Beatles Hall of Famer
Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia
Ever since Hal Bruce witnessed the North American birth of The Beatles in February 1964, his musical influence was molded permanently. Since then, he has studied every song ever recorded by his heroes, from the instrumental parts to their unique vocal stylings.
It was because of The Beatles that he decided to form his first band at the age of 14. His passion for their music grew with every new album release...thus increasing his ever-growing repertoire. Because Hal sang along with every Beatles song since he was 11 years of age, his vocal stylings are very reminiscent to the original recordings...a feat not too many solo artists have accomplished.
Since 2000, Hal has embarked on lengthy journeys which have taken him to concert settings throughout the world. His unique Beatles Tribute has netted invitations to the "International Beatle Week Festival" in Liverpool, England for 7 consecutive years; numerous concerts in Adelaide, Australia at the "Australian Beatles Festival"; "Abbey Road On The River Beatles Festival" in Cleveland, Ohio and Louisville, Kentucky (where Hal set a world record by performing a non-stop medley of all 214 recorded Beatles songs); "Abbey Road At The Races" Beatle Event in New Kent, Virginia; "Latin Beatles Festival" in Buenos Aires, Argentina; "Beatles Day Festival" in Mons, Belgium; Luxembourg concerts; as well as Beatles events and concerts throughout Canada. His appearances throughout the world as one of the world's best Beatles Performers has earned him the honor of being named "The Cavern's Very Best Friend!"
He has recorded three acoustic Beatles tribute Cds, Volume I "In My Life...", Volume II "I Will...", and Volume III "Thank You Girl", all recorded at Ferguson Music Productions in Dartmouth (Scott Ferguson).
"Hal Bruce represents the magic of The Beatles with a tremendously entertaining show that enraptures people everywhere he goes...I too, was spellbound!!" Sam Leach - The Beatles' first Promoter/Manager, Liverpool, England
"Hal is, without a doubt, one of Beatle Week's finest performers...he is welcome at The Cavern anytime!" Bill Heckle - "International Beatle Week" Organizer, Liverpool, England
"I was astounded when I came across the music of Hal Bruce! He's been a clear fan favorite at our events." Gary Jacob - "Abbey Road On The River" Organizer, Cleveland, Ohio
"Hal performs the music of The Beatles with a remarkable resemblance to the originals! 'A Day In The Life'...one voice and one guitar...you have to see it to believe it!" John Meir - Entertainment Presenter, deCoste Centre, Nova Scotia, Canada
"Hal Bruce captures the true spirit and energy of The Beatles in his live show and on CD. He achieves such a high level and standard which makes him not just another tribute show. If you haven't seen him...what are you waiting for!" Peter Miniaci - Beatlemania Shoppe Owner, Toronto, Ontario
"Hal Bruce is The Cavern's Very Best Friend...we love this man!" Steve Panter - The Cavern's Veteran MC and Host, Liverpool, England
Hungary's Best Beatles Tribute
Budapest, Hungary
Hal Bruce met The BlackBirds (from Hungary) last August in Liverpool, England at The International Beatle Week Festival. Right away they became instant friends with Hal and vise versa..."We all went to each others shows as much possible, giving each other great support!" After the festival was over, Hal decided that Halifax had to have a BlackBirds' experience at The 3rd Annual Event, and couldn't wait to invite them to our capital city of Halifax.
The BlackBirds was formed in 2004 by four youngsters from Budapest, capital of Hungary. Their love and respect for the Beatles’ music brought them together. Their dynamic performance, the atmosphere they create on stage is really comparable to the Fab Four’s. Over the last four years the BlackBirds have toured several European countries from Spain to Norway with great success. But the greatest honour for them was to be the first Hungarian band to be invited to the legendary Beatle Week in Liverpool, England. They performed seven concerts there, including three in the Cavern Club – with great success. And now István Békei (bass, vocals), Zsolt Derecskei (guitar, keyboards, vocals), László Dobos (guitars, vocals) and György Hoffmann (drums) want to show their talents to the public overseas as well.
Celebrated John Lennon Tribute
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Jay Goeppner has been singing as John Lennon for over 25 years. He is an energetic, award-winning sound-alike who has a passion for the music of John Lennon that shines through in every performance. When you hear him sing, you get a sense that John Lennon is in the room with you. This is a reflection of the love and passion he has for John and his music.
