Hi everybody and welcome to another episode of the TALK MUSIC podcast!

My guest this week is BOB ROPER! This is a great, entertaining deep dive into his illustrious career. Bob has done it all! From booking concerts at university to doing major label promo, to working for top concert promoter MICHAEL COHL doing marketing. Bob then became an A&R guru at WARNER Music where he signed acts such as HONEYMOON SUITE, BLUE RODEO and FROZEN GHOST. He also helped ALANNAH MYLES and RUSH get their US careers going.

Before joining Warner, he spent time as tour manager of SUPERTRAMP who, then at the peak of their career, ended up playing Madison Square Garden. After leaving Warner, Bob jumped into management working closely with SHARON LOIS AND BRAM, where he brought them to another level before moving on to handle A&R/management for the SRO/ANTHEM company (home of RUSH, GOWAN, MAX WEBSTER & CONEY HATCH).

Following that, Bob ran his own management company (GOWAN, MOLLY JOHNSON) and then taught at the HARRIS INSTITUTE for 30 years! Wanting to be closer to home, Bob spent a couple of years working at the PRECISION manufacturing company and he just recently retired.

I truly loved this interview as I also had a chance to THANK Bob for taking a chance on me as Producer of the debut album for HONEYMOON SUITE.

His faith in me and the massive success of the 4 Top 10 singles (and TRIPLE PLATINUM sales of the album) was a game changer for me and changed my life forever!! Take a listen, there’s lots of interesting stories in this one and I can honestly say Bob really is another one of the really good guys out there.

ENJOY!

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Hi everybody and welcome to another episode of The Talk Music Podcast.

I’m absolutely thrilled to post this wonderful chat with STEVE KANE, who just recently stepped down as PRESIDENT OF WARNER MUSIC CANADA where he orchestrated tremendous success for the label for over 20 years.

Steve not only led the daily operations of the company, but also oversaw the signings of BILLY TALENT, SCOTT HELMAN and the re-signing of BLUE RODEO, to name a few. We dive deep into how he earned his stripes as president, starting his career on Yonge St. at an indie record shop and being mentored by some of the greats in our business. We also chat about his current involvement, including MAKE MUSIC MATTER and SING. We round out our discussion with a bit of insight on how to navigate the music biz these days as an up-and-coming artist.

I loved this chat with Steve, he really is one of the GOOD guys out there. I look forward to bumping into him somewhere where music lives!

As an added bonus, I've included some of Steve’s musical faves that he listens to at home.

Enjoy!

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Hi everybody and welcome to another episode of the TALK MUSIC podcast! My guest is music and film producer MARK BERRY.

Mark has attained 36 international GOLD and PLATINUM record awards for the artists he's worked with as a producer, engineer and/or mixer. The list is impressive, including Grammy-nominated artists such as Carly Simon, Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Duran Duran, Billy Idol, Boy George, Yes, Joan Jett, Cameo and Kool and the Gang, as well as numerous Canadian artists such Lee Aaron, The Headstones, I Mother Earth, Burton Cummings, Voivod and many more.

He’s also the chairman of AMG CORP, a company encompassing music, film and TV under one roof. This was an engaging chat about the music industry past and present, the mechanics of how his company combines music, film and TV and how Mark was able to work with such iconic artists in his career.

Enjoy!

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Hi everybody, I have two wonderful guests on for this episode as I’m thrilled to welcome both AMY SKY and MARC JORDAN!

This fun chat dives deep into Amy and Marc's beginnings and how they both grew up in Toronto, how Marc, in 1978, got a US record deal with WARNER Music, and that culminated in the hit song “Marina del Rey." Fast forward and Marc has now released 16 solo albums to date, including his most recent, two brilliant jazz themed albums “Both Sides” and “Waiting for the Sun to Rise." He has also written for such artists as Bette Midler, Joe Cocker, Josh Groban and Manhattan Transfer, but is arguably best known for his worldwide #1 hit Rhythm of My Heart made famous by ROD STEWART who went on to record more of Marc's work, including Tears of Hercules and Charlie Parker Loves Me. Marc's songs have been on 35 MILLION CDs and he was recently inducted into the CANADIAN SONGWRITER’S HALL OF FAME. Marc also performs as a member of the quartet “Lunch at Allen’s."

Amy began her career as a staff songwriter for MCA, subsequently moving on to Warner-Chappell and EMI. She has written for many international artists, including Diana Ross, Anne Murray and Roch Voisine, and is also renown for her collaborations with Oliva Newton-John. Since the release of her debut album Cool Rain in 1996, Amy has recorded 13 albums. She has been nominated for four Junos, is the recipient of three Socan awards, an International Songwriter's Award and the Canadian Smooth Jazz Award. Her most recent album released by LINUS Entertainment is a Duets Project with Marc called "He Sang She Sang". It was nominated for a 2023 JUNO award for “Adult Contemporary Album of the Year.”

