Music

Coolio performs on day three of Riot Fest on Sept. 18, 2022, at Douglass Park in Chicago. Coolio, the rapper who was among hip-hop’s biggest names of the 1990s, died Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022, at age 59, his manager said. (Photo by Rob Grabowski/Invision/AP, File)

‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ rapper Coolio dies at age 59, says manager

Artist won a Grammy for best solo rap performance in 1995

Coolio performs on day three of Riot Fest on Sept. 18, 2022, at Douglass Park in Chicago. Coolio, the rapper who was among hip-hop’s biggest names of the 1990s, died Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022, at age 59, his manager said. (Photo by Rob Grabowski/Invision/AP, File)
Retired music promotions rep RayMan Ramsay, a South Surrey resident, with the two “Promo Monkey” books he’s authored. (Photo: Tom Zillich)

‘Promo Monkey’ a B.C. man’s glimpse inside the world of rock stars and record-selling

RayMan Ramsay writes about some of the world’s most famous musicians and B.C. music-biz insiders

Retired music promotions rep RayMan Ramsay, a South Surrey resident, with the two “Promo Monkey” books he’s authored. (Photo: Tom Zillich)
Vince Ditrich. (Submitted photo)

PODCAST: A chat with longtime Spirit of the West drummer turned author Vince Ditrich

TODAY IN B.C.: Second book ‘The Vicar’s Knickers’ released in the Tony Vicar trilogy

Vince Ditrich. (Submitted photo)
Miranda Currie, seen in an undated handout photo, is a writer, musician, filmmaker and educator who lives in Yellowknife, and is Mushkegowuk and a member of the Opaskwayak Cree Nation in Manitoba. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Miranda Currie

Yellowknife musician wants to ‘change that Indigenous narrative in Canada’

Miranda Currie wants Indigenous kids to feel represented and valued in music, films and books

Miranda Currie, seen in an undated handout photo, is a writer, musician, filmmaker and educator who lives in Yellowknife, and is Mushkegowuk and a member of the Opaskwayak Cree Nation in Manitoba. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Miranda Currie
Members of South Korean K-pop band BTS, V, SUGA, JIN, Jung Kook, RM, Jimin, and j-hope from left to right, pose for photographers ahead of a press conference to introduce their new single “Butter” in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, May 21, 2021. South Korea may conduct a public survey to help determine whether to grant exemptions of the mandatory military service to members of the K-pop superstar boyband BTS, officials said Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022.(AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)

South Korea may conduct survey on BTS members’ military duty

Band’s oldest member, Jin, faces enlistment in December, when he turns 30

Members of South Korean K-pop band BTS, V, SUGA, JIN, Jung Kook, RM, Jimin, and j-hope from left to right, pose for photographers ahead of a press conference to introduce their new single “Butter” in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, May 21, 2021. South Korea may conduct a public survey to help determine whether to grant exemptions of the mandatory military service to members of the K-pop superstar boyband BTS, officials said Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022.(AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)
Langley guitarist and producer Mitch Merrett, on the right with his band Black Mountain Whiskey Rebellion, recently had a guitar missing for 15 years, a gift from his parents, recovered. (Special to the Langley Advance Times)

B.C. country musician recovers guitar stolen in Surrey 15 years ago

The Telecaster was a gift from his parents when he was starting out

Langley guitarist and producer Mitch Merrett, on the right with his band Black Mountain Whiskey Rebellion, recently had a guitar missing for 15 years, a gift from his parents, recovered. (Special to the Langley Advance Times)
April 26, 2022 - Aaron Gray photographed in Nanaimo with his bass guitar for Boulevard magazine. Don Denton photograph.

A love of playing live and furniture

Aaron Gray, vice president of La-Z-Boy Vancouver Island

  • Jul 15, 2022
April 26, 2022 - Aaron Gray photographed in Nanaimo with his bass guitar for Boulevard magazine. Don Denton photograph.
FILE – Singer Adele and sports agent Rich Paul attend a game between the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 19, 2021, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. Allen J. Schaben (Los Angeles Times/AP)

VIDEO: Adele says she was a ‘shell of a person’ after canceling Vegas residency

Adele announced the cancellation of her residency one day before the concerts were to commence

FILE – Singer Adele and sports agent Rich Paul attend a game between the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 19, 2021, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. Allen J. Schaben (Los Angeles Times/AP)
Graham Blank, Lia Crowe photo

Life and style

Graham Blank, VP, Director for Tom Lee Music Canada and Steinway Piano Galleries of Canada

  • Jul 1, 2022
Graham Blank, Lia Crowe photo
Drummers celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017. Courtesy of the CDD website.

They got the beat: Canada Day Drumming event aims to pound out world record

Event hoping to unite people through percussion, break own record for simultaneous online drum roll

Drummers celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017. Courtesy of the CDD website.
FILE - Boston Pops Conductor John Williams conducting the orchestra in Boston in 1980. Williams, 90, is devoting himself to composing concert music, including a piano concerto he’s writing for Emanuel X. This spring, he and cellist Yo-Yo Ma released the album “A Gathering of Friends,” recorded with the New York Philharmonic. (AP Photo, File)

Movie music maestro John Williams, 90, steps away from film, but not music

After more than six decades of making bicycles soar, sending panicked swimmers…

FILE - Boston Pops Conductor John Williams conducting the orchestra in Boston in 1980. Williams, 90, is devoting himself to composing concert music, including a piano concerto he’s writing for Emanuel X. This spring, he and cellist Yo-Yo Ma released the album “A Gathering of Friends,” recorded with the New York Philharmonic. (AP Photo, File)
T. Patrick Carrabré, Métis composer and UBC Director of the School of Music, has worked with Indigenous artists for more than 20 years (Photo courtesy T. Patrick Carrabré).

