Mary Barry, Kirk Newhook and Denis Parker will each be inducted in the newly revived hall of fame.
“It is our great honour to recognize three amazing individuals tonight who have each made extensive contributions to the growth and development of jazz and blues music in our community,” said Bradley Power, president of Wreckhouse Jazz and Blues Inc. “Mary, Kirk and Denis have made a tremendous impact on the local music scene during their storied careers. They also each hold a steadfast work ethic and commitment to personal musical excellence. We couldn’t honour three more deserving people for the newly revived NL Jazz and Blues Hall of Fame.”
The induction ceremony will take place at The Fifth Ticket in downtown St. John’s
The 2017 Wreckhouse International Jazz and Blues Festival takes place at The Fifth Ticket on Water Street and the Iceberg Alley Performance Tent in Quidi Vidi tonight until Saturday.
Information about the upcoming festival, including the performance schedule, ticket prices and venue information is available online at wreckhousejazzandblues.com. More information about the Iceberg Alley Performance Tent can be found at icebergalleyconcerts.com.
A native of St. John’s, Mary Barry is a nationally acclaimed award-winning singer, composer and teacher who trained in voice, piano, puppetry, theatre and dance. She is a graduate of Vancouver Community College’s jazz program.
Barry is also bilingual artist who has performed across Canada, the US and France
Kirk Newhook has been a musician since the age of six when he started playing the piano and taking music lessons. He was the founder of the first jazz festival in the province and after many years in key roles remains the programming committee chairman of the current festival.
Newhook continues to perform with his wife Cathy in their band Cathy Newhook and the Blue Sky Thinkers.
Denis Parker has been writing, teaching, playing and singing the blues for more than 50 years. He grew up in London, Eng., part of the British blues boom of the 1960s.
Before immigrating to Newfoundland from London in 1971, Denis recorded at London’s Abbey Road Studios for EMI/ Harvest in the late ’60s. The resulting two albums by Panama Limited Jug Band were released world-wide and have recently been re-mastered and re-released on Cherry Red Records.
Parker has toured throughout the province, and at festivals across Canada and the U.S. From 1996-2014, parkers served as Executive Director for the Music Industry Association of Newfoundland and Labrador.
