It is with sadness that we announce the recent passing of Brantford musician Jeremiah "Gerry" McCaw Budnark. We will post more details as we know them. Our condolences to his family, friends and fans.
Jerry was a singer/songwriter, bassist and an organizer with the Branford Open Stage.
A word from Lou, our blogger.
I was very lucky to consider Gerry a good friend. We always bumped into each other at numerous events (including quite a few Brantford Open Stages). He was always smart, funny, talented and positive. I will miss him dearly.
Once again my Heart is heavy with sad news. Our dear friend and supporter of BOS, Mr. Jeremiah Budnark has passed away at The Brantford General. Jeremiah has been battling some health issues and sadly has succumbed to the severity of the situation. Our condolences to Lynn and Michaela who were with him as much as the hospital permitted.
Jeremiah will be truly missed and I’m sure if there’s a gathering of musicians in the great beyond, he’ll be there.
He was such a sweet, kind-hearted man. He loved being around everything associated with folk music. He loved watching it, singing it, playing his bass guitar to it, and spreading the word. We will certainly miss Jeremiah, the ambassador of all things folk. It's hard to imagine the Brantford Open Stage without him.
Kathy Moore
Being friends with someone for decades gives you time to really see the good, the bad and the ugly.
Life didn't treat you well, yet you plugged along, day after day, trying to live your best life.
Your songs and your musical talents will live on in the hearts of the people you touched.
Brian sums it up well when he said "Gerry was always humble". Yes sir, you were.
I know there some amazing friends awaiting your arrival at the Pearly Gates. Please say hello to them from us.
Miss you already buddy.
Catriona McDonald
There are people in your life who are so constant, so kind, so much a part of your being that it is impossible to believe that they could ever be gone. Jeremiah McCaw Budnark was one of those people for me. He was part of my life for 30 years, sometimes very frequently, sometimes much less often, but always, always someone I loved. My condolences to those closest to him, Lynn and Mikaela, and his family, and to the many many people whose lives were touched by his music and his wicked humour. He will be very much missed by anyone lucky enough to have known him.
This is our first in a recurring series of 'Throwback Thursday' posts where we celebrate the wonderful past of the local music scene (specifically pre-2000). If you know of any videos, old posters, trivia bites, etc that would be perfect for this, please email us at blueshamilton@gmail.com
Former member Mike Daley had this to say on social media:
Baytides Cafe on King St. at Victoria was a coffeehouse with nightly performances by the likes of Edgar Breau, Russ Brice, Ken Brown, myself and Alex Bako. Ken, a talented guitarist/flautist, put together a project with Alex around '89 called the Bogus around Alex's funny and sardonic songs. Alex, who was also an actor, knew bassist Tim Hopkins from the Toy Town Troupers, who brought in Greg Allworth, a drummer that he knew from the York music programme.
The band was renamed Nine Big Dogs and they entered a battle of the bands at Mohawk College. They won, and the prize was a recording session leading to a demo tape. That demo tape was heard by Jim Skarratt, who decided that he wanted to add Nine Big Dogs to his roster, which would eventually include Guitar Mikey, the Phantoms and electric violinist Mark Wood.
Ken quit the band at that point and I, a 21-year-old jazz student at Mohawk, was asked to join on electric guitar. We signed recording, publishing and management contracts with Spy, a classic conflict of interest. Our album was recorded and mixed in Fort Erie at River Audio with Ed Stone over a couple of weekends. It came out in 1991, distributed by A&M, on CD and cassette.
"Dougie's Lament" was picked up by Don Berns at CFNY and given regular rotation for a time, which helped us to get bookings at the Horseshoe, Lee's Palace, a couple of months of Mondays at Ultrasound, the Rivoli and many more.
Spy took us out to Halifax in a tour bus where we showcased at the COCA conference for university and college bookers, where we met (and were blown off the stage by) an unsigned band doing a similar act named the Barenaked Ladies.
Dissatisfaction was growing as very little money was coming in for these strenuous efforts, and in '92 Tim Hopkins quit the group to be replaced by a young bassist named Mike Arsenault. A highlight with Mike was a live recording for CFNY at the Ultrasound complete with recording truck. Finally Alex quit the band and the whole thing was over. For me in retrospect it was a valuable lesson in the risks and rewards of the music business and a lot of fun while it lasted.
