Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame inducts 70's chart-topper "Last Song"

Edward Bear's Juno-winning hit also modernized with Matthew Barber cover

TORONTO, April 6, 2015 /CNW/ - The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (CSHF) is pleased to announce "Last Song" as the latest induction into the Hall of Fame. A global success for Canadian pop-rock trio Edward Bear, "Last Song" was written by front man, Toronto native and SOCAN member Larry Evoy.

This legendary song is the fourth to be inducted in 2015 and celebrated through the CSHF's Covered Classics series, a collaboration with CBC/Radio-Canada, that invites Canada's brightest musical artists to perform their own rendition of an inducted song.

Reviving this hit is Juno-Award-nominated, Toronto-based singer-songwriter Matthew Barber. Barber, whose sister is jazz chanteuse Jill Barber, has 8 albums to his credit, including his most recent, the critically acclaimed Big Romance, is thrilled to be a part of this initiative. "I associate 'Last Song' with listening to oldies radio on an old tube radio I had in my kitchen for many years. I learned a lot about pop songwriting from listening to 1050 CHUM in Toronto and 1150 out of Hamilton. It's harder and harder to find those AM pop stations these days," said Barber. "'Last Song' has a classic chorus that keeps it sounding great on the radio in any decade." Matt's rendition of the song has his signature roots sound, with a melodic organ line accentuated by driving bass line and of course, his blue eyed soul voice. The cover video can be viewed at cshf.ca, cbcmusic.ca and icimusique.ca.

Edward Bear's version of "Last Song" reached No.1 on the Canadian RPM Top Singles chart in 1973 as well as top positions in the United States that same year – No. 1 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart and No. 3 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart. The song won the band the 1973 Juno Award for Outstanding Performance of the Year by a group, and producer Gene Martynec a Juno for Best Produced Single of the Year. The recording also received a Gold Leaf Award for outstanding record sales in Canada, a Recording Industry Association of America gold disc for selling more than one million copies in the United States, and a SOCAN Classics Award in 1994 for being aired over 100,000 times on radio.

"It's an honour to be recognized for the art of songwriting and have 'Last Song' welcomed into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame," said Evoy. "Matthew's version of the song carried a different energy and emotion that both surprised, and pleased me."

The induction of "Last Song" into the CSHF comes on the heels of two of Canada's best-loved songs: "Put Your Dreams Away (For Another Day)" co-written by Toronto's Ruth Lowe, and "Mommy Daddy" co-written by Montreal's Marc Gélinas and Gilles Richer. Both songs were covered by the talented Canadian singer-songwriter Alejandra Ribera and can be seen at cshf.ca.

About the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame
The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (CSHF) honours and celebrates Canadian songwriters and those who have dedicated their lives to the legacy of music, and works to educate the public about these achievements. National and non-profit, the CSHF is guided by its own board of directors who comprise both Anglophone and Francophone music creators and publishers, as well as representation from the record industry. In December 2011, SOCAN (the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada) acquired the CSHF. The Hall of Fame's mandate aligns with SOCAN's objectives as a songwriter and publisher membership-based organization. www.cshf.ca

For a complete list of 2015 Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame song inductions and links to the new Covered Classics versions, visit http://www.cshf.ca/inductionceremony/2015-song-inductions/

About CBCMusic.ca
CBCMusic.ca (www.cbcmusic.ca) is Canada's free digital music service connecting Canadians with the very best in Canadian and international music, concerts and features. Simple and easy to navigate, CBCMusic.ca gives music fans access to 50 Web radio stations, 12 distinct genre-based music communities, CBC Radio 2 and CBC Radio 3, plus content from the most knowledgeable music personalities and programmers from across the country, hundreds of concerts, playlists and more.

About ICIMusique.ca
ICIMusique.ca (www.icimusique.ca) is Radio-Canada's online music platform. It allows Canadians to stream live radio, and listen to over 150 channels of web radio, albums streaming, special features and music news.

SOURCE Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame

Media Contacts: CSHF: Lisa Gaglia, [email protected], 416-442-3816