For the Sake of the Song
Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame inducts five new members
“If you can make someone feel less alone in this world, then you’ve done a pretty good job as a songwriter.” — Tom Cochrane
From left to right, the latest inductees into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame: Jim Cuddy, Sarah McLachlan, Greg Keelor, Diane Tell and Tom Cochrane. Credit: Tour Bus Entertainment
Texan troubadour Townes Van Zandt sang “For the Sake of the Song.” Songs are lifelines. Songs heal. Songs bring joy. And, songs connect. In my most recent book 101 Fascinating Canadian Music Facts, I shared stories about how many famous Canadian compositions were born. This past Saturday, at Massey Hall1, songs — and the Canadian artists that wrote them — once again took the spotlight on The Allan Slaight Stage during the 2024 Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (CSHF) induction.
At the House that philanthropist Hart Massey built in 1894 for the people, a sold-out crowd of artists, media, a who’s who of the Toronto music industry — past and present — and music lovers gathered to fête the five newest inductees: Sarah McLachlan, Tom Cochrane, Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor (Blue Rodeo), along with pioneering French singer-songwriter Diane Tell. Amazon Music live-streamed the event. The Breakthrough Songwriter Award winner — another CSHF program that honors artists early in their careers — was also announced with this year’s recipient (Aaron Paris) in attendance.
Music publisher Frank Davies founded the CSHF in 1998 to shine a light on the breadth and the depth of songs our country has gifted the world. The importance of creating the non-profit as an education tool arrived after Davies heard the story of Ruth Lowe — a Canadian songwriter who wrote the first number one hit for Frank Sinatra (“I’ll Never Smile Again.”) Since its founding, the CSHF has inducted 68 songwriters and individuals and 196 songs.
Beyond lesser-known songwriters like Lowe, the legendary names of some past CSHF inductees are so well known that one only needs mention their first name: Gord, Joni, Leonard and Neil.
The Power of Songs
Shortly before 7 p.m., the constant chatter in the House of Gord was silenced when the night’s house band, led by keyboardist Lou Pomanti, struck some practice notes. Following a taped territorial acknolwedgement by Shawnee Kish — and clips of past recipients speaking to the power of songs — the signature opening licks to Tom Cochrane’s “Lunatic Fringe” reverberated off Massey Hall’s walls.
The 71-year-old Cochrane wielded his black electric guitar — and sang this prophetic song — with the same passion as when he penned the rock radio hit in 1981.
This rocker set the tone and begat standing ovation after standing ovation for the next couple of hours. Later in the evening, during his acceptance speech, Cochrane got teary-eyed thinking about his dear departed friend — Deane Cameron, former EMI Canada President and Massey Hall CEO — who passed away in 2019 and did not get to see the revitalized venue he helped to build reopen.
The pacing of the show added to its success. As the final notes of Cochrane’s song faded, without pause, the spotlight shifted to stage right where Whitehorse (Luke Doucet and wife Melissa McClelland) had arrived during Cochrane’s performance. The pair — Melissa on acoustic and Luke on his trademark Gretsch White Falcon — offered beautiful harmony in an ode to their longtime friend Sarah McLachlan with a tender take on “Sweet Surender.” Both sang to Sarah who was sitting and smiling in the front row.
A nod to Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor came next with Blue Rodeo’s “‘Til I Am Myself Again” from Casino (1990) performed by Tim Hicks & Tenille Townes, whose voice unfortunately was screechy and did not mesh well with fellow country artist Hicks.
Building a Mystery One Storied Song at a Time
Wearing a red dress and black boots, singer-songwriter and TV personality Marie-Mae arrived as the night’s host to formally introduce all five inductees; she offered thoughts on each of the artist’s legacies and the important role songs play in the every day moments of our lives. Mae said all the night’s honorees wrote vulnerable songs, which to do, in Quebec, they say, “prends du guts!”
Sarah McLachlan was the first inductee. The Canadian singer-songwriter has sold more than 40 million albums and is currently on tour celebrating the 30th anniversary of Fumbling Towards Ecstasy. Before the musical honors, a video played pre-recorded tributes from many of her peers like Canadians Alanis Morissette, Allison Russell and Jann Arden and American Sheryl Crow. Actor Ryan Reynolds joked that he used to bag Sarah’s groceries at Safeway in Vancouver and RUN-D.M.C.s Darryl McDaniels described McLachlan’s music as “life saving!”
Sarah McLachlan performed a duet of “Angel” with fellow Canadian Nelly Furtado. Tour Bus Entertainment
As the video faded, the spotlight switched to Metric’s Emily Haines seated at the Yamaha grand piano. Haines offered a take on McLachlan’s “I Will Remember You,” joined by bandmate Jimmy Shaw. Midsong, the pair picked up acoustic guitars and urged the crowd to sing with them on the chorus.
Without a break, Lights, dressed head to toe in black, took the stage. Before launching into the 1998 Grammy-winning song “Building a Mystery,” the singer-songwriter shared this anecdote:
I was a kid that moved around a ton and had trouble making friends. In Grade 9, I sang a Sarah McLachlan song in front of my high school and all of a sudden I made some new friends. For the teen me, this night is a full circle moment.