Enjoy!

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I’m thrilled to announce my guest this week is JIM CUDDY from BLUE RODEO! In this fun interview, we dive deep on his entire career, starting from his early beginnings through all his solo albums, including his most recent called ALL THE WORLD FADES AWAY.

We discuss Blue Rodeo’s early days, how they got signed to the Warner label and the upcoming Blue Rodeo Documentary.

Jim’s solo career has included a JUNO award for Best Male Vocalist and Best Adult Alternative album of the year. In the 35 years since forming, Blue Rodeo have sold over 4 million albums, received dozens of JUNO Award nominations/wins, played over 2,000 shows, been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, received a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame, been named to the Order of Canada and have been honoured with the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award. Most recently, Jim and his long time writing partner, Greg Keelor, were announced as new inductees into the CANADIAN SONGWRITING HALL OF FAME!!! (the ceremony will take place at Massey Hall Sept 28th)

Enjoy!

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Hi everyone!

Here’s part 2 of my interview with Gordie Johnson from BIG SUGAR. In this episode we continue to go deep into his career, delving into all his albums after signing with A&M Records. With super radio-friendly songs such as Turn the Lights On, Diggin’ a Hole, The Scene, If I Had My Way, Better Get Used to It, Roads Ahead and the classic anthem All Hell For A Basement, Gordie achieved 3 PLATINUM awards for the albums Hemi-Vision, Heated and Brothers and Sisters, Are You Ready?

We also touch on the reasons why Gordie left Canada to live in Austin (where he co-founded the ‘cowboy metal’ band, Grady), his eventual return to Canada, his bout with carpal tunnel and his seemingly never ending tour of all Canada's beautiful provinces. We end our conversation with Gordie's advice on getting started as an upcoming musician/artist.

Always insightful and with great stories to tell, this chat with Gordie was truly a special one for me because of our shared history and the renewed interest in the album 500 pounds, thanks to JACK WHITE.

Enjoy!

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Hi everyone and welcome to another episode of the Talk Music podcast!

WOW I’m so excited about this one as my guest is GORDIE JOHNSON from BIG SUGAR!

Gordie Johnson has earned numerous gold and platinum records with his band Big Sugar, and as producer/musician with Gov't Mule, Taj Mahal, North Mississippi Allstars, Toots Hibbert, Dennis Alcapone, Leroy Sibbles, Willi Williams, Nashville Pussy, Joel Plaskett, The Trews and Default.

We chat about why JACK WHITE recently proclaimed the album 500 Pounds as the BEST blues-based album to ever come out of Canada! (also my first gold album on my Hypnotic label!)

Gordie goes into detail about how he originally met Jack as a kid at a gig in AUSTIN, TX when he was the drummer for the band GOOBER AND THE PEAS, opening for BIG SUGAR. Jack burned out his 500 Pounds cassette and, a couple of decades later, was excited to re-release the album on his THIRD MAN label, letting the entire world know how much it meant to him growing up.

We also go deep into Gordie’s early beginnings, how I ended up signing him to my label and co-producing the BIG SUGAR debut album, earning the EDISON award in Holland for best blues album. Further discussion revolves around how BIG SUGAR broke wide open with the video for “Sleep in Late," and that exposure resulted in opening gigs for BB KING, ARETHA FRANKLIN and RAY CHARLES! We then delve into the making of the 500 pounds album and how Gordie worked his magic in the studio.

Enjoy part one of his long, illustrious career!

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Hi and welcome to another episode of the TALK MUSIC podcast.

My guest this week is singer-songwriter extraordinaire, ROB LAMOTHE. He can sing anything and make it sound great! With an "out of this world soulful voice" (ROLLING STONE EUROPE), Rob is a “mercurial artist who slides effortlessly from rustic roots music to soulful country pop to full-blown rock balladry" (THE TORONTO STAR).

Rob has released many fine solo albums (all now being re-released on the COOL UK BORDER TOWN SOUND LABEL), one of which I produced called LONG LAZY CURVE - it’s one of my favourite records of my production career. Rob has also released 6 albums with the RIVERDOGS which feature guitarist VIVIAN CAMPBELL before he joined DEF LEPPARD. Vivian has remained in the lineup for their recordings including being involved in their outstanding last album “California”.

Rob continues to play solo shows, produce artists such as LOGAN STAATS whose last record was nominated for a JUNO award and he was also recently involved as associate producer of two critically acclaimed documentaries - the WATERWALK and BOIL ALERT.

Enjoy!

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