- Don Coleman (musician)
-
Don Coleman Birth name Don Coleman Origin Canada Genres Rock, Light Rock, AC Occupations Singer-Songwriter, Composer Instruments Vocals, Keyboards, Percussion Years active 1983 – Present Website Don Coleman on Humble Voice - The best community for art, photography, music, video and writing Don Coleman is a Canadian vocalist, songwriter, lyricist, performer and AC/DC tribute frontman.
Contents
Biography
Don Coleman is a Canadian musician whose songs have received air play on broadcast radio stations in more than 126 countries. In the early 1980s at the age of 20 he recorded his first 30 original songs with Jim Zolis (Zolis Audio), which were well received in his former hometown of Toronto, Canada. A prolific songwriter he has penned more than 500 songs since that time, in many various styles ranging from bluegrass to country to light rock to hard rock and blues.
He has been arguably labeled Canada's Premiere AC/DC Tribute Vocalist by his peers for his skills as an AC/DC Tribute Frontman/Performer and competed against more than 100 competitors in 2005 at the Hard Rock Cafe (Toronto) in the "Ultimate Jam" competition where he won the "Top Male Vocalist" award with his rendition of the AC/DC song "Back In Black".[1]
His song release titled "Women, Whiskey & Rock'n'Roll", a song that celebrates the life & spirit of Bon Scott, is featured on AC/DC's official website. The song has aired on commercial FM radio stations in Australia, Canada, United States, Germany and in a total of 26 countries.[2] "Women, Whiskey & Rock'n'Roll" has also appeared on a CD compilation Rock 4 Life PSC Partners Seeking a Cure a non-profit organization that helps fund researchers seeking grants for the study of Primary sclerosing cholangitis.
Coleman's self produced video on his version of AC/DC's single from the Black Ice album titled "Rock'n'Roll Train" is also recognized on AC/DC's official website. This video was filmed at the famed Hillsborough Railroad Museum utilizing vintage rail cars and a velocipede. His 2009 release titled "Loud Hard Fast & Wild," a song that honors the life of singer/songwriter Buzz Shearman was recognized by Moxy's official website and endorsed by Valerie Shearman. "Loud Hard Fast & Wild" was then adopted by the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes and is now played at all of their home games.[3]
Coleman also performs as lead vocalist front man with Loaded Dice, "A Tribute To Classic Rock" who have performed on the same bill as classic rock acts The Headpins, Helix, Harlequin, and Nazareth.
In March 2009 Coleman released the song "Note For Note" (in memory of Jeff Healey) which has aired on 200 plus broadcast radio stations across North America on the House of Blues Radio Show with DJ/host Dan Aykroyd of Blues Brothers fame and on numerous broadcast radio stations in other regions of the world.
He is currently recording an album titled Hell or High Water to be released in the near future, guest performing with AC/DC tribute bands in Canada. Coleman also performs with the classic rock tribute band Loaded Dice who headlined the Castrol Radical Speed Sport show in April 2010. His new AC/DC tribute band, Don Coleman with T'N'T, are organizing a tour of theaters and casinos in 2012.
In November 2009 Coleman released "Willie & Waylon", an ode to Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings, and "The Highwaymen", which pays tribute to their legendary character and their extensive contribution to country music.
In December 2009, Don Coleman released the song "Loud, Hard, Fast & Wild (reprise)" as an inspiration to everyone to be the very best they can be.
In April 2010, he released the song "Bluegrass Grows" featuring New Brunswick Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Eddy Poirier as a celebration of the change of season from spring to summer and the importance of friendship.
Don Coleman spearheaded a campaign on the east coast of Canada to have Jeff Healey, Canada's blues ambassador to the world, nominated for "Canada's Walk Of Fame". Coleman was interviewed on 94.9FM The Rock in Oshawa, Ontario on the morning show and also interviewed by CTV News, as well as, appearing in a video with Alan Frew of Glass Tiger and Ed Pilling, founding member of the band Fludd, along with other musicians and friends. Jeff Healey's wife Cristie also appeared in the video honouring her husband and the Canada's Walk Of Fame campaign.
In October 2010 Coleman released a new song from his upcoming album "Hell or Highwater" titled "Three Hanks" which pays tribute to the three generations of the Hank Williams family. The song was selected by author Susan Masino as the perfect match for her new book release about the Hank Williams family titled A Family Tradition in which the song "Three Hanks" has been acknowledged.
In December 2010, Coleman released the song titled "Cloud Nine", which he has dedicated to HRH Prince William and Catherine Middleton. The song has been acknowledged in a written letter response from Buckingham Palace in England by HRH Prince William, who has sent "his warmest thanks and best wishes" ... for the CD (Cloud Nine)... in connection with his engagement to Miss Catherine Middleton. He sincerely appreciated the kind thought. "Cloud Nine" was produced by Grammy & Juno (Taj Mahal, Bass Is Base) award-winning producer Steve Bigas of Porcelain Records.
Don Coleman appears on the AC/DC Rock'n'Roll Train Millennium Tribute CD with his two songs; Women, Whiskey & Rock'n'Roll (celebrating the life & spirit of Bon Scott) & Loud, Hard, Fast & Wild (reprise) featuring Earl Johnson (Moxy) on lead guitar, alongside members of Guns'n'Roses, Alice Cooper, Megadeth & AC/DC on this worldwide CD release.
