LIFE IS A HIGHWAY: CANADIAN POP MUSIC IN THE '90'S
THURSDAY 15TH & 22nd SEPTEMBER - 8pm cbc tv
This two part TV special starts at 8pm on Thursday 15th September and concludes the following week at the same time (22nd September).
It looks at the '90s boom years in Canadian music and features performance footage and candid interviews with such major stars as Sarah McLachlan, Tom Cochrane, Kd Lang, Barenaked Ladies, Jann Arden and The Tragically Hip.
The two hour documentary presents over 40 of the decade's most unforgettable songs.The special is hosted and narrated by Jian Ghomeshi.
Part 1: Thursday, Sep 15th 8:00 PM on CBC-TV /
Saturday Sep 17th at 10 pm ET/PT on CBC News Network Part 2: Thursday, Sep 22, 2011 8:00 PM on CBC-TV /
Saturday Septr 24 at 10 pm ET/PT on CBC News Network.
canada sings the american songbook
a canadian tribute to new york
The Canadian Association of New York (CANY), in association with the Consulate General of Canada in New York presents Canada Sings the American Songbook:
This Canadian musical tribute to the resilience of New York will commemorate the upcoming 10th anniversary of the events of 9/11/01 and include performances by such musical luminaries as Ben Heppner, Natalie MacMaster,Paul Shaffer, and Tom Cochrane.
The tribute concert event will honor the 26 Canadian families who lost loved ones on 9/11/01.
whistler presents
SEE TOM in whistler
Tom will be heading to BC to play at Whistler Olympic Plaza as part of the Whistler presents concert series. This will be a free event and no tickets are required.
The Whistler presents concert series will also include Bif Naked, Colin James, Jason Mraz, and the Barenaked ladies over five weekend during August and September.
A special thanks to Cody Lobreau would has supplied us with some great shots taken at this year's Memorial Cup Weekend Social held at the Keystone Centre in Brandon, Manitoba.
You can see more pictures of Tom and the rest of the band on Cody's Flickr Photostream pages..
Olympic Parade Gala Slated For Montreal
The Montreal Gazette - Wednesday 31st March 2010 (excerpt).
MONTREAL - The Canadian Olympic Committee is hosting a parade of athletes, coaches and supporters in downtown Montreal April 23, followed by a gala dinner and Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
The parade is scheduled to take place at noon on Ste. Catherine St. Further details are to be released closer to the event.
The induction ceremony at the Bell Centre will honour 2010 inductees.
Performers at the gala include Sarah McLachlan, Tom Cochrane, Ginette Reno, the Canadian Tenors, Simple Plan, and singers Annie Villeneuve and Nikki Yanofsky, accompanied by composer Stephan Moccio, who will perform CTV’s Vancouver 2010 theme song I Believe/J’imagine.
2010 MasterCard Memorial Cup
Tuesday-January 26, 2010 Brandon, MB.
Seven-time Juno award winner Tom Cochrane will be part of FanFest during the 2010 MasterCard Memorial Cup. The 2010 MasterCard Memorial Cup Host Organizing Committee has announced that Cochrane will headline the MasterCard Memorial Cup Finals Weekend Social, to be held on Saturday, May 22nd in the Keystone Centre’s Manitoba Room.
Tom Cochrane will be performed on Saturday, May 22 in FanFest, which will be located in the Manitoba Room at the Keystone Centre during the 2010 MasterCard Memorial Cup.
Ticket prices, availability will be announced shortly. The 2010 MasterCard Memorial Cup will be held in Brandon from May 14-23rd, marking the first time that the National Championship has been hosted in the province of Manitoba.
WELCOME THE OLYMPIC FLAME - PARLIAMENT HILL, OTTAWA
On Saturday, December 12, at 7 p.m., the 25th edition of Christmas Lights Across Canada will be launched with an illumination ceremony on Parliament Hill. This year, the celebration is set to coincide with the arrival of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Flame, as the Torch Relay reaches the heart of Canada’s Capital Region.
Starting at 5:30 pm, be part of history alongside thousand of Canadians gathered to take in a unique evening of free activities, featuring internationally renowned artists like Gregory Charles and Tom Cochrane.
Olympic medalists for Canada, Nathalie Lambert and Steve Podborski, Chef de Mission and Assistant Chef de Mission for the Canadian Olympic Team, are the distinguished masters of ceremony for this spectacular event.
