[intro]George Olliver with guests Liberty Silver and John Finley perform FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014, 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm on the Bell Main Stage. This is a free concert.[/intro]
GEORGE OLLIVER is celebrating over 2 ½ decades as a professional Canadian recording artist/writer/producer. He has had several Canadian hit records as lead singer for the lengendary ” MANDALA”, “GEO.OLLIVER & NATURAL GAS” and George Olliver as a SOLO ARTIST. He’s also a JUNO NOMINEEE and was music director and house band for Toronto’s no.1 r&b concert niteclub of the early 90’s – “CLUB BLUENOTE”. George has won “ALBUM OF THE YEAR”.07 for Durham Region and a MAJA AWARD for “Song of the Year”.08 from his new CD “Look Up”. He’s known as Canada’s finest entertainer and has opened for “THE ROLLING STONES”, worked along side of famous classic r&b/blues artists such as, , “JUNIOR WALKER”, “WHITNEY HOUSTON”, “ETTA JAMES”, WILSON PICKETT” and MARTHA REEVES to name a few.
In 2001, George launched his Christian music career. Over the past 11 years he has torn it up, releasing 3 albums and has won “GOSPEL ALBUM OF THE YEAR”, and also winning “MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR” 2007, as voted by the Durham Region Music Society. In late 2008 he won the MAJA GOSPEL AWARD -“SONG OF THE YEAR” with 2 nominations for GOSPEL ALBUM and GOSPEL SONG OF THE YEAR from the Gosp. Mus. Assc. of Canada-COVENANT AWARDS.08. Geo.Olliver has played numorus festivals and Christian events all over Ontario including, The Ajax Homeweek Festival, QUEENSWAY CATHEDRAL in T.O., the Oshawa Rib Fest., the MISSISSAUGA RIB FEST. the famous PRAYER PALACE in Toronto, HUNTLEY STREET TV SHOW, Inspiration in the Park in Brampton, Faith Miracle Temple (.12) Toronto,, Christian Center Church in Toronto, Unionville Alliance Church, THE LIVING ARTS CENTRE (For Sick Kids) in Miss.and many more ……. including opening on the main plateform for TONY CAMPOLO @ MISSIONFEST.09 and being the 1st Christian performer in 30 yrs to present gospel music on the CNE MIDWAY in Toronto.
In 2011 George Olliver ministered in Music on The Grace TV Television Network with Peter Youngren reaching 75% of the family homes in Ontario
His current concert/festival and recording band, “GEORGE OLLIVER & GANGBUSTER” (which was born at The Bluenote), is the hottest r&b/blues band in Toronto right now. George has performed for many of the major companies across Canada like, “TIM HORTONS”, “TORONTO DOMINIO BANK”,” Royal Bank”, “MCDONALDS”, “Remax Realty and so on. He’s also played many of the major Festivals in Ontario – Oshawa Rib Fest. “Toronto Street Festival”, “BEACHES JAZZ FESTIVAL”, “TORONTO INTERN. FILM FESTIVAL”, SOUTHSIDE SHUFFLE, MISS. RIB FEST, CHUMS 50TH ANNIV. with GORDON LITEFOOT (Nathan Philips Squ.). The band has performed at a blockbuster New Years Clelebration/06 at CASINO RAMA in Orillia, On., pe-empting the last Canadian appearance of the late King of Soul, MR. JAMES BROWN. George has just recently headlined at ONTARIO PLACE, THE CANADIAN NATIONAL EXHIBITION and was currently featured revisiting his exploits as lead singer of the the lengendary Canadian rock/r&b group “MANDALA” on the CBC TV SUPERSPECIAL “Shakin All Over”, which has aired an unprecedented 10 times Canada-wide since Jan.07 because of popular demand. ROGERS TV in DURHAM REGION has aired a TV special on George’s carreer on their top rated show, “ONE ON ONE” which has aired continuously since /06. George Olliver & G.O & Gangbuster have just completed blockbusting engagements at many of the major niteclubs in the GTA including ROC N’ DOCS, JUKEBOX LIVE, WHISTLERS and HUGHS ROOM. See George’s site at www.georgeolliver.com
In March of this year BRAVO CHANNEL featured George in the Epic Canadian TV documentary – “YONGE ST. Rockn’ Roll Stories”
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Liberty Silver was the first Black woman in Canada to receive a Juno Award in 1985, not to mention receiving an additional Juno the same night! Liberty Silver shaped the foundation of R&B/soul for an entire generation of black female singers in Canada!
