JUNO WHO WON AWARDS THIS YEAR?

All of the JUNO awards have been handed out.  Congrats to big winners Arcade Fire, Serena Ryder plus Tegan and Sara.  It’s a good thing Justin Bieber wasn’t in Winnipeg to personally accept his JUNO Fan Choice Award or he would have heard that loud chorus of ‘boos’ coming from the prairie crowd. 

If you were watching the telecast, you saw Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield introduce Bachman-Turner Overdrive into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame this year.  So, in honour of BTO’s honour, this week’s quiz is all about the Winnipeg band.  Pretty simple really, so let’s start ‘takin’ care of business’. 

QUESTIONS

1.  Prior to Bachman-Turner Overdrive but after The Guess Who, Randy Bachman formed another band that eventually morphed into BTO.  What was the name of this band?  Was it:  a. Brown Belt  b. Brave Belt  c. Black Belt  d. Belt Up        

      

2.  Randy Bachman sang lead vocals on BTO’s 1974 # 1 hit, “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet”.  On one of his early takes, Randy stuttered during the choruses.  He’d planned to send a copy of this version to his brother who stuttered and later re-record the vocals without stuttering.  What is the name of Randy’s brother who stuttered?  a. Robbie  b. Joe  c. Gary  d. Tim                    

                

3.  During the late night recording session in Seattle for “Takin’ Care of Business”, there was a delivery person who brought in food for a session in another studio.  He popped into Randy’s session and heard “Takin’ Care of Business”.  The delivery guy said the song needed a piano.  Randy said ‘OK, go ahead and play it.’  The guy wrote the chord changes down, walked into the studio, played his piano part in ONE take, then left and that became the hit version.  What fast food was the piano playing delivery man delivering?  Was it:  a. Chinese food  b. Chicken Wings  c. Hamburgers  d. Pizza           

4.  Before BTO, there was The Guess Who.  And before The Guess Who, they went by several names.  Which of the following names did they use? a. Al and the Silvertones   b. Chad Allan and the Reflections  c. Chad Allan and the Expressions  d. all of them                   

    

5.  In the world of rock management, this man is a bona-fide legend.  His company is based in Vancouver and besides BTO, he’s also managed Bryan Adams, Anne Murray and Michael Buble.  Randy Bachman thanked him during his JUNO Hall of Fame acceptance speech and he was shown on camera sitting in the audience.  So who is he?  Is he:  a. Sam Feldman         b. Red Robinson  c. Bruce Allen  d. Dan Plouffe

ANSWERS

1.  The answer is b. Brave Belt, which initially featured Randy’s brother Robbie as well as former Guess Who lead singer Chad Allan.  Chad stayed for the debut album, “Brave Belt I” but left soon after.  Fred Turner had been brought in to play bass on tour and took over vocals for the “Brave Belt II” album and Randy’s brother Tim Bachman was added as a second guitarist.  Manager Bruce Allen convinced Randy to change the name of the band and they settled on Bachman-Turner Overdrive (the Overdrive came from the title of a trucker’s magazine).  I think you can guess where the Bachman and Turner part came from.       

2.  c. Gary is the correct answer.  When Randy later tried to re-do the vocal for “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” without stuttering, it didn’t work at all, so he left it alone.  A Mercury Records executive heard the original stuttering version and told the band that they had to include it on their album “Not Fragile” as it was definitely a hit.  Randy reluctantly agreed.  Later, when the executive wanted to release the song as a single, Bachman initially refused, but eventually agreed.  The song went to # 1 on Billboards’ Hot 100 chart in November of 1974.  Ironically, “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” knocked off Stevie Wonders # 1, “You Haven’t Done Nothin’”.  The BTO song also went to # 1 in Canada, New Zealand, Germany, Denmark and South Africa.       

