98 degrees
#SPOTTED: JEFF TIMMONS IN TORONTO FOR “MEN OF THE STRIP” TOUR
After hosting a The Chippendales Event in Las Vegas to rousing success, 98° Member Jeff Timmons is now in Toronto taking it one step further with his MEN OF THE STRIP Tour! Touching-down at Uniun Nightclub last night, the Troupe of Exotic Male Dancers teased and pleased a packed Crowd of Women, demonstrating the choreography of Co-Founder Glenn Douglas Packard.
Las Vegas-Resident Timmons, Packard a sampling of the Dancers on the Tour including Keith and Joel, were out and about promoting the sizzling Affair around the City this morning. Stop-offs included KISS 92.5‘s The Roz & Mocha Show and also a visit to Global Television‘s The Morning Show (National Edition).
Just in Toronto earlier this year for the Megashow known as The Package Tour alongside New Kids on the Block and Boyz II Men, the future currently is uncertain for 98°, one of the biggest Boy Bands of the ’90s, after releasing their latest Disc 2.0, which charted the U.S. Billboard Hot 200 Chart.
Still looking in top form, Timmons came-out and hugged a Fan he recognized from his Show last night, coming-out to support him again today. Perfect for the Holidays, we took a Snap by Shaw Media‘s gorgeous Holiday Tree, just put-up this weekend. Timmons et al. were of course amazingly nice, getting Billy in on the fun!
Click here to learn more about Men of the Strip. A Reality TV Series based on the Troupe also currently is in development!
See our Snap:
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
#SPOTTED: 98° IN TORONTO FOR “THE PACKAGE TOUR”
In-town for their much-hyped The Package Tour, Popular former-Boy Band 98° are in Toronto right now and promoting their latest Disc, 2.0 along with the Testosterone-packed Show in which they share the spotlight with the likes of NKOTB (New Kids on the Block) and Boyz II Men. The Band hits Air Canada Centre tonight, returning once again on Sunday, July 28, 2013.
Members Drew Lachey and Jeff Timmons visited CP24 Breakfast, while Frontman Nick Lachey and Justin Jeffre were assigned to Global Television‘s The Morning Show (Toronto Edition) earlier today and I was lucky to get a Snap with the latter two, who were more than nice despite being in a rush. Click on each link to watch their Interviews.
Released on Entertainment One, the Disc includes current Single Microphone, their first in over eleven years.
#NEWMUSIC: NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK INK DEAL WITH UNIVERSAL MUSIC CANADA | NEW SINGLE: “REMIX ( I LIKE THE)”
Teen Hearthrobs New Kids on the Block are back with their first Disc since 2008’s The Block and they are ready to deliver their The Package Tour this Summer together with 98 Degrees and Boyz II Men. It was just announced today that the 80-million-album-selling Quintet have inked an exclusive deal with Universal Music Canada and with their Fanbase still being quite rabid here north of the Border, the move comes as no surprise at all.
NKTOB‘s new Disc, 10 is due in stores on April 2, 2013 and its new Single Remix (I Like The) already is available digitally.
The Package Tour hits Toronto on July 27, 2013 at Air Canada Centre.
Check-out Remix (I Like The) below:
I had the pleasure of seeing NKOTB live back in the Summer 2011 and it was amazing!
See them perform Step by Step below:
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
#INTERVIEW: JUSTIN GRAY ON MARIAH CAREY’S NEW SINGLE “ALMOST HOME” | VIDEO PREMIERE
2013’s first massive Blockbuster comes in the shape of Oz The Great and Powerful and with its release right before us, accompanying this Prequel to The Wizard of Oz is a powerful Promotional Single performed by none other than Mariah Carey. Making a Track worthy of that Film’s iconic legacy was by no means an easy task. It actually is the result of several great Musical Minds, including Carey herself, Mega-Producers Stargate (Rihanna, Ne-Yo), Simone Porter, Lindsey Ray and Canada’s own Justin Gray, whom I had the pleasure of chatting with about the making of what could be a Contender at next year’s Oscars in the Category for Original Song, won recently by Adele for Skyfall. I mean by name association itself, James Franco‘s Oscar/Oz Character already has the prestigious Award written allover it, right?
Born in Montreal and raised in Toronto, success certainly didn’t just come over tonight for 17-time JUNO Award Winner Gray. 14 years into his successful career, he finally has the chance to write with a Megastar like Carey, absolutely shocked to be gifted the opportunity. “We never in a dream world considered Mariah Carey would do it” he says, “She interpreted what we had started with and turned it into Almost Home, a beautiful piece of Art and Pop Music.”.
This is not to say that Gray has worked with a roster of Unknowns all this time. After moving to London, England with his Wife, he padded his lofty Résumé working with the likes of Amy Winehouse, Joss Stone and Emma Bunton (Spice Girls), before deciding ultimately to relocate to Los Angeles in 2007. He recalls, “I sorta thought to myself I really wanna be in L.A. and I’ve been coming here quite a bit. Finally I convinced my Wife, telling her ‘Let’s try it and see what happens!'”. Since then, he hasn’t looked back and appears to be on the verge of what looks to be a Career Pinnacle.
On working with Carey, Gray silences the Diva rumours, telling me she definitely takes a hands-on approach with Writing, stating “She was very involved. Unfortunately the way that everybody’s schedule aligned, it was hard for all involved to be in the same place at the same time. She was in New York, shooting Idol, she was super busy and we were all busy.”. Being on two coasts, I ask logistically how Almost Home was composed and he explains, “We would collaborate often via E-mail, through her Management sending MP3s and Lyrics back and forth. She would cut Vocals and send it back. Although I wish we were always in a room together, it really still was a very equal Collaboration.”.
Being physically in the U.S. hasn’t severed Gray‘s roots with his native Canada. His memories of growing-up here are fond ones with him listening to an eclectic mix of Top 40 Radio, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and Buddy Holly, the latter thanks to his1950s-obsessed Father. In addition to playing an instrumental role in 98°‘s Comeback this year penning their upcoming Single, we also can expect to hear new work with Enrique Iglesias and John Legend, plus Canadian Talent including Victoria Duffield, whom we chat with last year. He tells us also to look out for Island/Def Jam emerging Artist Smokey Jones, whom he is working with closely.
Listen to my complete interview with Gray below:
See the brand new Video for Almost Home below:
Almost Home is available now on iTunes. Buy it here.
Oz The Great and Powerful is in theatres Friday, March 8, 2013.
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Justin Gray/Universal Music/Warner Music Canada)
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