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The Jack Richardson Music Awards, which will be presented Sunday as part of a weekend of celebration, recognize London musical excellence.
By James Reaney
Free Press Arts and Entertainment Columnist
Published on Thursday, March 27th, 2008 in the London Free Press
There are many reasons I’m delighted to be part of the Jack Richardson Music Awards.
It’s an honour to play any part in so classy a recognition of London’s music excellence. That is doubled when legendary Canadian record producer and longtime London resident Jack Richardson agrees to the use of his name for our cause.
We are London’s only not-for-profit grassroots recognition of musical excellence and our two big events are free. We have free music industry workshops on Saturday at Aeolian Hall and a free gala on Sunday at the Music Hall -- in keeping with the style we set in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Consider this your invitation to the 7:30 p.m. gala on Sunday as the tradition continues at 185 Queens Ave.
You are also welcome at the free seminars. They bring together musicians (Catherine McInnes, Glen (Archie) Gamble), radio geniuses (Alicks Girowski), concert promoters (Ian Davies), industry movers (Mark Watson, Steve Rizun) and more.
I’m on one of the panels -- and find I always learn a lot from the other panellists and the audience.
Then, there is the ballot for 2008. It’s a good one. No, a great one.
Nominees range from hip-hopper Shad, a contender in the urban category to organist Ron Fox to jazzy vocalists After Four.
Shad, who is attending university in B.C., has already sent his regrets. But we hope his history with the Jacks -- as a performer in 2006 and a nominee and presenter in other years -- will be a springboard for his richly deserved shot at Juno glory on April 6. The Kenya-born, London-raised hip-hopper is due for a Juno, it says here.
Shad is just one example of London’s musical excellence.
Orchestra London, this year’s inductee into our London Music Hall of Fame, is another. For years, the Jacks have been inducting leaders from London’s music community -- from Thundermug to Georgette Fry to Jack Richardson -- into the hall. The hall is only a dream at this stage -- but wouldn’t it be a perfect fit with a performing arts centre?
This year’s Hall of Famers have a concert tonight at the Forest City Community Church and then two more concerts at Centennial Hall tomorrow and Saturday. Denise Pelley, a seminar participant on Saturday and a 2008 Jacks nominee in the jazz category, is the guest in the two Red Hot Weekends concerts at Centennial Hall.
The orchestra’s associate concertmaster, Mary-Elizabeth Brown, is a panellist at the Aeolian Hall seminars. Brown is also a nominee in the classical (instrumental) category and set to perform at Sunday night’s gala with London rock band Hue, a fan favourite nominee.
In all, 24 awards will be handed out over the course of the 2008 Jacks this weekend. We added three new categories -- classical (voice), live venue and recording studio for 2008.
Those awards, almost all of them announced Sunday night, are part of an evening devoted to the London music community. Members of that community help select nominees.
Voting in many categories is by our JRMA academy, a growing gathering of knowledgeable and enthusiastic music community participants.
Fans vote online in two categories. The Jacks steering committee chooses the Dennis Brown Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Named for the late London drummer, it honours commitment to music. This year’s honouree is the amazing “retired” UWO percussionist Bob Hughes, a friend of Brown and of Richardson -- and London music.
The steering committee and other supporters choose the honouree in the contributor category, which salutes off-stage accomplishments.
Six secondary schools -- Clarke Road (Crossroads), Saunders (Northern Lights), St. Thomas Aquinas (The Colour), Mother Teresa (Say Domino), Beal (Under the Killing Floor) and Montcalm -- are represented at the 2008 JRMA youth category event on Saturday at Fanshawe. The winner is announced at the gala.
So, there are some of the reasons I love the Jacks. Here are two more. Our seminars and gala are free. And the musicians who play at the gala are paid. That payment is possible because of our sponsors and the Music Performance Fund, administered here by the London Musicians’ Association. Like all those in London music, they deserve our applause.
If you go...
What: Fourth annual Jack Richardson Music Awards, a non-profit, grassroots celebration of London’s music community this weekend. The awards -- the JRMAs or Jacks -- are organized by a volunteer steering committee chaired by John b. Young.
Saturday: Seminars on music business, panellists include members musicians and industry experts from London and elsewhere; Aeolian Hall, 795 Dundas St. (at Rectory) first panel, 10 a.m. check jrma.ca or call 519-672-7950; free
Saturday night: Youth competition with bands from six London secondary schools. Forwell Hall, Student Union Building at Fanshawe College. $5. Doors open at 8 p.m. Call 519-453-3720, ext. 244.
Sunday: Awards gala with performances by London musicians, including Hue, Mary-Elizabeth Brown, Frank Ridsdale and Slugfest, Paul Langille, the London jazz all-stars and more. Music Hall, 185 Queens Ave.; doors open at 6:30 p.m.; gala at 7:30 p.m.; contact 519-432-5317; entrance off municipal parking lot on south side of Queens west of Clarence Street; free; e-mail gregsimpson2001@rogers.com or visit jrma.ca.
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