NEWS

Featuring John McDermott, Alysha Brilla & Juneyt Yetkiner
Proceeds to McDermott House & SPI’s Children’s Wellness Foundation 

When: Saturday April 25^th  / Food Stations 5:30 – 7:15 / Concert begins 7:30

Where: Scarboro Golf & Country Club, 321 Scarborough Golf Club Rd.

Tickets: $125.00 person / Table of 8 $900.00 (all tickets include food stations) / Cash Bar

Tickets available at tickets@SPInt.ca or hmorrow@SPInt.ca

Sponsorship opportunities available contact hmorrow@SPInt.ca

“Piano maestro/producer Bill King is setting the bar high with his “piano and voice” series of albums for Slaight Music. Following on from fine releases by Gavin Hope and Selena Evangeline, he collaborates with famed tenor star John McDermott on Traditionally Yours. As the title suggests, it features versions of much-loved Irish and Scottish classics. ”

Continue reading…

Dear Mr. McDermott:

We are writing to thank you so much for your concert. We really enjoyed your music and your funny stories. We laughed a lot! Thank you for taking the time to meet and talk to us before your show. It was exciting for us! Thank you for the autographed CD’s and especially for dedicating the Charlie Brown song to us. It made us feel so special. We hope we can see you in concert again! Have a very Merry Christmas and a happy new year!!!

Yours Truly,

Frankie, Adam, Mirandah, Jordan, Sabrina, Noah and Derek
W. Ross MacDonald School for the Blind, Brantford, Ontario

Just in time for Christmas I’ve released three albums, now available in the store:

The Contender

A great collection of songs I’ve been hoarding for 20 years, all packaged in a handsome, boxing-styled package in honour of the great song and story Jack Doyle (The Contender). Look him up! Songs include: The Dark Island, I’m a Freeborn Man, Black Is the Colour, Quiet Desperation, Come by the Hills, Along the French River, John O’dreams, Jack Doyle (the Contender), and Grey Lake of Loughrea.

Traditionally Yours

Jazz great Bill King came to me to collaborate on some of the finest old Irish and Scottish songs ever written, loaded with nostalgia and fond memories – and accompanied by Bill’s haunting piano work. Songs include: Cockles and Mussels, The Dark Island, Carrickfergus, Down By The Sally Gardens, Broom O’ The Cowdenknowes, When You Were Sweet Sixteen, Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral, Leaving Of Liverpool, Oft In The Stilly Night, Flower Of Scotland, My Wild Irish Rose, A Little Bit Of Heaven, and When Irish Eyes Are Smiling.

Daughter of Mine (The Perfect Wedding Album)

Daughter of Mine has long been a favourite with folks, for weddings and family occasions, but was only previously available on a six song EP disc. I decided that there were other songs of mine that complimented the wedding theme and so we updated the music and artwork to make it the perfect compliment to someone’s special day. Songs include: Daughter of Mine, Postcards from Paris, Guardian Angel, Friend Like You, Voyage, When I Grow Too Old to Dream, Here, There and Everywhere, All the Diamonds, And I Love You So, As Time Goes By, Put Your Dreams Away, and This Is All I Ask.

All three are now available for purchase in the store, and should also be on iTunes by week’s end. Merry Christmas and enjoy!

Four CDs for $40

And one more thing – know anyone who doesn’t need some new Christmas music? Here’s your chance to give – four of my CDs now for $40, until December 12th. The four CDs are: The Old House – my long-time musical director and I team up on some great new and old songs; Christmas Memories – a collection of the yuletide traditions and stories of my youth; How Great Thou Art – which brings together favourite hymns of mine and my mother’s with the great Eric Robertson; and the just re-issued Daughter of Mine (see above).

Order before December 12th, and we’ll be sure to have them to you for opening on Christmas morning!

All the best…

John

Back by popular demand…

I’m shocked and saddened by the recent attacks on the members of our Canadian Armed Forces in both Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec and Ottawa, Ontario.

Corporal Nathan Cirillo and Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent

We owe so much to the brave men and women who protect our country, and it is devastating to know that they are threatened here at home as well.

Our thoughts and prayers are with both of the victims and their families, as well as our first responders who rushed to the scene to provide aid to these fallen soldiers and protect our elected officials.

Kevin Vickers, sargeant-at-arms

I want to thank the courageous men and women of the many security forces who risk their lives to keep Canadians safe today.

– John

UPDATE: There’s now a fundraising campaign in progress for the victims families.

• The fund was initiated by a group of citizens who were moved by the deaths of the two soldiers and wanted to do something to honour their memory.  In particular, Chad Rogers from Crestview Strategy

• Canadians have embraced the opportunity and it quickly became apparent that the fund would grow beyond what the group had anticipated, and they thought it was important to align with a trusted brand to assure the families and the public that the fund would be used ethically and for its intended purpose, and they therefore approached True Patriot Love Foundation.

The original goal for the fund was $100K.  It now stands at more than $350K and a new goal has been set at $500K.

For more information visit www.standonguardfund.com

Well we’ve done it: completed our recording of Traditionally Yours, some of the finest old Irish and Scottish songs ever written, loaded with nostalgia and fond memories. The recording of this collection was truly a pleasure for me and to work with Bill made it that much more special. I hope you enjoy the intimacy and the memories that I am sure will be brought back as you sit back and listen to these wonderful old gems from our traditional musical past.

