Diane Dufresne, Dr. Oliver Jones, Terri Clark and Trooper to be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame  - The JUNO Awards
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Diane Dufresne, Dr. Oliver Jones, Terri Clark and Trooper to be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame 

Presented by Music Canada, the annual ceremony returns to Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre, in Calgary on May 18

 

CALGARY – The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS), announced this evening at The 2023 JUNO Awards Broadcast the return of the prestigious Canadian Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Presented by Music Canada, which was put on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic. Renowned French Canadian singer Diane Dufresne, veteran jazz pianist Dr. Oliver Jones, country music superstar Terri Clark and rock legends Trooper will all be honoured for their astounding contributions to Canada’s music history live and in-person on May 18, 2023 at Studio Bell, home to the National Music Centre (NMC) in Calgary, Alberta. Tickets go on sale April 18 at the NMC box office.  

The spring ceremony follows Alberta rock band Nickelback’s explosive induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, Presented by TD Bank Group, which took place at The 2023 JUNO Awards this evening. The celebration included a live performance of some of the band’s most iconic rock tracks including “Rockstar,” “How You Remind Me,” and “Animals,” for an audience of over 10,000 music lovers.

The Canadian Music Hall of Fame was established by CARAS in 1978 to acknowledge artists who have made a remarkable impact on Canadian music, both nationally and internationally.  Dufresne, Dr. Jones, Clark and Trooper will join the ranks of Canada’s most esteemed talent including Alanis Morissette, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Barenaked Ladies, Deborah Cox, Jann Arden, Joni Mitchell, k.d. lang, Leonard Cohen, Neil Young,  Oscar Peterson, RUSH, The Guess Who, The Tragically Hip, Sarah McLachlan and Shania Twain.  

“Canada is home to so many talented artists, belonging to an array of genres and from all corners of the country. At CARAS, we strive to support artists at every stage of their career. The Canadian Music Hall of Fame is our moment to spotlight those who have contributed to our music legacy,” said Allan Reid, President & CEO, CARAS/The JUNO Awards & MusiCounts. 

“It’s an honour to be a part of this year’s induction ceremony, where we commemorate some esteemed musicians who have helped to put Canadian music on the map,” said Patrick Rogers, CEO, Music Canada. “We can’t wait for future music makers and fans to fall in love with the enduring history of the artists being celebrated this spring.”

“The stories of music in Canada are remarkable and May’s ceremony is a chance to celebrate them,” said Andrew Mosker, President & CEO, National Music Centre. “It’s not everyday we get to bring the nation’s music community together, which is why we are so proud to be hosting this important event.”    

 Photo Credit: Patrick Ibanez

Diane Dufresne’s colourful history as a French Canadian singer began more than six decades ago and she will become the first inductee who performs entirely in French. Born-and-raised in Montreal, the singer, songwriter, painter and  stage performer left for Paris in the early 1960’s, where she studied singing and drama at the young age of 18. Returning back to Canada, Dufresne continued to break through creative boundaries, from performing in cabarets to singing for jingles and multiple film scores. Known for her eccentric style and alluring presence, she rose to fame as a singer in the 1970’s following her first project Tiens toé ben, j’arrive. Over her long standing career, she has not only performed as a musician, but also explored theatre, starring in the musical Starmania and Emilie Jolie. She has also done multiple symphonic concerts in Quebec, Europe and Japan, the latest of which were in 2018 in Quebec and presented at the Salle Pleyel in Paris. Releasing 12 studio albums and five live recordings between 1972 and 2018, one of Dufresne’s biggest hits is the sellout song J’ai rencontré l’homme de ma vie, which initially sold over 200,000 copies in Québec, and France in 1972.  

Dufresne is one of the first French-speaking performers to sing “the Quebec accent” thanks to a fruitful collaboration with the well-known lyricist and fellow Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee Luc Plamondon. She is also recognized for her extravagant costumes, stagings and interactive performances, such as the  “Magie Rose” show at the Olympic Stadium in Montreal in 1984, where she brought together more than 57,000 people all dressed in pink.  