    

3.  It was d. pizza.  The delivery guy was actually a trained musician moonlighting as a pizza delivery guy to make money.  His name is Norman Durkee and he went on to become musical director for Bette Midler and Barry Manilow.  In order to pay him for the session, Randy had to call around to various pizza places until he found the guy who delivered the pizza that night.  In 2011, “Takin’ Care of Business” was the most licensed song in Sony Music’s catalogue.  It was used as a theme song for several years in commercials for Office Depot, OfficeMax and K-Mart.  The title came from Vancouver radio DJ Daryl B. who regularly used to say “‘We’re takin’ care of business.”  Randy Bachman was listening one night and thought that would make a great title for a song.      

4.  The correct answer is d. all of them.  The band started out as Al and the Silvertones, then became Chad Allan and The Reflections by 1962.  By the time they recorded “Shakin’ All Over” in 1965, they’d become Chad Allan and The Expressions, because there was an American group called The Reflections who had a hit called “(Just Like) Romeo and Julier”.  Chad Allan and The Expressions record company, Quality Records, thought the group sounded British on “Shakin’ All Over” (It had previously been a hit in England for Johnny Kidd and the Pirates), so they sent out white labeled 45 singles with the name ‘Guess Who?” on them.  That name stuck.          

    

5.  c. Bruce Allen is the name we were looking for.  Bruce has had (and continues to have) an illustrious career, managing major Canadian performers.  In 1985, he co-ordinated (and wrangled) many Canadian stars into recording “Tears Are Not Enough” for African famine relief.  That same year, industry magazines The Record and Billboard (in the U.S.) named Bruce ‘Manager of the Year’.  In 2008, he was only the second Canadian manager to receive the ‘Honour Role’ award from the Music Managers Forum in Canada.  His client list includes veteran singer/songwriter Jann Arden as well as Bryan Adams, Anne Murray, Michael Buble and producer Bob Rock.  Bruce has a reputation for ‘telling it like it is’ and ‘shooting from the lip’ and for over 16 years, Bruce has made his opinions known on various radio stations in Vancouver.  Currently he can be heard on News/Talk AM980, CKNW.    

JUNO THE ANSWERS TO THESE HALL OF FAME QUESTIONS?

JUNO trivia time again.  The 43^rd annual awards are on CTV at 8pm Sunday March 30^th.  Tune in and watch some of the biggest names in Canadian music perform their hit songs and collect their hip awards. 

This year, Bachman-Turner Overdrive is being inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.  It all works out quite neatly since the JUNO ceremony is in Winnipeg this year and the band members are all from the Manitoba capital.

For this week’s quiz, we have 5 questions about previous Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductees.  The first two inductees into the Hall of Fame in 1978 were jazz pianist Oscar Peterson and big band leader Guy Lombardo.  In 1979, it was country legend Hank Snow (originally from Nova Scotia).  That’s all the facts we’re giving you, you’re on your own from here on in.  Oh!  Canada, eh!

QUESTIONS

1.  k. d. lang, Shania Twain and Anne Murray are all in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.  k.d went in last year, Shania in 2011 and Anne was honoured in 1993.  But who was the first female inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame?  She was born in Alberta, raised in Saskatchewan and made her reputation as an incredible singer/songwriter in the Los Angeles music scene of the late ‘60’s, early 70’s.  She’s written and recorded many influential albums such as “Blue”, “Ladies of the Canyon” and “Chalk Mark In A Rain Storm”.  She wrote the hit “Woodstock” (hit versions include Crosby, Stills & Nash and Ian Matthews aka Matthews Southern Comfort) about the legendary 1969 three day concert in upstate New York, although she didn’t actually attend the event.  She’s been a role model for female singer/ songwriters around the world for decades.  Who is she?

      

2.  This home grown inductee is a world renowned producer who’s worked with artists such as U2, Peter Gabriel, Willie Nelson, Robbie Robertson, Neil Young, Emmylou Harris and Bob Dylan, among many others.  He’s also recorded several albums as a solo artist.  His JUNO collection includes 5 awards for “Producer of the Year’, one for 1990’s ‘Most promising Male Vocalist of the Year’, another for 2006’s ‘Instrumental Album of the Year’ plus his Hall of Fame.  Can you name this highly respected producer?                