It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Crowbar bassist/vocalist Roly Greenway (from Guelph) who died on December 22, 2020 after a brave battle with cancer. Out condolences to his family, friends and fans.
Yes indeed, Roly was one of a kind. I first met and saw Roly performing with the Ascots at the Concord Tavern ( presently the home of Toronto's largest Long and McQuade outlet) I was 13 or 14 working for my parents in the cloakroom, hanging up customers coats and glued to the band every moment I could.
Roly and Rheal were together back then and what a performer Roly was. I recall during our recent "Storm the Munk" visit where we converged on him at his home in Guelph and took him from a painful afternoon to a barrage of laughs, jokes and great memories that we had all shared over the years together. We knew he was declining and was awaiting placement in one of two local hospice locations, so along with some now legal influences and some toasting with some well aged double malt scotch, we proceeded to redirect his pains and finished with an early birthday celebration because we were unsure as to what visiting restrictions might be in place at the hospice, so we gave Roly a well deserved send off.
He bravely fought a long battle and chose to face up to the obvious results of declining any further treatments. We are so glad we made the visit and we know he felt the love.
Roly came to see Mo Kauffey and I at one of our many shows at the Wooly in Guelph several years back. We had met a few times, but he still kinda freaked me out because he was like royalty to me. When on our break, Roly treated me like an old friend and gave me some extremely kind words (which I will not share) that meant so much to me.
This year (2020), the incredible album, Stage Fright from The Band turns 50. This legendary group of world renown features members from Norfolk and Six Nations. It includes the smash hits The Shape I'm In and Stage Fright.
As far as the album goes, it’s one of my favourites. Shape I’m In an Stage Fright !! C’mon! But I think it’s Ah La Glorythat really gives me the chicken skin! “Ah la glory, I’m second story, feel so tall like a prison wall.” Like “if I’m not on top of the world at least I’m upstairs”.
I am of sound mind and spirit and I wish to express my appreciation to Alex Andronache, Gil Moore, all the staff at Metalworks, for all the great years of mastering that they entrusted me with;
Lindsay and David at Yamaha as well as the crew in Germany for years of generosity for the STEINBERG sponsorship you afforded me. I am very grateful.
I thank every artist whoever entrusted me with their creative output and hope I did each of you proud.
I thank my children for forgiveness I don’t deserve and for the love they felt for me, regardless.
For old dear friends who cared long after I moved on, and for those close friends who endured throughout my life.
Thank you God, for leaving me ears when all else failed me, physically, and now I take my leave. It’s January 4, 2020 at 10:55pm. MJ had to complete this tonight.
It has Been Real!
His wife Mary-Jane Russell left this note on her Facebook page.
Canadian Music Industry Recording Engineer/Producer legend and my partner of 32 years (who I married in late 2018) Nick Blagona, has died at age 74 of complications to kidney, heart and lung disease, last night, January 4th, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Nick Blagona was in fact Nicolai Nicolaiavich Blagonadegny, of Russian/Prussian heritage.
Nick Blagona is survived by me, Alex Blagona, his wife Joanne Blagona and granddaughter Lilia Blagona all of Ipswich, UK and Anna Blagona and granddaughter Mila Blagona of Toronto, Ontario Canada.
There will be no funeral, to Nick’s wishes.
However he hopes folks who cared will gather and make music together, tell stories, play tunes Nick helped record, raise a glass or smoke a wee bit of him in the Spring, close to his birthday in May, at HALO STUDIO on Augusta St. in downtown Hamilton, thanks to Marcone Music.
Nick Blagona, Uncle Nick, Big Nick, The Tone Guru lived a large life and created a Body of world-class musical output that was magic in both quality and quantity. Nick leaves a legacy so few achieve. Thank you
It is with profound sadness that we must announce that our beloved friend and record producer, Nick Blagona died last night. We will miss him terribly, and vow to finish the project we started together a few months ago. It was very important to him. We send our deepest condolences to his beautiful and devoted wife, Mary-Jane Russell.
