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| TONY TURNER It has been a pretty good year (2003) for me since the release of my debut CD, A Matter of Time. Performance highlights include being part of three shows at the National Arts Centre's Fourth Stage, opening for Martyn Joseph at Hugh's Room last February, and feature performances at folk clubs on BC's lower mainland and Vancouver Island. During the summer I played two Ontario festivals (Mariposa and Ottawa Folk Festivals), sharing stages with other rootsy acts such as The Laws, Keith Glass, The Wailing Jennies, and Tanglefoot. This past year I was honoured with two sheet music credits featuring songs from my debut CD -- Pacuare River (Penguin Eggs #16) and Circle of Song (The Blessed Bee). Tapping into my humorous side, I wrote a parody of Cover of the Rolling Stone (The Cover of Penguin Eggs), which is reprinted in the Penguin Eggs # 20. The songs from A Matter of Time have received consistent airplay on CBC (The Vinyl Caf�, various regional shows) and community folk radio stations across Canada. I have spent much time this year focusing on the Ottawa and Ontario folk community. Through Ottawa's Writers' Bloc I coordinated the 11th annual Great Canadian Song Along concert and live CD in April. I also organized a songwriting workshop with Ron Hynes in May. Trevor Mills and I organized and hosted the New Folk North showcase at the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals conference in Sudbury. I also developed the concept, obtained funding, and co-organized Christmas Goose, a studio CD featuring the original seasonal songs of 12 Ottawa songwriters. In the classic folk tradition, I actively supported social issues and organizations for which I have a special interest. I played three benefits of note - Peace Love and Folksongs (Toronto), the Alliance to End Homelessness (Ottawa) and a fundraiser for the First Ottawa Unitarian Congregation, a socially conscious group where my music has found good support. In addition, the Christmas Goose CD sales generated $1400 for the Ottawa Food Bank. For 2004 I am combining my organizing skills and penchant for 20th century Canadian history for my own project - a time travelogue of Canada. This show will bring alive the humanity behind important and obscure people, places and events that have shaped this country, particularly during the last 50 years, in an entertaining multi-media musical show suitable for clubs, schools, and festivals. These musical stories will cover topics as diverse as farmers, bowling, war, Lili St Cyr, Hurricane Hazel, and aboriginal people. I plan to tour this show and work the new material into a second CD project. I am happy and grateful to be part of Canada's folk community. I wish you a happy holiday season and hope our paths cross in 2004. Sincerely, Tony |
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