Dufresne has toured across the world and has been honoured for her artistry globally. Over the years, she’s grown a loyal fanbase across Canada and notably across France. Her tremendous list of achievements include the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award, the Knight of the National Order of Québec, the Order of the Legion of Honor in France, the Commander of Arts and Letters in France, the Denise Pelletier Prize Québec and even having a gallery in Repentigny, QC named after her, Centre d’art Diane-Dufresne. Today, Dufresne continues to sing and perform with Québec tour dates scheduled for later this year.   

Photo credit: Pierre Arsenault 

At the ripe young age of five, the Montreal-born Dr. Oliver Jones made his debut as a pianist in the 1930’s. A child prodigy, he went on to have his first nightclub appearance by the time he was nine. Since then, the world-renowned jazz musician and 11-time JUNO Award nominee has celebrated many accolades during his 77-year career. In the mid-sixties, Dr. Jones accepted a Music Director position on a calypso orchestra that brought him to Puerto Rico. Upon his return in 1980, Dr. Jones decided he would pursue his career as a jazz pianist.   

With 25 albums under his belt, Dr. Jones has toured the world playing for audiences across the United States, Europe, New Zealand, Australia, Switzerland, Japan, China and Africa. His Nigerian tour was the subject of the 1990 documentary, Oliver Jones in Africa by the National Film Board of Canada. Having performed at major jazz festivals and concerts alongside acclaimed orchestras, Dr. Jones has been recognized for his work across the globe. He is a member of the Order of Canada and the Order of Québec and has received the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award, the Martin Luther King Jr. Award, the Oscar Peterson Award, the SOCAN Special Lifetime Award, multiple Félix Awards and two JUNO Awards. He has six doctorates.   

Dr. Jones leaves a legacy as someone who has paved the way for the Black music community in Canada. Along with his musical contributions, Dr. Jones was an educator at both Laurentian and McGill Universities through the late eighties and nineties.  He was honoured with an official stamp as part of Canada Post’s tribute to Black history in 2013. Fans of the Canadian jazz star can reflect on his achievements and lasting career in his documentary Oliver Jones Mind Hands Heart, which premiered at the Montreal International Black Film Festival in 2017. After announcing his retirement in 2016, Dr. Jones had a final farewell concert in the Caribbean country of Barbados, where his parents were from. 

Photo credit: Ryan Nolan

From humble beginnings playing for tips at legendary honky-tonk bar, Orchid Lounge in Nashville, to holding the honour of being the only Canadian female member of the Grand Ole Opry, Medicine Hat’s Terri Clark has solidified her place in the history books of country music. The multi-JUNO Award winner boasts over 5 million albums sold, three RIAA Platinum and two RIAA Gold-certified albums, Canadian Gold, Platinum, Double Platinum, and Triple Platinum-certified albums, thirteen Top Ten singles including six number ones in Canada and the U.S., 19 CCMA Awards, a 2018 induction into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, and multiple ACM and CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Award nominations.

Clark has performed her hit singles like “Better Things To Do,” “Poor Poor Pitiful Me,” “Girls Lie Too,” “Northern Girl,” and “I Just Wanna Be Mad,” to sold-out audiences on both sides of the border, headlining her own shows and touring with megastars like George Straight, Toby Keith, Brooks & Dunn, and Brad Paisley. Clark has also had the opportunity to collaborate with some of the biggest and most legendary names in music including Jann Arden, Dierks Bentley, Emmylou Harris,  Alison Krauss, Reba McEntire, Johnny Reid, Dallas Smith, and Tanya Tucker. 

This spring, Clark is set to hit the road again with McEntire, continuing to captivate audiences as she takes command of the iconic stages of Madison Square Garden, The Hollywood Bowl and more. Clark also hosts the internationally syndicated, CMA and ACM Award-nominated radio show, Country Gold with Terri Clark, which can be heard on radio stations across the USA and Canada. 

Photo Credit: Heather Uhl

Formed in Vancouver, British Columbia, the legendary Canadian rock band Trooper known for smash hits like “Two for the Show” and “We’re Here for a Good Time (Not A Long Time),” was founded by Ra McGuire and Brian Smith in the 1970’s. Following 10 studio albums and sold-out shows across Canada, the group has earned multiple platinum and gold awards, with their six-time platinum greatest hit album Hot Shots still reigning as one of Universal Music Canada’s best-selling catalog CDs.   