‘Give them back their music, and the future is limitless’: B.C. Indigenous prof

Wave of mainstream popularity helps Indigenous communities reclaim music and educate other Canadians

T. Patrick Carrabré, Métis composer and UBC Director of the School of Music, has worked with Indigenous artists for more than 20 years (Photo courtesy T. Patrick Carrabré).
Nanaimo singer Lauren Spencer-Smith took the stage at Wembley Stadium in London, England, on Sunday, June 12, as part of the Summertime Ball show. (Lauren Spencer-Smith/TikTok image)

Emerging teenage B.C. pop star makes debut at U.K.’s legendary Wembley Stadium

Lauren Spencer-Smith performed at the Summertime Ball this past weekend in London, England

Nanaimo singer Lauren Spencer-Smith took the stage at Wembley Stadium in London, England, on Sunday, June 12, as part of the Summertime Ball show. (Lauren Spencer-Smith/TikTok image)
French horn musician and Royal Canadian Navy Naden Band member Alliszon Zaichkowski, right, plays one of her 20 conch shells during a jam session with her aunt, front left, and mother. Zaichkowski originally learned about the conch from William Golding’s Lord of the Flies and jokingly ordered her first one off eBay. (Courtesy of Alliszon Zaichkowski)

B.C. musician toots conch shell on Canada’s Got Talent; gets Howie Mandel’s support

James Bay resident builds on 21 years of French horn training

French horn musician and Royal Canadian Navy Naden Band member Alliszon Zaichkowski, right, plays one of her 20 conch shells during a jam session with her aunt, front left, and mother. Zaichkowski originally learned about the conch from William Golding’s Lord of the Flies and jokingly ordered her first one off eBay. (Courtesy of Alliszon Zaichkowski)
A promotional poster for the 1977 single God Save The Queen by the Sex Pistols on display, during a photo-op ahead of a rock and pop memorabilia auction, in central London, Thursday June 25, 2009. In Britain, there are several traditional elements to a royal anniversary: pageants, street parties, the Sex Pistols. Queen Elizabeth II and the Pistols have been linked since the punk pioneers released the song “God Save the Queen” in 1977 during the monarch’s Silver Jubilee. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, File)
A promotional poster for the 1977 single God Save The Queen by the Sex Pistols on display, during a photo-op ahead of a rock and pop memorabilia auction, in central London, Thursday June 25, 2009. In Britain, there are several traditional elements to a royal anniversary: pageants, street parties, the Sex Pistols. Queen Elizabeth II and the Pistols have been linked since the punk pioneers released the song “God Save the Queen” in 1977 during the monarch’s Silver Jubilee. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, File)
Matt Sager of Lost Car Rescue. (Image courtesy HISTORY Canada / Jeff Topham)

PODCAST: Classic car hunting with Matt Sager of TV’s ‘Lost Car Rescue’

TODAY IN B.C.: Program follows team through Northern B.C. and the Prairies

Matt Sager of Lost Car Rescue. (Image courtesy HISTORY Canada / Jeff Topham)
Canadian rock legend Ronnie Hawkins poses in Toronto on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Ronnie Hawkins, cross-border rockabilly legend and endearing showman, dies at 87

“He went peacefully and he looked as handsome as ever,” Hawkins’ wife said

Canadian rock legend Ronnie Hawkins poses in Toronto on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
The Porter Family of Vancouver. (Submitted photo)

PODCAST: British Columbia’s Porter family set to fly around the world

TODAY IN B.C.: ‘5 in the Sky’ aim to raise $1 million for charity during 14-month trip

The Porter Family of Vancouver. (Submitted photo)
JESSIA reacts after winning the award for Breakthrough Artist of the Year presented by the Minister of Canadian Heritage Pablo Rodriguez and singer-songwriter Donovan Woods at the 51st annual JUNO Awards in Toronto on May 15. (CARAS/The JUNO Awards photo)

B.C. TikTok sensation JESSIA is Canada’s Breakthrough Artist of the Year

Homegrown Ucluelet singer-songwriter’s wins her first Juno, celebrates with European tour

JESSIA reacts after winning the award for Breakthrough Artist of the Year presented by the Minister of Canadian Heritage Pablo Rodriguez and singer-songwriter Donovan Woods at the 51st annual JUNO Awards in Toronto on May 15. (CARAS/The JUNO Awards photo)
Taylor Swift speaks during a graduation ceremony for New York University at Yankee Stadium in New York, Wednesday, May 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Music superstar Taylor Swift gets honorary degree from New York University

‘I never got to have a normal college experience per se’

Taylor Swift speaks during a graduation ceremony for New York University at Yankee Stadium in New York, Wednesday, May 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)