Alex and Ted Barris have been covering the Canadian arts scene as journalistsand broadcasters for several decades. In that time, they’ve interviewed someof the biggest stars on the Canadian music scene, not to mention sitting in onjam sessions, going backstage at concerts and traveling on the tour bus — allin pursuit of bringing their audience a little closer to the artist. Thatpursuit has now culminated in one of the great Canadian gift books of the season? Making Music.

The artists in these pages come from all genres of music, from classical tojazz, opera to big band, folk to rock, and country to alternative. Anecdotal,insightful, and illustrated with more than 150 black-and-white photographs, MakingMusic is a timely and entertaining tribute to those Canadian artists whohave contributed to one of the world’s great music legacies.

Making Music celebrates those remarkable Canadian Musical artists whohave entertained audiences at home and around the world from the early 20thcentury to the present day. From Paul Anka to Neil Young, from Maureen Forresterto k.d. lang, and from The Happy Gang to the Tragically Hip, this volumeincludes colourful biographies of nearly 200 performers whose talents are aswide and diverse as the country they call home.

These are much more than biographies: each profile reflects the Barris’sinsider status in the Canadian musical community, with fascinating commentary,anecdotes, and insights into the achievements, struggles and personality of eachartist. The profiles include:

Susan Aglukark · Long John Baldry · Wilf Carter · RobertCharlebois · Trump Davidson · Downchild Blues Band · The Happy Gang · OfraHarnoy · Diana Krall · Gordon Lightfoot · Oscar Peterson · Neil Young

Beautifully designed and packed with photos of the artists, Making Musicis a wonderful resource and an entertaining read from cover to cover.

Alex Barris is a writer and broadcaster, well-known for his CBC TV and Radio appearances for several decades. He was the host of a number of television variety programs, including “The Barris Beat,” in which he profiled many Canadian musical artists. Among his publishing credits are Front Page Challenge: History of a Television Legend; Hollywood’s Other Men; Hollywood’s Other Women; Hollywood According to Hollywood; Stop the Presses! The Newspaperman in American Films, and with Ted Barris, Days of Victory: Canadians Remember 1935-1945 and Making Music: Profiles from a Century of Canadian Music. Alex Barris is a member of the Order of Canada. He and his wife, Kay, live in Toronto.

Alex Barris' profile page

Ted Barruis' profile page