Gregory Charles, composer of the official community celebrations theme song, will conduct a choir composed of 100 singers from the region. Following these performances, the crowd will be captivated by an aboriginal dance choreography interpreted by artists from many parts of Canada. The festivities will end with a performance by Tom Cochrane.
The event will be broadcast live on Rogers Television.
20TH ANNUAL SOCAN AWARDS
Tom Cochrane, Rush and 54-40 were amongst those who received awards at the Society Of Composers, Authors And Music Publishers Of Canada's (SOCAN) awards ceremony, November 23rd which was held in Toronto.
A number of Canadian artists were honoured for their songs reaching the 100,000-airplay mark on Canadian radio.
Tom Cochrane was recognized for five of his songs reaching this benchmark.
"Big League", "Boy Inside The Man", "I Wish You Well" and "Lunatic Fringe"
Source: Socan - Nov 2009
FAVOURITE ROAD SONGS
20,000 people took part in a recent Econo Lodge "Travelin' Tunes" sweepstakes online survey. here's what they deemed to be the top 10.
Life is a Highway (Tom Cochrane) - 22%
On the Road Again (Willie Nelson) - 18%
Born to be Wild (Steppenwolf) - 13%
Take Me Home, Country Roads (John Denver) - 12%
Take It Easy (Eagles) - 9%
Wanted, Dead Or Alive (Bon Jovi) - 7%
Ramblin' Man (Allman Brothers) - 5%
(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66 (Various Artists) - 5%
I've Been Everywhere (Johnny Cash) - 5%
Runnin' Down A Dream (Tom Petty ) -4%
Source: Canwest News Service - Oct 10 2009
12TH ANNUAL CANADA'S WALK OF FAME
(Toronto, Ontario) June 16, 2009 – Canada’s Walk of Fame, along with Canwest,announced today the names of its 2009 inductees. The eight recipients will be feted as part of The Canada Honours tribute Saturday, September 12 at Toronto’s Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. The evening’s festivities will be broadcast on Global Television and SLICETM (date and time tbd). Celebrating its 12th anniversary, Canada’s Walk of Famewill expand its list of inductees to 124 with the induction of these Canadian icons:
Blue Rodeo
Raymond Burr
Kim Cattrall
Tom Cochrane
Dsquared2 (Dean & Dan Caten)
Howie Mandel
Robert Munsch
Chantal Petitclerc
RISE AGAIN 2009: MANITOBA FLOOD RELIEF CONCERT
Rise Again 2009 is a Red Cross Manitoba Flood Relief concert that will be hosted by Canadian actor and musician Tom Jackson. It takes place on Wednesday, May 13 at 7:00pm at the MTS Centre. Monies raised will go to the Red Cross, in aid of Manitoba flood victims. Performers include Tom Cochrane, Deborah Cox, JD Fortune, Nathan, One More Girl, Moses Mayes, Bet.e, The Barra MacNeils and more. Rise Again 2009 will be televised on APTN (Aboriginal Peoples Television Network) and CBC. Dates for broadcast will be announced soon. Tickets for Rise Again 2009: The Red Cross Manitoba Flood Relief Concert are $20 and available through Ticketmaster .
Source: Access Winnipeg Web Site -Sat 09 May 2009.
Socan Honours Stars
The 19th Annual Socan Awards were held November 17th at the Carlu in Toronto. Amongst the winners were Ray Griff (Lifetime Achievement Award), Nickleback (International Achievement Award) and Oscar Peterson (Special Achievement Award). In the Country Music Awards section "Life Is A Highway" (performed by Rascal Flatts, written by Tom Cochrane) was amongst the award winners for the greatest number of performances on domestic radio during 2007.
Cochrane Honoured With Order
The pantheon of distinguished Canadians grew to include 43 new Order of Canada recipients in a ceremony presided over by Gov.-Gen. Michaelle Jean yesterday. In the gilded ballroom of Rideau Hall, the country's highest civilian honour was bestowed upon leading scientists, doctors, philanthropists, performers, politicians, and one iconic rocker. Tom Cochrane became an officer of the Order of Canada for "songs that recount stories and dreams that are unabashedly Canadian," and for his humanitarian efforts in fighting global poverty. HUMBLING EXPERIENCE "This is such a high honour for me and a humbling honour because you hear so many of these incredible stories," said Cochrane. "I helped lend a voice to some of these causes, and hopefully this is an inspiration." Cochrane had praise for the Order of Canada selection committee's focus on community builders. "I'm not sure if anything in the world would start at the grassroots like this, and those are the real heroes," he said. "Sometimes I think there's a lot of people that deserve it more than me that may not get it."