Coming soon to iTunes and compact disc.

A Family Christmas Concert with John McDermott and Friends
Holy Family Church
1080 West Roosevelt Road, Chicago, IL
December 10th, 2014 – 7:30pm

Sponsored by  

For tickets contact:
Angela Gerontakis Agerontakis@asafehaven.org or call 773.435.8374

For more info contact
Kylie Weller kweller@100ClubChicago.org or call 312.265.0920 or
Angela Gerontakis Agerontakis@asafehaven.org or call 773.435.8374

A Safe Haven Foundation is a 501(c)3 not for profit, social enterprise that partners with public/private entities to help people aspire, transform and sustain their lives as they transition from homelessness to self-sufficiency with pride and purpose.  A Safe Haven provides the tools for each individual to overcome the root causes of homelessness through a holistic, scalable mode. A Safe Haven’s visible social and economic impact unites families, stabilizes neighborhoods, and creates vibrant, viable communities.

The 100 Club of Chicago is a non-profit organization that provides for the surviving spouses and children of law enforcement officers, firefighters and paramedics who lose their lives in the line of duty.  This includes all federal, state, county and local sworn personnel stationed in Cook County. Thousands of brave men and women risk their lives daily so that we can be safe and secure in our homes, workplaces and communities.  While money can never replace the loss of a loved one, funds can be extremely helpful in easing the financial burden associated with the tragic event. Beyond financial assistance, the 100 Club’s network of members and friends care deeply about the families’ sacrifices and offer many forms of appreciation and support.

Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, artillery officer, physician and poet, wrote “In Flanders Fields” at the height of the Second battle of Ypres, one of the most bitter battles of WWI, on May 3rd 1915.

A $350,000 Fundraising Campaign for the statue to be erected in Ottawa, is an initiative of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery and its Association.

All Canadians can help to ensure that this iconic Canadian, his work and sacrifice are remembered on the centenary of the writing of “In Flanders Fields” on May 3rd 2015.

Click here for more information. Click here to donate.

Thank you for your support!

This year is shaping up to be one of my busiest in some time, and I wanted to share with you some of the exciting events and recordings that we are working on for this Fall:

Joining forces with President’s Choice Financial
and PC Insurance
I am pleased to announce my relationship with President’s Choice Financial and PC Insurance. These wonderful organizations are assisting in the support of McDermott House Canada through the sales of the Highway of Heroes CD now being sold at ONRoute stations across the 400 series of highways. One hundred percent of the sales of this CD go to support McDermott House Canada. I look forward to working with PC Financial and PC Insurance in helping to raise awareness and funds in support of serving those who serve.

The Highway of heroes CD is available online at www.mcdermotthousecanada.org.

BMO Chicago Fundraiser
Due to the extraordinary generosity of BMO we are doing a second “annual” concert in Chicago on December 10th at the Holy Family Church. This concert will raise funds for A Safe Haven, 100 Club of Chicago and Friends of McDermott House. 100% of the ticket sales for this event will go to these wonderful organizations who are serving those who serve.

New Album: How Great Thou Art
I have just released my latest recording How Great Thou Art, a collection of hymns in praise of Him. The album includes both my favourites and some of my late mother Hope’s favourite hymns and songs. This is a collaboration with my long time arranger and friend Eric Robertson. The CD is now available on iTunes and will soon be available for order in the store.

Coming this Fall
Also in the works are two new recordings that will be released in the Fall of this year:

• The first is a new recording of some old traditional and newer contemporary Irish classics. Entitled The Contender, it is the result of a long-time labour of love for these songs with my good friend and musical director Jason Fowler. Jason has done an extraordinary job with the arrangements for this recording and I am thrilled with the final results. Wonderful songs and stories that will make you smile, laugh and shed a tear.
• The second is a project with another great Canadian musical giant Mr. Bill King. Bill and I have talked about working together for a long time and finally we have a chance to do it. We will begin recording in the next month and hope to have an album ready for a September 2014 release alongside The Contender. The album, entitled Traditionally Yours, will highlight some of the oldest traditional tunes dating back 400 years, as well as some really, wonderful old classic standard Irish and Scottish songs like Flower of Scotland, Carrickfergus, Cockles and Mussels, Down by the Sally Gardens and many, many more. Just Bill and me and his keyboard magic.

I am absolutely thrilled to work alongside icon John McDermott and explore the rich Celtic traditions of Ireland and neighboring Scotland where every song comes with history and a magnificent story to tell. The music is distinctive and an ongoing conversation with ancestors and those yet to be born. The voice addresses the spoken word and the melodies passed from generation to generation. The acoustic grand piano – paints the landscape in broad folk tradition and captures the rhythms of daily life.

Great music comes in all forms. The best and most memorable is that which is rooted in the soil and land of people who have toiled generations preserving that spark that gave birth to its culture: the food, the battles, the drink, the fragrance of youth and the seasons of lasting change, then life’s final cadenza.

BILL KING, producer

Ben and John!
As you may have heard the great Canadian and world renowned tenor Ben Heppner retired last month. Ben and I have known each other for over 20 years and our love of music and singing is our lifeline outside of family. We are in discussions to work together on a new recording that is near and dear to both of us and when we are ready to begin we will let you know all the details.

All the best,

John