The JUNO ‘Group of the Year’ Award winners continue to see support across Canada with heavy rotation of their hits over radio. Celebrating more than 40 years as a band, their globally revered classic rock song “Raise A Little Hell,” originally released in the late seventies, was one of Billboard’s Hot 100 and is popularly heard in sporting arenas and in film and television.    

While the two founding members have now retired, Trooper continues to sell out shows across the nation. 

Limited tickets to the Canadian Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony can be purchased at the NMC box office as of April 18.  

 

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Links:

Canadian Music Hall of Fame website: http://canadianmusichalloffame.ca
CBC Music website: www.cbcmusic.ca/junos
Diane Dufresne website: https://www.dianedufresne.com/
JUNO Awards website: www.junoawards.ca
Music Canada website: https://musiccanada.com/
MusiCounts website: https://www.musicounts.ca/
Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre website: www.studiobell.ca/
Terri Clark website: www.terriclark.com
Trooper website: https://www.trooper.com/

Canadian Music Hall of Fame 

Facebook: @CanadianMusicHallofFame
Hashtag: #CMHF

The JUNO Awards

Twitter: @TheJUNOAwards / Instagram: @TheJUNOAwards / Facebook: @TheJUNOAwards / TikTok: @TheJUNOAwards Hashtag: #JUNOS

Music Canada

Twitter: @Music_Canada / Instagram: @Music_Canada  / Facebook: @MusicCanada

The National Music Centre
TikTok: @NMC_Canada / Twitter: @NMC_Canada / Instagram: @NMC_Canada / Facebook: @NationalMusicCentre

MusiCounts

Twitter: @MusiCounts / Instagram: @MusiCounts / Facebook: @MusiCounts

CBC Music

TikTok: @CBCMusic / Twitter: @CBCMusic / Facebook: @CBCMusic / YouTube: @CBCMusic

Diane Dufresne

Twitter: @DianeDufresneOfficiel      

Dr. Oliver Jones: Instagram: @Oliver.Jones.Official / Facebook: @OliverJones 

Terri Clark

Twitter: @TerriClarkMusic  /  Instagram: @TerriClarkMusic  /  Facebook: @TerriClark  / YouTube: @OfficialTerriClark

Trooper

Twitter: @Trooper / Instagram: @Trooper  / Facebook :@TrooperBand

About CARAS 

The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) is a not-for-profit organization created to preserve and enhance the Canadian music industry and promote higher artistic and industry standards. CARAS’ mandate is comprised of four key pillars: Educate through our music education charity, MusiCounts, programs and initiatives; Develop emerging artists through mentorship and development programs; Celebrate Canadian artists with year-round JUNO Awards showcasing; and Honour music industry icons through the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. The 53rd annual JUNO Awards Broadcast will take place in Halifax at Scotiabank Centre on Sunday, March 24, 2024. For more information on the JUNO Awards or The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) please visit www.junoawards.ca.

About Music Canada

Music Canada is a non-profit trade organization that represents the major record companies in Canada:  Sony Music Entertainment Canada, Universal Music Canada and Warner Music Canada. Music Canada also works with some of the leading independent record labels and distributors, recording studios, live music venues, concert promoters, managers and artists in the promotion and development of the music cluster.

About National Music Centre | Centre National de Musique

The National Music Centre (NMC) has a mission to amplify the love, sharing, and understanding of music. It is preserving and celebrating Canada’s music story inside its home at Studio Bell in the heart of the East Village in Mohkinstsis (Calgary) on Treaty 7 territory. NMC is the home to four Canadian music halls of fame, including the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and Quebec’s ADISQ Hall of Fame. Featuring musical instruments, artifacts, recording equipment, and memorabilia, the NMC Collection spans over 450 years of music history and innovation. A registered charity with programs that include exhibitions, artist development, performance, and education, NMC is inspiring a new generation of music lovers. For more information about NMC’s onsite activities, please visit studiobell.ca . To check out the NMC experience online, including video-on-demand performances, made-in-Canada stories, and highly entertaining educational content, visit amplify.nmc.ca.

For additional information, please contact:

Cherise Williams, rock-it promotions, 416-587-2590
Rachel Ecker, rock-it promotions,