Tom Cochrane Invites Hello! Canada Into His Rustic Home
Thisweek HELLO! Canada magazine takes you inside the life of Canadian-born rock icon Tom Cochrane. The musician threw open the doors of his lovely house in Oakville, Ontario, for an exclusive interview and photo session with his beautiful wife Kathy and their two daughters, Cody, now 24, and Evanne, 21.
In an expansive five-page feature, the Life Is A Highway rocker talks candidly about how his famous hit song's words ring especially true to his own experiences. Despite all the success, it has been a "bumpy road at times”, the seven-time Juno award winner confesses.
Source: Hello Magazine Canada -Thu 17 Jan 2008
Hockey's Greatest Hits
Mike Devlin, of Victoria's Times Colonist picked ten songs that best capture the spirit of our country's favourite sport.
Other choices included The Tragically Hip's Fifty-Mission Cap and The Lonely End of the Rink and The Hockey Song, by Stompin' Tom Connors.
1. Big League, Tom Cochrane and Red Rider.
On its own merit, Big League is a great track. But with fact-based lyrics about the untimely death of a rising hockey star, and his father's struggles to cope with the loss, Big League becomes a Canuck tearjerker like no other. "Hit by a truck doing 70 in the wrong lane to the big league."
Mon 23 Apr 2007
Waterkeeper Alliance Event, Banff, Alberta
Alec Baldwin will join brother William, while Oscar winner Susan Sarandon will attend with partner Tim Robbins as more than two dozen television, movie, and sports stars from across North America arrive in Banff this week for The Fairmont Banff Springs Sports Invitational in support of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Waterkeeper Alliance.
Organizers announced Tuesday Alec Baldwin, star of the current hit television show 30 Rock, has agreed to be the master of ceremonies Saturday January 19 at the gala dinner and concert at The Fairmont Banff Springs. The top Hollywood stars will also participate in fun-filled events outdoors at Sunshine Village Friday and Saturday where the public can easily watch the action.
The list of Hollywood stars continues to grow. Scheduled to join Mr. Kennedy as co-hosts are Emmy Award winner Kelsey Grammer, supermodel Christie Brinkley, Alicia Silverstone, Daryl Hannah, Dennis Franz and famous Canadians including Jason Priestley, Justin Trudeau, music legend Tom Cochrane, and Gord Downie from The Tragically Hip along with hockey legends Paul Coffey and Mike Richter. Many of the stars have already started to arrive.
Source: Ski Press World - Thu 17 Jan 2008
Canadian Tour with John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp, who just embarked on a six week U.S. tour this week, will be performing a series of Canadian dates, across six provinces, in February, 2008.
Mellencamp will be joined on the bill by Canada's own Tom Cochrane & Red Rider for a total of 12 performance dates that kick off on February 1 in Montreal. The tour goes on to Ontario for dates in Ottawa, London, Toronto and Sault Ste. Marie. These will be followed by concerts in Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Red Deer, and Calgary, with the last three dates on the Pacific coast in Kelowna, Vancouver and Victoria. Mellencamp noted,
"We're very excited about playing these dates with Tom for our friends across Canada. We've incorporated some interesting innovations in terms of staging and lighting that are working out very well for us on the current tour that we'll be bringing along. But, of course, what's most important, the essence of these shows, is the music and the songs.
" Tom Cochrane commented, "We will be doing a one hour set and it will be packed with songs like 'Life Is A Highway,' 'Big League,' 'Lunatic Fringe,' 'White Hot,' 'Boy Inside the Man,' 'Good Times' and more: songs that are close to a lot of Canadian hearts. The band is sounding outrageously good these days and we are looking forward to this tour." Mellencamp and his band -- Mike Wanchic, (guitar), Andy York (guitar), Dane Clark (drums), John Gunnell (bass), Miriam Sturm (violin) and Troye Kinnett (keyboards) -- have been working together almost continually since early in August when they participated in recording sessions for a new album, as yet untitled, produced by T Bone Burnett. It is expected that some of the songs from that album will be performed on the Canadian concert tour as well as Mellencamp's classic repertoire.