Jay has performed in numerous bands over his career and has traveled far and wide to great acclaim. He is currently the lead singer of "Instant Karma", a John Lennon tribute band that consists of six talented musicians who share Jay's passion and love for John and his music.
In 2005, Jay travelled to Liverpool, England to perform at The International Beatle Week Festival, and from the first time he stepped up to the microphone at The Cavern to sing "Jealous Guy" with Hal Bruce, he became one of the festival's favorite singers...capturing the spirit and power of John Lennon! This will be his 3rd time entertaining a Canadian audience, so come out and see why this energetic performer is hailed as one of the world's best John Lennon celebrators...he will leave you wanting more and more!!! Just watching him perform, will exhaust you!
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Picture this...It's 1968 in a remote fishing village in Eastern Canada. A six year old boy comes home from an afternoon of jigging tommy cods on the wharf. He carefully drops the needle on "Rubber Soul", his parents' only Beatles album, adjusts his headphones and starts jamming to Ringo on his toy tin drum. These are the humble beginnings of what has become a great musical adventure.
After a string of school concert bands, a diploma in Jazz Studies, and a Bachelor of Music from St. Francis Xavier University, Scott has gone on to live his musical dreams. In the early '80's, he focused on his jazz passion, studying with renowned drum teacher, Jim Blackley in Toronto, and performed with such greats as Oliver Jones, Peter Appleyard and Dave Young. Settling in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Scott broadened his stylistic scope and in 1992 embarked on a seven year tenure touring and recording with "The Rankin Family". After hundreds of concerts in Canada, The United States, The U.K., and Australia, Scott started persuing his interest in studio production. Fueled by his work with legendary producer George Massenberg on the last Rankin CD "Uprooted", Scott started "Ferguson Music Productions Inc." with his recording studio in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
Scott met Hal at a meeting in 2002, where they both agreed that recording a Tribute to the music of The Beatles was the natural thing to do. Since then, together, they have toured the Dominican Republic on different ocassions, and have performed at England's Beatle Week Festival for the last two years. While home in the Maritimes they perform a lot of their Beatles classics under the name "Ticket 2 Ride" with amazing resemblance to the originals, so don't let the number of guys in the group fool you, you're seeing two but you're sometimes hearing four (and no pre-recorded tracks). Quite simply put...you'll have to hear it for yourself!!
Greenborough, North Carolina, USA
As most "baby boomers" did, Stan grew up idloizing The Beatles. Having just turned nine years old when The Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan's "really big shew", he was completely consumed by their music! That's when he started playing the drums.
He is an accomplished vocalist, guitarist, drummer and percussionist and he has performed with countless bands throughout the 60s right up to the present. Stan will be performing in The Summer Of Love Concert at The Beatle Event here in Halifax on June 7th with an "all star cast". He will be the resident percussionist and harmony vocalist, ocassionally spotlighted by stepping out and singing lead vocals on a couple of Monkees classics.
Stan first met Hal Bruce in Liverpool in 2000, they've been musical friends ever since, sharing the same love for the music of their heroes, The Beatles. They even got to do a few numbers when Hal invited Stan up to do a sit-in on the kit...they always said that someday they would get a chance to do a proper concert together someday, and that time has arrived.
Stan has appeared onstage with Apple recording artists Joey Molland of Badfinger and Jackie Lomax at Liverpool's The Cavern Club. He regularly performs at Beatles festivals in Liverpool, England and throughout the U.S. and now you will get a chance to see him do his thing at our very own Beatle Event in Halifax...catch him and the rest of the gang for their dynamic Summer Of Love Celebration.
Louisville, Kentucky, USA
When Mark was 6 years old, his older sister went out for the evening, and told him not to touch her Beatle albums or the "record player". Regardless, when sis came home, Mark was playing the piano, right along with her albums, never having had a lesson! He is reputed as being "completely obsessed" with the Fab 4 since that age.
Mark received private training in Louisville, KY, from Don Murray, who specialized in advanced or gifted students. Mark often arrived early to listen to student Jonathan Wolff, who later composed music for Seinfeld, Married with Children, and more.
At 18, Mark traveled with the band “World”, close friends he had been playing with professionally since age 14, These “kids” all had exceptional ability, playing intricate music by such artists as Yes, Kansas, and Jethro Tull.
Tiring of the road, Mark accepted a lengthy engagement at a popular local show venue as musical director for the house band, taking on the duty of convincingly reproducing lavish arrangements using his keyboards. Mark also sat in with or backed up incoming performers such as Chubby Checker, and Billy Joe Royal.
