From Jazz Pianist to Country Superstar: A Look at the Newest Canadian Music Hall of Fame Inductees - The JUNO Awards

Joining the ranks of the country’s most celebrated musicians and performers, renowned French Canadian singer Diane Dufresne, veteran jazz pianist Dr. Oliver Jones, country music superstar Terri Clark, and rock legends Trooper will soon become the newest inductees into the Candian Music Hall of Fame. 

In anticipation of their induction on May 18, 2023, get to know each artist’s unique musical legacy and learn more about the invaluable contributions they have made to Canada’s music history.

Diane Dufresne

For over six decades, Diane Dufresne has been one of the most celebrated and beloved French performing artists in Canadian music. Born in Montreal, the singer, songwriter, painter, and stage performer began her career in the early 1960s when she left her hometown to study singing and drama in Paris, France. Upon her return, Dufresne pushed herself to break creative boundaries, performing in cabarets and singing for commercial jingles and film scores.

Dufresne’s eccentric style, alluring presence, and interactive performance style brought her to fame in the 1970s when she made waves with her first project, Tiens toé ben, j’arrive. One of the first French-speaking performers to sing “the Quebec accent”, Dufresne has released twelve studio albums and five live recordings with her hit single “J’ai rencontré l’homme de ma vie” selling over 200,000 copies in Québec and France. 

Dufresne’s talent and creativity have been recognized globally, with numerous accolades and awards, including the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award, the Knight of the National Order of Québec, and the Order of the Legion of Honor in France. She will make history as the first Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee who performs entirely in French.

Dr. Oliver Jones

Born to Barbadian parents in Montreal, Dr. Oliver Jones showed a remarkable aptitude for music from a very young age. At only 6 years old, Dr. Jones began formal training in classical piano under the tutelage of Daisy Peterson Sweeney, sister to fellow Montreal jazz musician and Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee Oscar Peterson. Performing regularly for hospitals, church events, dances, and variety shows, Oliver Jones soon became a household name in Montreal’s music scene.

With 25 albums under his belt, Dr. Jones has performed all over the world, sharing his passion for jazz music with audiences in the United States, Europe, New Zealand, Australia, Switzerland, Japan, China, and Africa. In 1990, his Nigerian tour was the subject of the documentary “Oliver Jones in Africa,” produced by the National Film Board of Canada.

Dr. Jones has won numerous awards, including two JUNO Awards, Governor General’s Performing Arts Award, the Martin Luther King Jr. Award, the Oscar Peterson Award, the SOCAN Special Lifetime Award, and multiple Félix Awards. His 2023 induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame will cement his legacy as one of the country’s most celebrated jazz musicians and someone who has paved the way for the Black music community in Canada. 

Terri Clark

Raised in a family of country musicians in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Terri Clark was destined to become a country music star. As a teenager, Clark’s love for country music led her to Nashville, where she honed her craft by playing in local clubs. Her breakthrough came in 1994 when she signed with Mercury Records and released a string of hit singles that peaked in the Top 10 charts.

Clark’s talent as a songwriter was recognized with the release of her critically acclaimed album “Fearless” in 2000. The record showcased her songwriting abilities, and she won the Best Country Female Artist at The 2001 JUNO Awards. A few years later, she made history with her hit single “I Just Wanna Be Mad”, which became the first no.1 country hit by a female artist in over two years.

With over 5 million albums sold worldwide, Clark’s incredible success has earned her numerous awards, including 19 CCMA Awards, multiple ACM and CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Award nominations, and induction into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 2018. Her legacy as one of the most influential female country artists of all time is well-deserved, and her music continues to inspire new generations of country music fans. 

Trooper

Dubbed “Canadian rock heroes of the first order” and “the best-performing band in Canada”, Trooper has left an enduring mark on the Canadian music scene. With chart-topping hits like “Raise a Little Hell” and “We’re Here for a Good Time (Not a Long Time)”, the group has sold millions of records and played to sold-out crowds in arenas across the country.

Trooper’s beginnings can be traced back to 1967 when they began creating music under the name Winter’s Green. They later changed their name to Applejack and were discovered by Randy Bachman from Bachman-Turner Overdrive and The Guess Who. Bachman signed the group to his record label Legend where they eventually rebranded as Trooper and released their self-titled debut album in 1975.

Trooper’s energetic performances and knack for great pop songwriting quickly propelled the group into Canadian rock stardom. Their ten studio albums have earned multiple gold and platinum awards and their 6 X Platinum greatest hits album; “Hot Shots” remains one of Universal Music Canada’s best-selling catalogue CDs and one of the country’s most enduring party soundtracks. To this day, Trooper continues to be recognized as one of the best-performing bands in Canada and a staple of Canadian rock music.

Tickets to the highly anticipated Canadian Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Presented by Music Canada are available now. Audiences can also tune in live at 7 p.m. MT/9 p.m. ET on CBC Gem, CBCMusic.ca/junosCBC Gem and CBC Music’s FacebookYouTube, and Twitter pages.