02/01 Montreal, QC Centre Bell
02/02 Ottawa, ON Scotiabank Place
02/05 London, ON John Labatt Centre
02/06 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre
02/08 Sault Ste Marie, ON Steelback Centre
02/11 Winnipeg, MB MTS Centre 02/12 Saskatoon, SK Credit Union Centre
02/14 Red Deer, AB ENMAX Centrium Arena
02/15 Calgary, AB Pengrowth Saddledome
02/17 Kelowna, BC Prospera Place
02/18 Vancouver, BC Pacific Coliseum
02/19 Victoria, BC Save On Foods Centre
mellencamp.com - Mon 05 Nov 2007
Nighthawks welcome their new Honorary Colonel, Tom Cochrane
409 Tactical Fighter Squadron has formally invested Canadian rock legend Tom Cochrane as its first official Honorary Colonel (HCol) since the squadron's re-activation in July 2006. HCol Cochrane took over the appointment from HCol Mark Little.
"I just want everybody to know that I'm extremely proud of you, and I'm extremely proud of being named Honorary Colonel," said HCol Cochrane. "I'll do my best to represent you to the public and I want you to know, you are courageous people, you're incredibly industrious people, and I'm very proud to be involved with 409."
HCol Cochrane is a member of the Parkinson Society of Canada and supports War Child Canada, World Vision and many other causes. He has also participated in Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency show tours overseas and has put on multiple concerts in support of Canadian Forces personnel.
"He doesn't just lend his name to those causes," added LCol Todd Balfe, Commanding Officer of 409 Sqn. "He participates and he travels and he commits his time and his energy to them. He brings his considerable reputation to advocate for the same things that we advocate for which is a free, strong Canada and a better world."
Over the course of his investiture weekend, HCol Cochrane got to experience his second flight in a CF-18, describing it as "the ride of his life" thanks to U.S. Marine Corps exchange pilot, Major Brian Foster. However, he added that this time around, he was especially impressed at the behind the scenes aspect.
"We got out of the airplane and the first thing we talked about was about how many incredible people it takes to get one of those things in the air," he said. "The operations people and the technical people are so very important and I was very impressed with the esprit de corps on the first trip and the esprit de corps and the camaraderie amongst all of you on this trip. I want you to know that that's recognized and something that you should be very proud of."
The tradition of appointing HCols dates back to 1895 when Lieutenant Colonel, the Honourable J.M. Gibson, provincial secretary in the Ontario government was appointed Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel (LCol) to the 13th Battalion of Infantry.
Written by Captain Jennifer Jones - Thu 29 Nov
Drew shows solo "Spirit’ at Marquee Club
The last time Kevin Drew appeared on stage at the Marquee Club, it was as part of the free-wheeling, multi-member rock and roll caravan of Broken Social Scene.
On Saturday, Drew gets to hold his own, touring behind his new solo record Spirit If . . ., but it’s hardly a solo show, with a band that includes fellow BSSers Brendan Canning and Justin Peroff, plus Andrew Kenny from American Analog Set, Treble Charger’s Bill Priddle, and Sam Goldberg, whose projects include Uncut and Hawaii.
With the intense dynamic of Spirit If . . . — which comes under the banner of "Broken Social Scene Presents Kevin Drew" — the songs seem to demand a substantial group to do justice to the CD’s multi-layered production by Do Make Say Think’s Ohad Benchetrit and Charles Spearin.
"It’s a lot of fun, the guys are really good. I’ve got Brendan and Justin with me, so I’ve got my solid rhythm section and old friends," says Drew, fresh from soundcheck for an appearance on MTV Live in Toronto. "Canning agreed to come out and play, even though he’s running around trying to finish his record at the moment, so it’s good."
With a Canning record due in 2008 under the Broken Social Scene Presents imprint, it seems like fans of the Juno Award-winning collective have much to look forward to, even though the band proper enjoys a hiatus. Drew likes to think the series is more "like the Buena Vista Social Club" spotlight releases than the 1978 KISS solo album debacle (of which Drew notes: Ace Frehley, "not bad"; Peter Criss, "not so much.")
"When we were finishing it up and saw that everyone was on it, and all our friends were there . . . it’s very hard to avoid my friends because I’ve been so musically addicted to them for the past five years musically, there’s no way that I wouldn’t play with them again," he says. "So we came up with this Social Scene Presents idea so we could have another outlet to put out music within the family and the brand of Social Scene, but also with some more freedom to do things that wouldn’t necessarily align with what the band has become over the past four or five years.
