First in a collection of 5 Music Life Journal interviews with 2025 Inductees into the Canadian Songwriters Corridor of Fame. The Legends Induction Ceremony takes place Friday, Oct. 17, on the Lyric Theatre within the Meridian Arts Centre in downtown Toronto.
By Jim Barber
There have been instances, all through the Seventies and into the Nineteen Eighties, when Canadian singer/songwriter/performer Gino Vannelli was identified in popular culture as a lot for his lion’s mane of darkish black hair and chiselled jawline as for the sensible insistence of his songwriting. However as soon as the picture light, folks quickly got here to comprehend that the pinnacle, coronary heart, and spirit beneath that head of hair was crammed with a unprecedented expertise, a ardour for creation, a prodigious musical mind, and a knack for crafting songs that aren’t solely of their time however have stood the take a look at of time.
With a pedigree stretching again greater than 5 a long time, a time crammed with equal components artistic expression, exposition and exploration, Vannelli has most undoubtedly earned his 2025 induction into the Canadian Songwriters Corridor of Fame, alongside Ian Thomas, Jane Siberry, Triumph and Andy Kim.
Vannelli has launched 23 albums during the last 52 years, beginning together with his precocious 1973 debut, Loopy Life, a interval of huge industrial successes by means of the Seventies with albums such because the soul-filled (and soulful!) pop/Grownup Up to date trailblazers The Gist of the Gemini (1976), Brother to Brother (1978), his huge Nineteen Eighties resurgence with the Black Automobiles and Massive Dreamers By no means Sleep data (1984 and 1987 respectively) by means of his compelling explorations of his love for jazz (Yonder Tree) and neo-classical (Canto) which additionally noticed him immerse himself an increasing number of into Italian language music. He’s additionally stripped again numerous the instrumentation of these albums to specific his pure singer/songwriter tendencies with the Americana-inspired Wilderness Street in 2019, in addition to his newest album, the reflective, compelling and shifting, The Life I Bought, which was launched earlier this yr.
With such a assorted, dynamic and aurally pleasing catalogue of musical ruminations, and with a seemingly unrelenting ardour for music and creating, the honour of being elected to a corridor of fame for doing what comes naturally for Vannelli, what has been his vocation and unalterable future for greater than half a century, is beautiful, and appreciated.
“The phrase is recognition and all people likes to get acknowledged. There’s little doubt that being acknowledged is an effective factor. And this isn’t one thing I actually considered, I didn’t anticipate it or something like that, so it’s a welcome shock. I imply, you determine at one level in your profession and your life for those who stay for institutionalized recognition and for those who do stay for it, you’ll be sadly disenchanted. However when it comes sudden, it’s potential that you simply simply really feel grateful, and that’s sufficient. And that’s sufficient, and that’s how I really feel,” mentioned Vannelli from his residence simply exterior Portland, Oregon, the place he’s lived for the previous quarter century.
Vannelli is as fascinated with storytelling, the human situation, and is insatiably curious concerning the worldly and otherworldly. That has by no means modified all through his profession, nor has his want to discover that curiosity and specific by means of numerous media, what the outcomes of these explorations are.
“It’s initially curiosity. I’m all the time focused on numerous issues, you understand, folks and their relationships with different folks, or with locations or with the seen or unseen, issues that folks would take into account mystical or spiritual or ontological or philosophical. They intrigue me. Perception programs, what folks will do to get recognition, what folks do to have success or be acknowledged by both their friends or in a love relationship. I imply, there’s no finish to the dynamics and the nuances of human existence. So, so long as you select to see into it, you’ll have one thing to speak about. After which one other factor is, I simply love the sound of music. I’m speaking to you right here from my studio, and I’ve simply produced this Italian comic artist. He got here all the best way from Italy to do his vocals right here. And it’s enjoyable, you understand. So there’s that enjoyable ingredient that also stays for me. I nonetheless prefer to tour. I don’t over-tour, however I nonetheless prefer to carry out. I prefer to carry out at a excessive stage, so I all the time ensure that I’m prepared for the stage. It actually comes all the way down to this, that when the fireplace is gone, or the flame is doused, I simply received’t need to do it. However the flame is simply not doused for me,” Vannelli mentioned, earlier than angling the dialog to the significance of all the time difficult oneself to be higher, on this case, a greater songwriter.