From the basement mini-concerts as a young girl to opening up for Bob Marley at the Madison Square Garden, Liberty Silver has been singing around the world and touching lives by her musical stanza…
Liberty has opened for:
- U.S. President Barack Obama
- Bob Marley
- B.B. King
- Sheryl Lynn
- Maya Angelou
- Desmond Tutu
- Celine Dion
- The Temptations
- Harry Belafonte
- Don Rickles
- Joan Rivers
- Natalie Cole
- Jeffery Osborne
- J.T. Taylor
- Gladys Knight
- Cameo
- SOS Band
- Oscar Peterson
- Mikhail Gorbachev
The Canadian-born diva has been performing all across Canada and the world, her archives include:
- Antigua Jazz Festival
- Ottawa Jazz
- Jamaican Air Canada Jazz Festival
- Demurer International Jazz Festival
- Beaches International Jazz
- Guyana U.S. Embassy – Habitat for Humanity
- New York – Unveiling of Statue of Liberty
- Barbados Jazz Festival
- Greece- Technopolis
- Trinidad Carnival 96
- Mobile Alabama New Years Jam 2007
- Trustee for the Starlight Foundation, etc.
Collaborated with many musical artists throughout Canada for a humanitarian track called “Tears are not Enough”…She has sold millions of records/cds throughout the world, with all types of music from R &B, jazz, multi-platinum dance tracks, reggae, pop, country music, and gospel. Her voice can expand 6-1/2 octaves.
She won her 7 consecutive weeks on Star Search and in the mid-1980’s she took the Canadian music scene by storm when she received 3 coveted Juno Awards for best R & B Single and Best Reggae/Calypso Recording. That same year she was nominated for Most Promising Female Vocalist and collaborated on a Jazz Album nominated for a Juno Award, making history as the only multiple Juno Award Winner and Nominee besides Bryan Adams.
Liberty also co-hosted the World Basketball Championship ceremony with TV Star Allan Thicke, hosted her own TV series “Centre Stage Chronicles”, and co-wrote and performed the official Olympic theme for the 1996 Atlanta, Georgia, and 2004 Athens, Greece Olympic games. Accolades/credits include: 5 Black Music Awards, 3 Rock Express Awards, the Shuremic Award for Vocals, the Bob Marley Memorial Award, the Chin International Songwriting Award (where Liberty performed songs in Italian), The Michigan State Music Competition, 3 Genie Nominations for Acting, Jazz Reports, Top Female Jazz Singer Award, and most recently received The 2005 African Achievement Award for Arts and Entertainment.
She was nominated for the Best Female Vocal and Original Composition Award at the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards, honouring George Benson.
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“Let Me Serenade You”, John Finley sings and writes. His extraordinary soulful style has been an inspiration to many.
By 17, he was working his first professional engagements, performing the music of his favorite blues and R&B artists while discovering the music of jazz & gospel greats such as Monk, Davis, Coltrane, Mahalia, the Mighty Clouds of Joy and the Staples Singers.
By 20, John had become a potent soul singer, pouring out his searing personal pains and joys with the gospel fervor of his musical mentors. This caught the eye of Elektra Records hit producer, Paul Rothchild. Paul wanted John for an idea that would become the hit recording group, Rhinoceros. This provided John with the wider North American audience. Working with other great young artists helped encourage his innate songwriting talent while affording him the opportunity to meet and work with many accomplished gospel, soul, rock and blues acts.
By the 70’s, John had settled in Los Angeles; he currently splits his time there with his native Toronto. He penned songs for Three Dog Night, Ben Vereen, Ivan Neville and Melissa Manchester and many others and has performed as a studio vocalist on projects with Andre Fischer (Rufus, Natalie Cole), Michael MacDonald, Donna Summers, Joe Sample (the Crusaders) and Alexander Hamilton & the Voices of Inspiration. John has also spent many years performing in the Southern California gospel music scene with greats such as the Rev. James Cleveland, Andre Crouch, Daniabelle and Walter & Edwin Hawkins as well as the L.A. Mass Choir and numerous others.
In the 90’s, John’s interest returned to another of his earliest roots: Jazz. With associate Danny Ironstone, John embarked on a life fulfilling project: SOULBOP. This concept began at as they went over some of their common jazz favorites, and quickly developed into reinventing such classics as “Blue Skies” and “They Can’t Take That Away From Me” in addition to original pieces and included world renowned personnel such as Philip Upchurch.
Meanwhile, by 2002, John was returning with increased frequency to his native Toronto for the resurrection of his earliest roots, recording and performing with the newly reformed legendary Canadian Checkmates. Since then he’s performed in major venues such as Massey Hall, on Canada’s premier jazz station, jazzfm91 and at Four Square Church with the Northern Gospel All-Stars. John also mentors and gives music symposiums.
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