ICRF PRESENTS:

ICRF Presents: The 80's • Tuesday April 2, 2024 at 6:00 pm • Koerner Hall


Entertainment

Meet The Performers

"The Sugar Hill Gang" with Wonder Mike, Master Gee and HenDogg featuring DJ T Dynasty - the Fathers of Hip Hop

In 1979, the Sugarhill Gang crashed through the walls of the urban cities and into the mainstream of society with the first worldwide rap hit, "Rapper's Delight." Two of the original members of this historic group, Wonder Mike (Michael Wright) and Master Gee (Guy O’Brien) had teamed up with Henry Jackson (pka Big Bank Hank) to become the now famous Sugarhill Gang. 


Sugarhill Gang is believed by many to be the first professional Hip Hop group, because they introduced to the masses (both in the United States and overseas) this unprecedented genre of music. “Rapper's Delight” eventually sold over 8 million copies, and went on to be the biggest selling rap single of all time.  Even today, it continues to appeal to audiences of all ages.  


Shortly thereafter, the Sugarhill Gang released such hits as “Apache,” “8th Wonder” and “Living in the Fast Lane.”   Wonder Mike and Master Gee teamed up with Henry Williams (pka Hendogg) and DJ T. Dynasty both who has performed with the group for 20 years and counting creating new music , while still pleasing the crowds with their greatest hits. 


In the Summer of 2009, they released their first song in 25 years with international DJ phenom Bob Sinclair called “LaLa Song,” which quickly became an uber hit overseas, securing Song of the Year for many European countries, including Italy.  The hit single is currently being released in the United States.   


Wonder Mike, Master Gee, Hendogg and DJ Dynasty continue their tradition of creating a party atmosphere that makes everyone dance the night away as they perform for sold out crowds throughout the world.

Gowan

Scotland born, Canadian musician, "Gowan" is Styx keyboardist/vocalist/songwriter for the past 25 years and has played over 3000 shows with the band to date. Styx have been among the highest grossing bands in America for decades. Their most recent album of 2021 “Crash Of The Crown” reached the #1 spot on Billboard’s Top 100 rock albums. 


Prior to joining Styx, his solo recording career produced 4 Platinum records, 3 Gold records, 1 Platinum single and achieved “Classic Status” for over 100,000 spins on Canadian radio on four Gowan songs: Strange Animal, A Criminal Mind, Moonlight Desires and Dancing On My Own Ground.


A Criminal Mind was both a number one song and Juno award winner for Best Video of the year in 1985. It is also a staple in the Styx repertoire and that version appears on the "Styx 21st Century Live" record. 


Gowan has played at the Super Bowl twice and in 1998 he along with the London Symphony played his original song "Healing Waters” at the opening of Princess Diana’s memorial at her home in Althorp, England.


Lawrence Gowan’s career as a professional musician began at the age of 19 shortly after attaining an ARCT in classical piano performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, and he thrives in the hope that the gods-of-rock will smile upon him for years to come...   



Alan Frew of Glass Tiger

Alan Frew is a multi-platinum selling songwriter, (with over 7,000,000 albums sold),  public speaker and author of the best-selling book ‘The Action Sandwich-A Six Step Recipe to Success by Doing What You’re Already Doing’.


His work with Glass Tiger has garnered him five Juno Awards, a Grammy nomination, five Canadian Classic Awards, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Award, and an induction into Canada’s Walk Of Fame. 


In addition to writing numerous number one and top ten hits Frew also co-wrote the iconic theme song, ‘I Believe,’ for the 2010 Olympic Winter of Vancouver. 


In his illustrious career, he has toured with artists including Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, Fleetwood Mac, Cheap Trick and more and as a staunch supporter of our armed forces Alan has visited with and performed for them in far corners of the world including, Bosnia, Israel, Egypt, Oman, Dubai and Afghanistan.


The Spoons

Formed in 1980, an intrepid young band from Burlington, Ontario would soon make "Spoons" a different kind of household word. They would help define the sound of pop and New Wave in the 80's with hits like Nova Heart, Romantic Traffic, Old Emotions and Tell No Lies.


Their album Arias & Symphonies would go on to be named one of the "20 Most Influential Albums of the 80s" by The Chart magazine and their song "Nova Heart" would be included in Bob Mersereau's book "The Top 100 Canadian Singles of All Time"...


Not bad for a bunch of kids from Burlington, Ontario.


Gord Deppe and Sandy Horne, along with drummer Chris McNeill and keyboardist Scott Macdonald, continue to perform to this day, with no end in sight for the retro 80s phenomenon. Recently they celebrated their 40th anniversary with the Repeatable compilation album and Echoes, a collection of re-recordings of their songs by other 80s artists from around the globe. "Truly one of our proudest achievements ever," according to Gord Deppe. 


The retro 80s movement shows no sign of slowing down. Not one bit. And as far as Sandy, Gord and a lot of fans are concerned, that is a very good thing indeed.


More performers to be announced soon!

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