                

3.  She was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1995.  She’s had her songs, such as “Until It’s Time For You To Go” and “Universal Soldier” recorded by such performers as Elvis Presley, Barbra Streisand, Neil Diamond, Donovan and Cher.  She regularly appeared on “Sesame Street” from 1976 until 1981.  With her then husband Jack Nitzsche, she co-wrote “Up Where We Belong” from the movie “An Officer And A Gentleman”, a 1982 # 1 hit for Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes, which won her a Golden Globe as well as an Academy Award.  She was born on the Piapot Cree First Nations Reserve in Saskatchewan.  She also has a PhD in Fine Arts and has taught Digital Music at several colleges.  Do you know the name of this amazingly talented Canadian performer?

4.  In 1980, this singer/songwriter/performer was the 4^th inductee in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.  His first # 1 hit came in 1957 with a song he wrote about his babysitter.  As a solo artist, he charted 53 songs on Billboards’ Hot 100 chart, which includes 12 Top Ten hits and 3 # 1’s.  As well as his own chart successes, he’s also written hits recorded by Frank Sinatra, Tom Jones and Elvis Presley.  There’s a street named after him in his hometown of Ottawa.  He wrote the theme song for Johnny Carson’s “Tonight Show” and the title song for the 1962 World War II film, “The Longest Day”.  In 1974, he got into a bit of trouble with women’s groups in the U.S. for his # 1 hit, “(You’re) Having My Baby”.  Who is this Hall of Famer?          

    

5.  He was born in Kingston, Ontario, but his family moved to British Columbia when he was quite young.  In the mid 1970’s, he replaced Nick Gilder as lead singer in the group Sweeny Todd, but it was as a solo performer that he had his biggest successes.  He’s had four # 1 hits on Billboards’ Hot 100 chart – his first was in 1985, his last in 1995.  He’s sold tens of millions of albums and has nominated for JUNO awards over 50 times (he’s won 20).  He’s been nominated for an Academy Award 15 times and won once.  He has the Order of Canada plus the Order of British Columbia.  Three out of his four #1 single hits were songs that were written for Hollywood motion pictures.  He shares a last name with two early Presidents of the United States.  Who is this guy?

ANSWERS

1.  When Joni Mitchell went into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1981, she was inducted by none other than the current Prime Minister of Canada, Pierre Trudeau.  In addition to her Hall of Fame honour, Joni won a JUNO for ‘Female Vocalist of the Year’ in 1976, ‘Best Vocal Jazz Album’ in 2001 for “Both Sides Now” and the ‘Jack Richardson Producer of the year’ JUNO in 2008.  Joni’s first album, “Song To A Seagull”, was released in 1968 on the Reprise label (co-founded by Frank Sinatra).  Joni’s most successful album, 1971’s “Blue” went Platinum in the U.S. and Canada and two times Platinum in Great Britain.  Although Joni’s sold tens of millions of albums, her only Top Ten singles hit was 1974’s “Help Me”, which climbed to # 7 on Billboards’ Hot 100 chart.  Previously, Judy Collins had had a # 8 hit with Joni’s song “Both Sides Now” in 1968.

2.  Daniel Lanois won his first ‘Producer of the Year’ JUNO award in 1987 for his work on both Peter Gabriel’s album, “So” as well as U2’s “The Joshua Tree”.  In 1989, he won again for producing Robbie Robertson’s self-titled solo album.   Then he took home the re-named ‘Jack Richardson Producer of the Year’ JUNO statue three more times – in 2002, 2009 and 2011.  His solo albums include 1989’s “Acadie”, “For The Beauty of Wynona” (1993) and 2005’s “Belladonna”.  Rolling Stone Magazine called Lanois, the “most important record producer to emerge in the Eighties”.  Long before Miley Cyrus ‘borrowed’ the title “Wrecking Ball”, it was the album title of Daniel’s 1995 collaboration with Emmylou Harris.  The album won a Grammy Award in 1996.  Daniel Lanois also has a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame in Toronto.  He was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2002.                                         

    

3.  That would be Saskatchewan’s own Buffy Sainte-Marie.  She’s a pioneer, an activist and philanthropist.  In the early 1980’s, Buffy began composing her music and her visual art on Apple computers.  She’s an extremely accomplished and successful visual artist today with art exhibitions in Calgary, Winnipeg, Vancouver and Santa Fe, New Mexico. 

