David McPherson joins Karim Kanji and Gregg Tilston to discuss his latest book Massey Hall.https://welcometothemusic.com/"The fascinating story of Canada’s most revered concert hall and the myriad artists who have graced its stage.Known for its intimacy and sense of occasion, a night at Toronto’s Massey Hall is magical for both audiences and performers. For many musicians, playing the hall is the surest sign that they have made it. Looking out over the crowd, performers often comment that they f...
Nov 28, 2021•1 hr 1 min
Hosts Gregg Tilston and Karim Kanji recently sat down with Beloved Canadian singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith.Ron Sexsmith is known in the music industry as your favourite songwriter's favourite songwriter. Elton John, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, and Chris Martin are among the artist’s biggest fans.Elvis Costello once said this of Ron Sexsmith: “(Ron)has got one of the purest senses of melody since Paul McCartney." Ron Sexsmith says that he believed his record label was getting ready to drop him bec...
Nov 22, 2021•1 hr 3 min
Stevie Salas is one of the most respected guitarists in the world today. He has played with the who's who of music royalty including:George ClintonJustin TimberlakeBuddy MilesT.I.Mick JaggerRod Stewart and so many others. Stevie has sold well over 2 million solo records while contributing to well over 70 different albums.Stevie also brought to the screen the documentary, RUMBLE: The Indians Who Rocked The World. This profound documentary tells the story of the essential, and, until now, missing ...
Nov 08, 2021•1 hr 15 min
Hosts Karim Kanji and Gregg Tilston recently sat down with former Triumph frontman, lead singer, guitarist and song writer, Rik Emmett.After five decades in the biz, Rik Emmett earned the adjectives ‘prolific’ and ‘eclectic’. Following over a dozen platinum albums from his Triumph years, he’s produced 20 more as a non-platinum indie, ranging from rock and blues to jazz, folk & classical. He’s in three Canadian Halls of Fame and has a star on two Walks of Fame, including the Canadian Walk of ...
Oct 31, 2021•1 hr
Born and raised in South-Central Trinidad, John Orpheus is a multi-cultural musical artist and published author. Earlier this year Penguin Random House published his memoir called SAGA BOY which was published by Penguin Random House Canada. Later, Milkweed Press in the US released his book Stateside. With the book done, John decided to return to music and release a companion album also entitled SAGA KING. Both the book and the album are based on the same themes: searching for home, family, love ...
Oct 25, 2021•1 hr 12 min
Former country music executive John Alexander is telling the story of his careers in music, baseball and professional wrestling in a new memoir called, Mat Memories: My Wild Life in Pro Wrestling, Country Music and With The Mets, out April 6.Alexander, born John Arezzi, details his 20-year career in music working at GAC, Black River Entertainment, and Bandtwango. Alexander managed country singer Sarah Darling, was instrumental in jumpstarting the career of Patty Loveless, and discovered country ...
Oct 16, 2021•1 hr 7 min
Memphis Mayhem weaves the tale of the racial collision that led to a cultural, sociological, and musical revolution. David Less constructs a fascinating narrative of the city that has produced a startling array of talent, including Elvis Presley, B.B. King, Al Green, Otis Redding, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Justin Timberlake, and so many more.Beginning with the 1870s yellow fever epidemics that created racial imbalance as wealthy whites fled the city, David Less moves from W.C. Handy’s codification ...
Oct 03, 2021•44 min
Welcome to the music, Amai Kuda!Born and raised in the Oakwood Village area of Toronto, and connected to her Afro-Caribbean roots, Amai Kuda has traveled throughout Southern Ontario, in the Caribbean and Europe to perform and deliver workshops on music, decolonization, African cultural knowledge and percussion at public schools, universities, libraries and community spaces. In 2015, her band was selected as one of the 101 Standout Artists during the nationwide CBC Searchlight competition, won th...
Sep 27, 2021•38 min
With time on his hands during the pandemic lockdown, roots music troubadour Ken Tizzard decided to create a new album comprising the fresh versions of cover songs he had worked up on his solo shows over the past decade.Tizzard explains that “initially I told my fans that I was going to record all these cover tunes I’ve been playing at Whiskey Wednesday [his popular weekly residency at a pub in Campbellford, Ontario for 10 years. It was to be just me and my acoustic guitar, a way to give them som...
