang two songs. “After that second song,” recalls Wendell, “Popsy was a brother.” They played in a variety of Top 40 bar bands until 1979, when the three officially joined forces and formed The Holmes Brothers, which The New York Times described as “deeply soulful, uplifting and timeless.” They toured the world, releasing 12 albums starting with 1990’s In The Spirit on Rounder. Their most recent release is 2014’sBrotherhood on Alligator.

Dixon first played the drums when he was seven. He told Blues On Stage, “My mom and dad took me to the store and told me to get anything I liked. There was this tiny red drum set, with a tiny little kick drum and snare…little cymbals. Now, that’s what I wanted! By the next morning, the thing was in the trash can. I beat it all to death. But, I tell you what…I knew how to play after that. I just knew. I had the rhythm down pat and had timing too. Just that fast. I been playing ever since.”

The Chicago Tribune described Dixon’s voice as “otherworldly…a gift to the world of music.” Living Blues said, “Popsy’s voice is a wonder…spontaneous and raw.”

In September 2014, The Holmes Brothers were honored with a National Endowment For The Arts National Heritage Fellowship, the highest honor the United States bestows upon its folk and traditional artists.

 

Dixon is survived by daughter Desiree Berry and longtime partner Isobel Prideaux.

Funeral service information is pending. Interment will be at the Holmes’ family plot in Saluda, Virginia.