By Quinton J. Hobson Canada seldom generates controversy strong enough to attract media coverage from around the globe 24/7 but 2013 and 2014 were the exception with constant headlines about the antics of Canada’s two bad boys, then-mayor Rob Ford and pop singer Justin Bieber. Things briefly began to return to normal as Ford’s tenure […]
By Quinton J. Hobson Unless one counts the numerous sitcoms and movies written, directed, produced by and starring comedy tycoon Tyler Perry (the Madea movies, Meet the Browns), which continue to garner heavy rotation on BET, one would agree the Black demographic remains considerably lacking within the world of scripted television. Black actors are regularly […]
Bill King, music director of the Ted Woloshyn Show at Newstalk 1010 CFRB and artistic director of the Beaches International Jazz Festival, sat down with Brooke Blackburn of the Blackburn Brothers recently to talk about the band and its Toronto history. Bill King: What a music history your family has in Toronto. Your dad … […]
By Quinton J. Hobson Possibly reacting to online criticism that the Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival’s lineup was male dominated, organizers added two renowned songstresses. After readers of St. Lucia News Online voiced their discontent with the annual festival’s lineup via the website’s comments section, the festival recently announced the all-star list will now […]
By Quinton J. Hobson In one of the year’s more diverse and least controversial award shows (in February, the Oscars were heavily criticized for lacking nominees of colour, while the Grammys aired amidst controversy around Kanye West) rapper Drake was among several musicians up for accolades celebrating the best in Canadian music at Sunday’s Juno […]
By Dave Douglas Not everyone agrees with the jury’s verdict in the Robin Thicke, Pharrell Williams versus the late Marvin Gaye’s family over copyright infringement of Gaye’s 1977 song Got to Give it Up. But with Thicke and Williams now having to give up US$7.4 million to the Gayes, the questions in most people’s minds […]
By Quinton J. Hobson When planning any highly anticipated event or gathering such as a wedding, a birthday party or a graduation, there almost always comes a point when merely the thought of canceling or backing out would be simply ludicrous after spending so much time, energy and money preparing for it. Such can be […]
By Quinton J. Hobson Renowned pianist Herman Sang is to be honoured at Seven44 Restaurant & Lounge where Sunday Jam: The Tribute Edition is scheduled to take place. Jamaica-born Sang is best remembered as one of the four founding members of the popular Jiving Juniors, “one of the most popular vocal ensembles of the Jamaican […]
By Dave Douglas In a 2015 report on Urban City Safety compiled by the Economist magazine Toronto was named best place to live in the world. And according to Statistics Canada, Toronto is the most diverse city in Canada and one of the most multicultural in the world. Today, Toronto residents have everything to be […]
By Quinton J. Hobson Given the bout of shootings and murders that has plagued North America during the last three years that appear to have civil rights heading to a downward spiral, things just might be looking up for one Canadian young Black man. On Feb. 19, Drake became the first rapper – and first […]