Nelly Furtado, who just released a new record (7) last week, also spoke about the comfort in Sarah’s voice and how the artist has always championed her career. Furtado revealed how, at 20 years old, her agent begged her to join Lilith Fair and how accepting that invitation is a gift that keeps giving.
Nelly Furtado serenades Sarah McLachlan at the CSHF awards on Sept. 28, 2024. Tour Bus Entertainment.
McLachlan’s acceptance speech was filled with gratitude for her life in music.
I’ve had the best job in the world for 36 years. I signed to an independent label (Nettwerk Records) when I was 19-years-old and they allowed me to create music on my own terms and take my time. I didn’t realize how lucky I was to have this creative freedom that so few do, especially that early in my career.
I wrote my first record and found my purpose … writing for me has always been extremly cathartic.
Following the inductees’ words, McLachlan joined Furtado for a cathartic duet of the ballad “Angel.”
Getting Lost Together
As the founders of roots-rock alt-country pioneers Blue Rodeo, Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor are the Yin and Yang of Canadian songwriting duos. Their songs are part of the fabric of our country. As Barenaked Ladies Ed Robertson quipped in a video tribute: “They are like maple syrup and pancakes … Jim is the syrup and Greg is the pancakes!”
McLachlan went from inductee to performer to sing one of her favorite Blue Rodeo songs — “Dark Angel” — with Whitehorse harmonizing. The musical tribute seamlessly continued with Adam Baldwin playing and singing the opening notes to “Hasn’t Hit Me Yet” on the grand piano; he was joined by 2024 Polaris Prize Long List nominee Terra Lightfoot and Matt Mays on acoustic guitars centre stage. This rendition left Keelor, seated in the front row, with a wide-grin.
One of the night’s highlights was AHI singing a rousing rendition of “Try” with the house band’s trio of back-up singers adding gorgeous three-part harmony.
The “yin and yang” duo — Canadian songwriters Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor. Tour Bus Entertainment
A group sing-along of “Lost Together” with Keelor, Cuddy, Lightfoot, AHI, [Tenille] Townes, Hicks, Mays, Baldwin and Whitehorse closed the first half of the show.
Following an intermission where everyone socialized in the basement bar, Quebec singer-songwriter Diane Tell was inducted. In her acceptance speech, the acclaimed artist spoke about how grateful she was to be included in this “family” of songwriters. Tell was joined by the incredible voice of Dominque Fils-Aimé to sing “Gilberto (Paroles).”
Diane Tell accepts her induction into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. Tour Bus Entertainment
Trading Train Sets for Songs; Life is a Highway
Tom Cochrane was the night’s final inductee. Host Marie-Mae revealed that an 11-year-old Cochrane traded his train set for a guitar; that’s where the songwriter’s journey to the tower of songs began. The musical tributes for Cochrane included Sam Roberts singing “White Hot,” and a bare-footed energized Brett Emmons (lead singer for The Glorious Sons) belting out a big-time version of “Big League.”
Drummer Gil Moore (Triumph) formally inducted his longtime friend and trailblazing troubadour Cohcrane into the CSHF. In his acceptance speech, Tom revealed how he always hated the “Rocker” moniker given to him. First and foremost, he always considered himself a songwriter since he started his career playing songs at coffeehouses across Canada. Cochrane shared an inspiring story that occurred outside Massey Hall early in his career at a time when he was questioning his path:
I drove cabs in Toronto as a young man. One night I stopped at the side of the road outside Massey Hall and got out of my cab and listened at the door to a symphony of one man coming out of this building … it was the transcendant voice of Leonard Cohen singing “Bird on a Wire.” This epiphany reinspired me and I said that night that ‘One day I was going to play on this stage!’
This magical night of music — and ode to songs — ended with Gary LeVox (Rascal Flatts), strutting onto the stage as Cochrane’s speech ended. Tom played harmonica and LeVox kicked into “Life is a HIghway,” the smash hit Cochrane released in 1991 and that Rascall Faltts covered for the Cars soundtrack in 2006. All the night’s artists returned to the stage and sang this catchy song along with the 2,700 Massey Hall attendees.
Many patrons remained and mingled in their seats long after the last chorus was sung — not wanting this night to end. The ushers encouraged people to head for the exits, but everyone still hung outside on Shuter Street in front of the venue a while longer, lingering just like the night’s songs.
Eventually, some grabbed Ubers heading to the after party at the historic El Mocambo; others headed home. This scribe grabbed a couple cups of coffee across the street at Fran’s Restaurant before hitting the road — replaying this incredible night for the sake of the song as I followed the highway’s white lines west.
Ask Canadian artists what venue they most aspire to headline and the unanimous reply is Massey Hall. Why? From my first time entering those three red doors off Shuter Street in Toronto, the answer arrived. You feel the history seep from the walls. The ghosts whisper. The spirit of the hall’s patron saint (Hart Massey) looms large. For more than 130 years now this hallowed hall has hosted a who’s who of talent from every genre of music and so much more – from political rallies to boxing matches; typewriter contents to inspirational speeches by the likes of Winston Churchill and Helen Keller. Thanks to a multi-year, multi-million revitalization project, Hart’s house is sure to stand tall at the corner of Shuter and Victoria Streets in Toronto for at least another century. And, that’s a gift Toronto, Canada, and the world are happy to receive.