Aug 18, 2021•1 hr 1 min
Mike Boguski has been playing keyboards for Canadian Music Hall of Famers Blue Rodeo since 2008, but when he’s had the chance to explore different musical avenues in recent years, the results have consistently revealed his naturally restless creative spirit.(via Mike's website!)photo credit: Heather Pollock Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 10, 2021•1 hr 7 min
Hosts Gregg Tilston and Karim Kanji welcome author, artist and podcaster Martin Popoff onto the show to talk about Canada's favourite hard rock band, RUSH. Popoff has written multiple books about RUSH. His most recent being the ECW published "trilogy" which include the books Anthem, Limelight and Driven. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 19, 2021•1 hr 6 min
Brad Bradford is a City Councillor of the Beaches - East York ward in Toronto. Among his many duties he is currently the chair of the Toronto Music Advisory Council.In this episode Brad discusses with hosts Gregg Tilston and Karim Kanji the initiatives the city of Toronto is taking to bring back live music to the city in a post-pandemic scenario. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 14, 2021•44 min
Jason Wilson is a two-time Juno-Awards nominee, Canadian Reggae Music Award winner, four-time Reggae Music Achievements Award nominee and Best-Selling Canadian historian from Downsview, Ontario. In 2007, Wilson became the first recipient of the Karl Mullings Memorial Award for commitment to reggae in Canada. The protégé of Studio One keyboardist Jackie Mittoo, Jason has performed and recorded with UB40, Alanis Morissette, Sly & Robbie, Ron Sexsmith, Ernest Ranglin, Brinsley Forde, Pee Wee El...
Jun 28, 2021•1 hr 5 min
Welcome To The Music hosts Gregg Tilston and Karim Kanji take a look back at the 50th JUNO Awards. Gregg and Karim also celebrate past guests of the podcast who were nominated and even some who won! In other words, WTTM is a path to either a nomination or a statue! Congrats to all the nominees, winners and Canadian music! Photos: Ryan Bolton Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 13, 2021•30 min
Art Bergmann is Canada's Prince of Punk. Just don't call him that. In pure punk fashion, Art recently received the Order Of Canada but has yet to give an acceptance speech or even wear the "coveted" OoC pin. In this timely interview, Gregg Tilston and Karim Kanji talk to Art about music and the role of being a shit disturber by holding those in power to account. We end of the interview with a powerful performace of his song The Legend Of Bobby Bird. Bobby was a 10 year old boy who ran away from ...
Jun 08, 2021•1 hr 14 min
Zaki Ibrahim recently released her album, The Secret Life Of Planets and joined both Gregg Tilston and Karim Kanji on the show to talk about it. We also explore Zaki's musical inspirations and how growing up in South Africa, Nanaimo and Toronto shaped her identity and music. Stay until the end for a wonderful performance of her song, Gemini Moon. Photo by: Josh Rille Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 06, 2021•1 hr 8 min
The Cabana Room, the upstairs venue of The Spadina Hotel, was the centre of the Queen West music scene back in the 60s and 70s and flourished as a place to watch indie acts before being turned into a youth hostel in 1997. In this episode, hosts Gregg Tilston and Karim Kanji debate which Canadian act should join The Band, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Rush and Leonard Cohen in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Then we get around to reminisce about The Cabana Room which Gregg played in many times.Photo...
May 25, 2021•40 min
Prior to the release of her new album, SET THE FIRE, Kandle joined Gregg Tilston and Karim Kanji from her home in BC to chat about music, her career, videos, her new music and her love of dogs and the comedy, Curb Your Enthusiasm.Kandle’s mastery of music comes as no surprise, having collaborated with some of Canada’s finest songwriters, including Sam Roberts, Coeur de pirate, Peter Dremanis (July Talk) and Devon Portielje (Half Moon Run), in her impressive career to date — which also includes a...
May 16, 2021•1 hr 5 min
If Wikipedia is to be believed... the El Mocambo is a live music and entertainment venue in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Located on Spadina Avenue, just south of College Street, the bar has played an important role in the development of popular music in Toronto since the 1940s. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 11, 2021•44 min
Jeff Burrows is the drummer and percussionist for Canadian rock bands Crash Karma, and The Tea Party. Jeff Burrows begun drumming at eleven years of age and professionally since 1990 when he joined childhood friends Jeff Martin and Stuart Chatwood in forming The Tea Party which is celebrating their 30th anniversary in 2021. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 03, 2021•48 min
Nothin' But a Good Time is the definitive, no-holds-barred oral history of 1980s hard rock and hair metal, told by the musicians and industry insiders who lived it.Hard rock in the 1980s was a hedonistic and often intensely creative wellspring of escapism that perfectly encapsulated—and maybe even helped to define—a spectacularly over-the-top decade. Indeed, fist-pumping hits like Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It,” Mötley Crüe’s “Girls, Girls, Girls,” and Guns N’ Roses’ “Welcome to the ...
