John, along with his special guests, will host a memorable tribute of music, performance and pageantry in honour of Veterans and Service Personnel in the wondrous Yorkminster Park Baptist Church. A fundraising event in support of The Toronto Artillery Foundation
Congratulations to the Pittsburgh Penguins Stanley Cup champions and to two time Stanley cup winner and 2016 MVP Sydney Crosby…congratulations KID.
Our dog Jimmy was a wonderful dog. He was the sweetest most loving and gentle spirit. A friend and companion for 10 glorious years. He was our treasure.
Jimmy passed peacefully in Agnieszka’s arms today.
Jimmy “Showtime” McDermott, left us after battling a foe that couldn’t be beat. He brought us 10 years of love, laughter and joy, and was a daily companion to Agnieszka. His presence will be missed but the memories are forever.
John, Agnieszka and Sunny (Jimmy’s wee boy)
Over the new year, John was able to speak with (and sing for!) the astronauts of the International Space Station.
It has been a wonderful and exciting year and once again 2016 is shaping up to be one of our busiest with shows from coast to coast. We tour British Columbia and the Prairies in April and May, then Atlantic Canada in the Fall followed by our annual Christmas tour of Ontario and U.S. destinations.
Jason, Maury, Mick and I look forward to seeing you all soon. We want to wish everyone a joyful and Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year .
John
Registration for the 2016 Friends of McDermott House Canada Charity Golf Tournament & Concert is now live on GolfLifeNavs.com Please review it and register your foursomes. As you will see after filling out the registration form you will be directed to McDermott House Canada’s web site for payment.
Click here for complete information and a registration form.
Raised on Songs & Stories is a new kind of recording, borne of a collaboration between me and musician/arranger Eric Robertson.
For the last ten or so years Eric Robertson and I have toyed with the idea of recording an album with no breaks, no silence between the tracks – just one single, continuous flow of music from start to finish. That idea finally bloomed this year.
All of the songs you will find here are ones that I have enjoyed my entire life, deeply rooted in my Scottish heritage—but with the occasional nod to my Irish ancestry—with “Dublin in the Rare Ould Times” and “Yesterday’s People” (written by Finbar Furey) truly heartwrenching.
Eric’s skill as a musician and arranger shine through in many places, but particularly in two medleys “The Way It Was” and “Aunt Margaret’s Mirror” – as well as short musical interludes that link each song together. Truly beautiful.
“And I no more Shall be Passing this Way” is very special to me. It was written by Darcy Broderick (Irish Decendants) for my father shortly after his passing in 1995. I think it’s a beautiful tribute to “my old man”.
Songs include: Auld Lang Syne • The Way It Was (a medley of four of our favorite Scottish songs. “Kate Dalrymple”, “Auld Reekie”, “Road to the Isles” and “The Skye Boat Song”) • Leezie Lindsay • Ae Fond Kiss • The Rare Ould Times • The Bluebells of Scotland • Aunt Margaret’s Mirror (a set of four Scottish airs: “Almond Water”, “Lord Balgonie’s Favorite”, “O’re the Hills and Far Away”, and “The Lee Rig”) • The Rose of Allendale • Comin’ Thro’ the Rye • Yesterday’s People (written by Finbar Furey of The Fureys) • The Loch Tay Boat Song • Flower of Scotland • I No More Shall be Passing this Way
We’re very close with the new box set “From There to Here“ and it will be available this Spring in a limited edition. Each set will include 3 DVDs that will trace my career from its very beginning in 1992 – as well as a CD of the songs from my very first concert in Halifax in 1994.
I was amazed at the amount of footage we had from my very beginnings and the interviews are truly enlightening with so many beautiful memories captured and I am looking forward to sharing them with all of you.
Preliminary title: When Worlds Collide, My Journey
As we progress with the collection of stories and source all the characters and people who have impacted my family and my life, it is taking just a little bit longer to complete a first draft. Hopefully by early February we will have it complete.
There are so many wonderful recollections and stories that we just could not rush ahead without including as many as we could. We are still receiving letters and e-mails from people across the country and around the world. I am amazed at the volume and so we are a little delayed but I promise it will be worth the wait.
Ron Hynes passed away this evening—he truly was “the man of a 1000 songs”. God’s speed Ron, you will be missed.