My heart is broken over the loss of my dear friend, Nick Blagona, who died last night. I am among the lucky individuals who called him a close friend. My last visit with him on Wednesday was more than 2 hours of sharing laughter, stories, and deep thoughts of successes and regrets. My husband Paul and I will miss him terribly, and I weep as I write this. Mary-Jane Russell, his wife, showed such love and devotion throughout all of this, and I can only pray that there is some relief together with the grief, knowing that Nick is now free.
Sad New in Rock History today. Legendary Rock N Roll producer & Engineer Nick Blagona has passed away. RIP.
Nick; I want to thank you for the amazing music you produced through the years, your resume is nothing short of incredible. I remember meeting you in the early 90's taking on a spec project with "Paradise Alley" My first opportunity to work with one of the greats, an you where so freaking cool , Me: are we going to use a click for this track ? .... You : why is your time that bad? Ha .. yah it turned out to be a hell of a track.. thank you for that brother! Also in that time I had the privilege to meet your lovely wife MJ, you two are such an awesome couple always kind and always had encouraging things to say to me which helped me get to where I am. Gracias! Through the years we stayed in touch and kept running into each other, from Ian Gillan's Deep Purple concerts, Tea Party recordings in Metal Werks, while I was tracking with Headstones and later mastering for us. Most recent collaboration with Tommy Grasley. I wish the circumstances were different but with life comes death. You where loved by all who know you and the work you have done is timeless art that will be appreciated forever! Until we meet again brother. Love and respect .
Last words from a man last night with a recording history that others could only dream of, and many in the business of recording, with the highest credentials, hold in esteem and reverence the body of work Nick left behind, a quick look at his discography would reveal many hundreds of famous albums, artists and hit singles too long to list here, but we've All heard them thru our lives.
I worked on only two relatively small projects with Nick and throughout those short weeks the stories and experiences he would share were also the stuff dreams are made of.
Nick helped make dreams come true for soo many artists globally, it's no stretch to say he left behind a major portion of what we've come to know as the recording industry,he was a key figure in its on going success. I'll take a chance here to speak on behalf of all of us in the business around the world in wishing him God bless and thank you Nick.
Nick mixed and mastered my 2015 album Crazy Things and I was over the moon to have him do it. Not only was Nick is a legend who will be dearly missed, but he was a helluva great guy.
Mary, our family and I wish to extend our most heartfelt condolences to the wonderful Mary-Jane Russell as well as all of Nick’s family and many friends.
Thank you Nick for giving everything you've got to our musical community. I will be forever grateful that you mixed and mastered "Merchants of Youth" and for suggesting I go on tour with Nina Haugen - lol. You got me and I was so lucky to have gotten to know you...read your silly jokes and know that we just lost a genious! Your spirit will live on......may you rest in peace. Love Lynn.
Nick Blagona. A LEGEND.
I was fortunate to work with Nick a number of times. He was funny and brilliant. I loved hearing his stories. His mix and mastering was both genius and magical.
Nick was a generous man. One evening he introduced me to Deep Purple in Hamilton. As we were being introduced, my friend Tom Browner and I experienced the true Love of brothers and true friends when Ian Gillian, Nick and Mary-Jane we’re reunited. You could feel the love.Looking back it was the last time they would see each other after Decades of work. Our favourite songs.
He was “The Tone Guru.”
Nick, I will miss you. Until we meet again,
Keep on ROCKIN. XO
Hamilton Spectatorreaders have spoken!Votes were tallied for the 25th anniversary edition of the paper's Readers' Choice Awards. Hammertown's amazing music scene was well represented.
Congrats to Matty Buzanko (bassist for the Overplayers and the Rest) and Hannah Bissell on their recent wedding! Below is a video where the recently wedded Matty joined the Kevin Maclean Band at their ceremony. WE'LL HAVE PICTURES SOON!
2016 marks the 25th anniversary of the Hamilton SpectatorReaders' Choice Awards. As always there are a number of musicians nominated in the Local Musician Bandcategory and there are many other music-related categories as well. You can have your voice heard by voting! Deadline is Spetember 26, 2016 at 11:30pm.
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