In 2010, Buffy received the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award.   She’s an Officer in the Order of Canada, has a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame and has received Honourary Doctorates from a dozen Canadian universities.  Buffy was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1995

4.  Paul Anka is the name we were looking for.  You know you’re famous when your hometown names a street after you.  In 1972, the city of Ottawa named Paul Anka Drive in honour of the man who wrote and recorded “Diana” in 1957.  Since then, Paul’s had a dozen Top Ten hits which includes three # 1’s – “Diana” being his first; “Lonely Boy” (1959) was Paul’s second chart topper with 1974’s “(You’re) Having My Baby” as his third and last (so far anyway).  Songs Paul wrote that became hits for other performers include “My Way”, recorded by Frank Sinatra as well as Elvis Presley; 1971’s “She’s A Lady” for Tom Jones and the 1959 Buddy Holly hit, “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore” (After Holly’s death in February of ‘59, Anka donated his composer royalties to Buddy’s widow).  Paul was the 4^th inductee in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1980. 

    

5.  Bryan Adams has been hugely successful on the record charts.  “Heaven” was his  first # 1 on Billboards’ Hot 100 in 1985.  He next hit the top singles spot again in ’91 with “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You”, a song written for the Kevin Costner film, “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves”.  That song was # 1 for 7 weeks.  Three years later, “All For Love” which also featured Rod Stewart and Sting went to # 1.  It had been written for “The Three Musketeers” movie starring Kiefer Sutherland and Charlie Sheen.  Johnny Depp’s 1995 film, “Don Juan DeMarco”, scored Adams his fourth # 1 with “Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman”.  Bryan received his star on Canada’s Walk of Fame in 1998 and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2011.  Although Adams still continues to write, record and perform music, he’s also a highly respected photographer, often taking the cover photo for Canada’s Zoomer Magazine.  Bryan Adams was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2006.

DID JUNO THOSE CANADIAN MUSIC AWARDS WILL SOON BE HERE?

Yep, it’s that time of year again.  Spring is just around the corner and with it comes the annual JUNO Awards on CTV Sunday March 30^th.  This year, the JUNOS will be broadcast from the MTS Centre in Winnipeg.  Many talented Canadian singers, performers, songwriters, rappers and producers are nominated. 

For the next few weeks, we’ll be celebrating the JUNO Awards with our usual round of questions.  So wrap yourself up in the Canadian flag (even if you’re not from Canada, go ahead and do it.  C’mon, what could it hurt?), take a swig of genuine Quebec maple syrup (mmm, delicious) and take your best shot at the following 5 questions, you hoser you.    

                   

QUESTIONS

1.  Celine Dion, Drake, Michael Buble, Robin Thicke and Serena Ryder are JUNO nominees for the 2014 ‘Artist of the Year’.  Last years’ JUNO winner in that category is an oldie, but a goodie.  Born and raised in Montreal, he went on to world fame first as an author and poet, then as a songwriter when performers such as Noel Harrison, Judy Collins, Tom Cochrane and Jennifer Warnes successfully recorded his songs.  All the while, recording as a solo artist.  He even had an album produced by convicted murderer Phil Spector.  Who is this Canadian icon?      

      

2.  Nominated for a 2014 JUNO in the ‘Pop Album of the Year’ category are Hedley for “Wild Life”; Michael Buble for “To Be Loved”; “Blurred Lines” from Robin Thicke; Tegan and Sara for Heartthrob”; and Walk Off The Earth for “R.E.V.O.”.  Last years’ winner is currently on Broadway in “Cinderella”.  What is her name?                 