"Doing this is obviously an experiment, seeing how people react to it first time out. But we’re gonna have Canning’s record come out and then start putting out a lot of b-side material that never found a way out before."
At this point there’s a beep over the phone, and Drew’s voice vanishes briefly before reappearing.
"Can you hold on for a second? I’ve got Tom Cochrane on the other line, and you’ve gotta answer when Tom calls."
Yes, THAT Tom Cochrane, the Canadian rock icon who cameos on the song Lucky Ones and also appeared with Drew on MTV Live and at the Lee’s Palace show on Thursday night. One of many special guests on Spirit If … (including Feist, Dinosaur Jr.’s J. Mascis and Spiral Stair from Pavement), Cochrane is actually an inspired choice to underline Drew’s all-out approach.
"I cold called him," Drew explains. "I just knew . . . someone from Social Scene’s gonna cold call Tom Cochrane, let’s get this together. In my heart I knew it would work, and it just did. I knew the song was perfect for him, and nobody could deliver a line like, ‘I know we’re gonna be the lucky ones’ better than him. I knew it needed to have his vibe, and it just all came together.
"It was amazing that he’d do it with us. That emotional wail, he owns that sound. We jammed Boy Inside the Man with him, and when he busts out into ‘When I walked out with my girl . . .’ I got chills. Goosebumps. Down the spine."
Having the freedom to do things like including Cochrane is what made recording Spirit If . . . such a freeing experience.
"I was grateful to be able to get back to the lone star approach for a moment, and reconfigure my brain to the idea that I do make music, and it is outside of chaos, and pressure, and doing things to maintain a career or a lifestyle or a financial living. This record was made out of pure honesty, and the biggest struggle was trying to figure out what the record was gonna be and what was going on it."
Stephen Cooke - Nova Scotia News, Wed 03 Oct 2007
Puretracks to Offer EMI Downloads in DRM Free Mp3 Format
Puretracks.com today becomes the first Canadian digital music store to sell EMI's digital music catalogue in an unrestricted MP3 file format without digital rights management (DRM). Beginning immediately in the Canadian market, consumers will be able to purchase downloadable tracks from such artists as The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd and Canada's very own Nickelback and Tom Cochrane, as well as Interpol, Coldplay and Norah Jones.
Kevin Drew - Spirit If
Broken Social Scene Kevin Drew's new album "Spirit If" will be released on September 18th on the Arts & Crafts label. Amongst the many collaboraters on the album was our very own Tom Cochrane.
Check out more information on Kevin's Spirit If My Space Page
Tue 07 Augl 2007
Order of Canada
Yesterday, Governor General Michaëlle Jean announced 71 new appointees to the Order of Canada. Included amongst the 71 names were Jean Chrétien (Companion), Preston Manning (Companion), Robbie Robertson (Officer), Tom Cochrane (Officer), and Molly Johnson (Officer). The Order of Canada is the country's highest civilian honour for lifetime achievement.
Fri 29 Jun 2007
Mike McGuire interviews Tom on CISN
See the video on YouTube of Tom being interviewed by Mike McGuire of Edmonton's CISN Country 103,9 FM. This took place after the Rascal Flatts concert and the Messier's Gala Fundraiser both held in Edmonton.
Tom talks about Hockey, Rascal Flatts and touring amongst other things.
Wed 28 Feb 2007
The Montreal Gazette - Wednesday 31st March 2010 (excerpt).
(Toronto, Ontario) June 16, 2009 – Canada’s Walk of Fame, along with Canwest,announced today the names of its 2009 inductees. The eight recipients will be feted as part of The Canada Honours tribute Saturday, September 12 at Toronto’s Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. The evening’s festivities will be broadcast on Global Television and SLICETM (date and time tbd). Celebrating its 12th anniversary, Canada’s Walk of Famewill expand its list of inductees to 124 with the induction of these Canadian icons:
John Mellencamp, who just embarked on a six week U.S. tour this week, will be performing a series of Canadian dates, across six provinces, in February, 2008. 
The last time Kevin Drew appeared on stage at the Marquee Club, it was as part of the free-wheeling, multi-member rock and roll caravan of Broken Social Scene.
Tom made a suprise appearance on stage with Rascal Flatts at their sold out concert at Edmonton's Rexall Place last night.
He joined the band for an encore version of "Life is a Highway".