Don Coleman performed at the Sgt. Mark Gallagher Charity Ball at the Delta Beausejour Hotel in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada in October of 2011 with the band "Loaded Dice". The Premier of New Brunswick and many dignitaries attended the event that helped raise much needed funds for the Mark Gallagher vocational school project to help less-fortunate people in Haiti.
Charity work
Coleman is well known in his native Canada for his work with various charities from his current home town of Moncton, NB[4] most notably Moncton Headstart Inc, which helps less-fortunate families in Eastern Canada. The song "Headstart", written and composed by Coleman and performed by Muzicians' Union, is the official theme song for the non-profit organization.[5] The song peaked at # 12 on the Top 25 Singles chart at CJSE-FM and has received airplay on numerous stations in Canada, including New Brunswick's Classic Rock C-103.
He has also performed to help raise funds for non-profit organizations like the "Get On The Bus" campaign, "Kids for Kids With Cancer", as well as for the world-renowned Hospital for Sick Children at the Rock For Sicks Kids Event at Rock'n'Roll Heaven in Toronto, Canada (March 2009).
His most recent charity event The Small Band-Aid Charity Concert (May 2009) A musical event for the Friends of The Moncton Hospital Foundation features Don Coleman with blind musician Shelby Murray performing Note For Note (in memory of Jeff Healey). The event which was organized by Don Coleman raised more than $2,000 for high-tech equipment for the Friends of The Moncton Hospital Foundation. The Small Band-Aid Concert DVD continues to raise further funds for the hospital.
He performed in September 2009 with his AC/DC tribute band T'N'T at The Ontario Rocks event for charity in Niagara Falls, Canada that raised funds for ovarian and breast cancer research.
Coleman recently performed at the Canadian Cancer Society event called the "Relay For Life" on June 11, 2010 to help raise funds for cancer research with the band "Loaded Dice" which is a "Tribute To Classic Rock.
He was also the event organizer for the "Canadian Humanitarian Relief Organization Charity Concert" (November 2010) at Saxby's Pub in Riverview, NB, Canada.
In January 2011, Don Coleman helped spearhead a project with the Canadian Cancer Society titled "Join The Fight". "Join The Fight" is a music compilation CD featuring award-winning artists and the brightest new stars to emerge from the New Brunswick music scene. This compilation CD includes songs from award-winning songwriters Ken Tobias, George Belliveau & Matt Andersen. The CD will be released in March 2011 and 100% of the proceeds generated from the CD will benefit the Canadian Cancer Society.
Don Coleman organized a charity concert to raise funds for the "SickKids Foundation" of the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children, with his long-time promoter Michael Bridges (Southern Cross Gypsy Promotions). His AC/DC tribute band, "Don Coleman with T'N'T" (Morgan Evans, Tim Pike, Zsolt Henczely), with guest guitarist Spencer Grabinsky (The World's Youngest Angus), headlined at The Rockpile Club in Toronto, on May 15, 2011 . The concert included very Special guests: Multiple Juno Award-Winning Artist "Liberty Silver", Multiple Award-Winning Artist "Michael Pickett", Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductees and eight time Juno award winners "The Good Brothers", along with: "Firesound", "Sharp Dressed Men", and bagpiper "James Kennedy". The benefit concert raised $2,000 for "SickKids Foundation".
References
- ^ "AC/DC tribute vocalist". Bread "n" Molasses Magazine. http://www.humblevoice.com/profile/components/gallery/image.php?iid=133773.
- ^ "International Artist". Brave Words Metal News. http://www.bravewords.com/news/88044.
- ^ "The (other) hockey song.". Brunswick News Inc. http://herenb.canadaeast.com/rss/article/607773.
- ^ "Press Release Charities". Times & Transcript. http://www.humblevoice.com/profile/components/gallery/image.php?iid=130401.
- ^ "Press Release Headstart". Canadian press. http://www.humblevoice.com/profile/components/gallery/image.php?iid=129921.
- Carolina's (NHL) Canadian Anthem - Toronto Star Newspaper
- Loud Hard Fast & Wild - Here Magazine
- Small Band-Aid Charity Concert - Times & Transcript Newspaper
- Small Band-Aid Charity Concert - Times & Transcript Newspaper Follow-Up
- Rockstar Weekly Magazine Show Review July 2010
- CBC Television Canada Interview
- Castrol Radical Speed Sport April 2010 - Times & Transcript Newspaper
- Times & Transcript Newspaper/Canadian Cancer Society Fundraiser
- Times & Transcript Newspaper/Headstart Song Soars In California, USA
- Times & Transcript Newspaper Don Coleman Hometown Hero Article Nov. 2010
- Times & Transcript Newspaper Don Coleman Gives Back To Our Community March 2011
- Times & Transcript Newspaper Don Coleman Organizes Canadian Cancer Society CD - 100% Of Proceeds To Charity March 2011
- Times & Transcript Newspaper Don Coleman Organizes Concert For SickKids Foundation and Raises $2,000 for the charity
- Don Coleman Performs at Sgt. Mark Gallagher Charity Ball with "Loaded Dice". October 2011
External links
Categories:- Canadian rock singers
- Canadian male singers
- Canadian singer-songwriters
- Living people
- Writers from Ontario
- Tribute bands
- Musicians from New Brunswick
- Musicians from Ontario
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