Having come full circle, Mark now embraces his passion for performing Beatles music with Louisville’s “The Rigbys. He owns a project studio where he records, produces, and arranges for students and performing artists. He is sought out for endeavors that require unusual or hard to reproduce “soundscapes” and orchestrations.
When Mark Beyer and Hal Bruce began work last year for the first time in Louisville for the world's first stage recreation of The Beatles' masterpiece album LOVE, a great friendship started between the two Beatle fanatics...both, who both have studied every chord that The Beatles ever put on record.
Also, Mark has been a "key" player in the 40th Anniversary Concert for The Summer Of Love at the same festival. Hal said, "I would olove to bring Mark to Halifax to recreate some of that magic that happened during that Concert in Louisville in May of 2007"...and so it shall be! He is the Ultimate Team Player!!!
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
A Day in the Life of Donna Scaglione was rarely one without music. It was her parent's belief that she had been vaccinated with a phonograph needle.
Watching The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 with her parents in her hometown of Sydney, Cape Breton began her personal musical journey as a fan of the Fab Four. From a Hard Day's Night to her favourite Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Donna loved them all and felt a personal connection to the music and songwriting.
She boasts a full and varied musical career which includes a background in musical theatre, school bands, lead vocalist for several local bands including The Aviators, her impressive Marilyn Monroe impersonation, national anthem singer and news broadcasting and commercial voice-over work for Seaside FM Radio. She hopes to further grow as an artist through songwriting and has plans to release a solo CD in the near future.
Donna has also hosted and participated in many civic and charity events in and around Halifax. She continues this work, as well as volunteering on many music and entertainment committees.
And that is what has led her full circle back to The Beatles, and back to the music she really loves.
She was asked by Beatle Event founder Hal Bruce to co-host in 2006 and last year had the solo hosting responsibilities for the Second Annual Beatle Event. She is now proud and excited to be asked by Hal to return as a host for the third year of what will surely be another successful and entertaining extravaganza.
Donna says that she is looking forward to being once again a part of the Maritime Beatle Event and invites everyone to attend what is one of the most successful entertainment events in Metro.
" Let it Be The Best Yet."
She began singing at the age of three where she was involved in her first family recordings. A tremendous trio of her mother, sister, and herself, gave Michelle a keen ear for harmonies and the ability to blend different vocal styles. Since then, she has taken the reigns of lead vocals, utilizing her powerful and souldful voice, singing many different genres of music.
Mowtown was her first major influence and was showing the crowd just that when Hal Bruce discovered her talent in a singing contest where she recreated
"R E S P E C T " by Aretha Franklin. He decided immediately that she had what it took to further her musical career. He invited Michelle along to perform in the Summer Of Love Show last year in Louisville, Kentucky, where she got the chance to show the crowd what she could do. It was during this concert that she finally overcame her stagefright...She was all smiles! It was here that she got the chance to perform with the likes of Hal Bruce, Scott Ferguson and a host of international artists.
Michelle was thrilled and honored to be a participant in the Maritime Beatle Event in Halifax, Nova Scotia for three consecutive years. She was able to bring a new face and voice to some classic Beatles songs such as Imagine and Yesterday, and the crowd loved her soulful renditions.
Although finding a love to the constantly challenging Beatles tunes, Michelle will also be following her own endeavors as she explores her own song writing,singing and recording.
Halifax, Nova Scotia
A successful artist in his on right, has been a great additional piece of the Maritime Beatle Event line-up. Last year was his first year at this Event, and he added so much to the 12 hour marathon, that he was asked to come back for a repeat appearance.
He appeared as one of our solo performers in the Solos and Duets show and went over great guns! Ian also played sax for the Jay Goeppner Super Set, The Jim “Ringo” Martin Set and the Grand Finale. We can tell you that his involvement with this Festival will net him an ongoing invitation in future Events of this kind.
Ian has also earned Awards such as Grand prize winner of the 2007 WCS International songwriting competition. His catchy lyrics make him equally at home in front of a large audience or a quiet house concert. His energetic stage show and honest presentation have quickly gained him recognition as a solid performer, lyricist and player. He was also naminated for two 2008 East Coast Music Association Awards (Pop Album of the Year, CBC Galaxie Rising Star Album of the Year).
www.iansherwood.com