Apr 26, 2021•1 hr
Erica Ehm is a good friend of the podcast. She was kind enough to sit down with hosts Gregg Tilston and Karim Kanji a few months ago to help us think about our podcast differently. Out of that brainstorming session came a segment called, Lost Venues. Lost Venues is a celebration of music venues from our past that no longer exist. Sometimes Gregg and Karim will chat about venues that Gregg has played at. This episode features some past guests who shared with us some of their favourite Lost Venues...
Apr 19, 2021•25 min
Amin Bhatia joined Gregg Tilston and, at times, Karim Kanji in this special episode of Welcome To The Music. With more than 50 scores to his credit, Emmy nominated composer Amin Bhatia has written music for film, television, radio, theatre, IMAX movies, and his own albums, for more than 30 years.A composer of orchestral and electronic music, Bhatia has scored television projects that include the CBC/Netflix series Anne with an E, the internationally-acclaimed series Flashpoint and X Company, as ...
Apr 12, 2021•1 hr 12 min
ZENESOUL is a Soul artist from Brampton, Canada. Born in Nigeria, she began writing songs at 11 years old. Today, this love for writing plays a big role in her music as she transports listeners with her lyrics, the clarity in her voice and use of simple instrumentals. Incorporating R&B, Neo-soul and Afro-beats into her music, ZENESOUL creates a sound of her own.In March 2019, ZENESOUL released her first EP titled Worth. including, Lost and fiery up-beat hit, Pricey. Later that year, she debu...
Apr 05, 2021•53 min
Any Night Of The Week - A DIY History of Toronto Music 1957-2001 just might be one of the most important books about the Toronto live music scene ever written. In this episode Karim Kanji speaks with author, musician and co-founder of Wavelength Music, Jonny Dovercourt. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 28, 2021•58 min
Born in Toronto in 1951, Greg Godovitz has been an active member of the Canadian music industry since 1964. The year 2021 marks his 57th anniversary as a musician.His recorded works with Toronto based group Fludd produced eight top ten hits including the SOCAN Hall Of Fame inductees Cousin Mary, Brother and Me and Turned 21 which have reached the amazing milestone of over 100,000 airplays.Greg went on to enjoy national success with Toronto power trio Goddo, recording and producing eleven albums ...
Mar 22, 2021•1 hr 11 min
Justine Giles is a folk singer songwriter based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Originally from Sudbury, Ontario, Canada Justine was the 2020 Jim Beam Talent Search National Finalist, Calgary Region Winner. Photo: https://www.facebook.com/justinegilesmusic/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 15, 2021•1 hr 4 min
Toronto-based Bad Breed started out as a hard-edged combination of punk rock and 60s R&B. Inspired by the sounds of Stevie Wonder, Curtis Mayfield, Betty Davis and Led Zeppelin, the muscular funk, lightning-sharp guitar riffs and soulful songs of love and despair from their latest album are a testament to the transformative and ferocious power of love. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 08, 2021•1 hr 6 min
Danny Miles is best known as the drummer of Juno Award-winning alternative band July Talk. Danny is also drummer and co-producer of the Alternative Hip Hop group Tongue Helmet and an avid bird photographer.Image: https://www.drummerswholovebirds.com/drummers-who-love-birdsTapes by Gumbel used under Creative Commons license Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Gumbel/8-bit_Love_Machine/Gumbel_-_8-bit_Love_Machine_EP_-_02_Tapes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com...
Feb 28, 2021•1 hr 15 min
BIO: Dubbed “Hip Hops kid sister”, Keysha Freshh blends everything you love about the 90’s with everything you appreciate about Hip Hop. Born in Toronto, Keysha found a love for hip hop spending summers in NYC. She was exposed to the culture at an early age, listening to mixtapes her cousins would have. Keysha had her first song published when she was 5 years old, the song was titled “Summers coming” and she has been performing ever since. Keysha performed her first written rap, at the age of 12...
Feb 21, 2021•56 min