                

3.  This years’ JUNO nominees for ‘Country Album of the Year’ are “Started With A Song” from Brett Kissel; “Crop Circles” from Dean Brody; “Country Junkie” from Gord Bamford; “Small Town Pistols” from Small Town Pistols; and “Throw Down” from Tim Hicks.  This award has only been around since 2010 and for three of those years, Johnny Reid took home the JUNO (2010/2011/2013).  The only female winner (2012) was raised in Medicine Hat, Alberta (although she was born in Montreal).  She’s lived in Nashville, Tennessee for many years and joined the Grand Ole Opry in 2004.  She’s released a dozen CDs during her career so far (that include several ‘Greatest Hits’ packages).  This might be a little tough if you don’t know country music all that well, but can you name this award winning singer/songwriter?     

                 

4.  The ‘Group of the Year’ JUNO nominees for this year are Arcade Fire, Blue Rodeo, Tegan and Sara, Hedley and Walk Off The Earth.  One of the groups in this category won this JUNO three years in a row.  What group was it?                   

    

5.  There are 10 nominees in the category of ‘JUNO Fan Choice Favourite’ and they are:  Arcade Fire, Avril Lavigne, Celine Dion, Drake, Hedley, Justin Bieber, Michael Buble, Robin Thicke, Serena Ryder and Walk Off The Earth.  The winner of the 2013 JUNO in this category is among this years’ nominees and is in a whole heap o’ trouble with the law in both Canada and the U.S.  You know him (although you may not love him).  Who is this guy?     

ANSWERS

1.  Leonard Cohen not only won the JUNO for ‘Artist of the Year’ in 2013, he also took home an additional award for ‘Songwriter of the Year’.  Leonard was inducted into the JUNO Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1991 and won two JUNOs in 1993 for ‘Male Vocalist of the Year’ and ‘Best Video’ for “Closing Time”.  The following year (1994), he won his first ‘Songwriter of the Year’ JUNO.  In 1977, Phil Spector produced Leonard’s album, “Death Of A Ladies Man”.  Jennifer Warnes recorded an entire album of Cohen songs in 1987 titled, “Famous Blue Raincoat”.  Warnes had toured and sang back up for Cohen in 1972 and 1979.  Leonard Cohen was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1991.  In the Spring of 2013, Leonard toured North America, then toured Europe that summer.            

2.  Carly Rae Jepsen is a three time JUNO Award winner (so far anyway).  All of her awards came at last years’ JUNOs ceremony in Regina.  Carly took home JUNOS for ‘Album of the Year’ and ’Pop Album of the Year’ for “Kiss” as well as ‘Single of the Year’ for “Call Me Maybe”.  Her Broadway debut in “Cinderella” began on February 4^th for 12 weeks.                                              

    

3.  That would be Alberta raised Terri Clark.  Her “Roots and Wings” album won the 2012 JUNO for ‘Country Album of the Year’.  In 1997, Terry won her first JUNO for ‘Best New Solo Artist’.  She won again in 2001 for ‘Best Country Female Artist’.  Her latest album, “Classic” was released in November of 2012.      

4.  Blue Rodeo won ‘Group of the Year’ honours in 1989, 1990 and 1991.  They also won again in 1996.  You’ll have to watch the JUNO Awards on March 30^th to see if they can take home a fifth trophy in this category.        

    

5.  Oh, that wacky Justin Bieber, what’ll he get up to next?  He’s got charges to answer for in Los Angeles, Miami and Toronto.  His body guard is in legal hot water in Atlanta (where Justin temporarily resides).  Hopefully, his lawyers will keep him out of jail.  We’ve seen enough of his jail cell pushups and peeing.  At least Justin can console himself with his four JUNO awards.  In 2011, he won his first two – ‘The JUNO Fan Choice Award’ and ‘Pop Album of the Year’ for “My World 2.0”.  He repeated and three-peated ‘The JUNO Fan Choice Award’ in 2012 and 2013.  Will he win this year?  Will he accept his award from jail?  Will I ever stop asking questions?  Actually, no I won’t.  As for the Biebs, we’ll just have to wait and see what happens next.  One thing’s for sure, he’s put an end to the ‘boring Canadian’ myth that many Americans seem to have.  Of course, over 250,000 of those same Americans have signed a petition that was sent to President Obama at the White House to have Justin deported back to Canada.