What does this say about our music industry? Nothing good, I suppose. Or else it says something amazing about TTC busking.
Apr. 7, 2005. 01:00 AM
Give him a token of your appreciation
Give him a token of your appreciation
Known as `Professor,' the music teacher
EMILY CHUNG
EMILY CHUNG
STAFF REPORTER
Hearing Avril Lavigne in concert will cost you at least $48.75. But riding the Rocket, you might score a free performance by another 2005 Juno winner.
Adam Solomon fronted two tracks on the World Music Album of the Year: African Guitar Summit, from CBC Records, also featuring Mighty Popo, Madagascar Slim, Donné Robert, Alpha Yaya Diallo and Pa Joe.
But yesterday morning, three days after winning Canada's top music award, he was singing his heart out in the Bloor subway station. He's been busking there on and off for five or six years.
"I like it because the acoustics in the subway are so great," he explained in an interview. "It's practice for me, too, plus in the subway I meet many people who like my music."
Solomon mixes traditional African musical rhythms and styles with jazz and blues, accompanying himself and other musicians on lead, rhythm and bass guitar or keyboards. Solomon says getting gigs in Toronto is tough because there are few venues and many musicians. When he isn't performing, he runs workshops and teaches music; for this, he is known to his fans as "the Professor."
Born in Mombasa, Kenya, Solomon started playing with his cousins in a band at 13. He soon decided that he was serious about a career in music, moved to the big city and hooked up with better known musicians such as Joseph Kamaru.
Kamaru and his band were touched by the plight of the Juakali, a group of homeless metal craftspeople. "So we did (a) song asking the government to give them help and shelter instead of harassing them."
That caught the attention of police. In 1992, after Solomon's mother was beaten and subsequently died, he fled to Canada as a refugee.
Since moving to Toronto, he has started the band Tikisa, toured with the AfroNubians and released a solo CD.
He will perform at the Toronto Jazz Festival this summer. In the meantime, lucky commuters can catch him in the subway.
With files from Bill Taylor
Adam Solomon fronted two tracks on the World Music Album of the Year: African Guitar Summit, from CBC Records, also featuring Mighty Popo, Madagascar Slim, Donné Robert, Alpha Yaya Diallo and Pa Joe.
But yesterday morning, three days after winning Canada's top music award, he was singing his heart out in the Bloor subway station. He's been busking there on and off for five or six years.
"I like it because the acoustics in the subway are so great," he explained in an interview. "It's practice for me, too, plus in the subway I meet many people who like my music."
Solomon mixes traditional African musical rhythms and styles with jazz and blues, accompanying himself and other musicians on lead, rhythm and bass guitar or keyboards. Solomon says getting gigs in Toronto is tough because there are few venues and many musicians. When he isn't performing, he runs workshops and teaches music; for this, he is known to his fans as "the Professor."
Born in Mombasa, Kenya, Solomon started playing with his cousins in a band at 13. He soon decided that he was serious about a career in music, moved to the big city and hooked up with better known musicians such as Joseph Kamaru.
Kamaru and his band were touched by the plight of the Juakali, a group of homeless metal craftspeople. "So we did (a) song asking the government to give them help and shelter instead of harassing them."
That caught the attention of police. In 1992, after Solomon's mother was beaten and subsequently died, he fled to Canada as a refugee.
Since moving to Toronto, he has started the band Tikisa, toured with the AfroNubians and released a solo CD.
He will perform at the Toronto Jazz Festival this summer. In the meantime, lucky commuters can catch him in the subway.
With files from Bill Taylor
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