“To start with, it actually takes you thumbing by means of the encyclopedia of excellent writers and what they wrote. Learn their lyrics, hearken to their music if it’s co-written, nevertheless it comes, and research them, and attempt to emulate them. Attempt to write a great Cole Porter tune or an Irving Berlin tune, or a Sammy Cahn tune, or an Ira Gershwin lyric or a George Gershwin melody. Do it like an up-and-coming artist would attempt to mimic an ideal painter to start with. And once you get near having one thing that’s listenable, that’s compact in three or 4 minutes, that sends a message and has all these qualities {that a} good tune has, then you definitely’re getting someplace. However to start with, it truly is all about research, research, research, emulate, mimic and see the way you stack up. And it takes years to have the ability to all of a sudden have a passage the place you say, okay I’m prepared. For me, I began writing songs once I was 14 or 15 and I used to be able to file my first album once I was 20 years outdated [leading to his debut album, Crazy Life, which came out in 1973 on A&M Records]. And that will look like it was fast, however that five- or six-year interval throughout my teenage years, that’s a hell of a very long time for a teen. Time goes actually, actually slowly once you’re that age.”
Warming to the subject, which is sensible since this text is about Vannelli being honoured for his talent and success as a songwriter, Vannelli mentioned the following a part of the method entails self-reflection, self-criticism and being sincere with your self.
“Give it some thought this manner, there’s no solution to inform if the go well with matches you proper until you look within the mirror, or move by a storefront window and go, ‘oh that is terrible,’ or ‘that is superb.’ So, there’s no solution to know if the tune is nice till you file it, hear it again and say, ‘oh, that’s it.’ Now, generally it’s slightly complicated since you don’t know for those who’re falling brief as a singer, you don’t know for those who’re falling brief as a producer as, say, the music man or lyricist or somebody who’s simply not, you understand, prepared to specific themselves but. For me, it actually was 5 – 6 parts that had been happening earlier than I actually might inform whether or not a selected tune was actually good. Many instances, the tune was good, however I used to be not approaching it proper, or with full consciousness,” he defined.
“And generally I sang very effectively, however I want I might have written a greater lyric right here and there. After which lastly, because the years go by, you received’t let a tune exit until it’s an ideal lyric, until you get to some extent the place you don’t have to subtract or add something. I’ve my methods now, when I’m working within the studio that assist me get to that place. I’ll sing and produce one thing, then I’ll hearken to it in numerous locations: my residence workplace, on earbuds, at a good friend’s home, so then I’ve numerous ‘mirrors’ to see the reflection of my work. Then once I’m satisfied, after I’ve listened to it in numerous locations that it could’t be higher, I’ll simply wrap it up and put a bow on it. Now, we didn’t do this within the early days as a result of studio time was very costly.
“We had been recording at A&M Studios or Epic or non-public studios, and also you needed to make the day work. And for those who blended it, that’s it. It was $1,000 a day or one thing like that, and also you weren’t going to return. The file firm would provide you with no extra finances. So after you spent no matter it was, $125,000, $150,000, $200,000 in some circumstances for an album, that was it. You weren’t going to redo it. Now I’ve that means as a result of for the final 20, 25 years, I’ve my very own studio, my very own place of manufacturing, the gear that I actually need. Now I can actually sit and pay attention and say, ‘no this wants one other contact.’ Now, the sin that numerous artists are responsible of once they all of a sudden have all this stuff at their fingertips, is they’ll really overstay their welcome within the studio and beat it to dying, which takes all of the life and spontaneity out of it. In order that’s the place you must take it out of the studio, hearken to it some other place, another time, and all of a sudden you develop into the viewers, the observer, the listener, and also you’re not the producer. And also you’ll get it, you’ll know whether or not it’s cool or not.”
Whereas the artistic fireplace nonetheless burns and has retailers in each music he produces for different artists, in addition to his personal, Vannelli is coming to some extent the place he believes much less is extra, by way of how one can launch music. Although he has launched full LPs of his authentic compositions, in addition to compilation and stay albums, Vannelli mentioned shifting ahead, he’s in all probability going to place out EPs as an alternative of full-length albums.
“Artists, particularly good artists, are usually slightly lengthy winded. They usually identical to to specific themselves and communicate, in no unsure phrases, and often communicate for a short while. I actually, I’m pondering proper now that I in all probability wouldn’t put out one other album. I’ve put out 23, together with the one which simply got here out lower than a yr in the past. Going ahead I might in all probability put out simply prolonged performs with 5 – 6 songs. I feel that may be sufficient for an viewers to take pleasure in an idea. I don’t assume folks actually have or take the time to actually hearken to nearly an hour of music anymore. I feel there are too many issues happening in our lives, and I feel an artist wants to pay attention to that. There could possibly be exceptions to the rule, and there all the time is, however my feeling is simply primarily based alone habits. There are good albums that come out, and I commit a while to listening, however not like I did once I was 18 years outdated. We are inclined to pay attention nearly prefer it’s a drive-by or on the fly. So, I feel 5 cuts is admittedly sufficient for an artist to specific himself or herself. Possibly there’s a couple of actually, actually ultra-popular artists that also get off on releasing 10 cuts, however I feel for 90 per cent of the artists the EP goes to be right here to remain for some time as a result of it form of reverted again, in a wierd means, to the Forties and Fifties. I imply, in these days, artists simply got here out with a single, a 78 [rpm] the truth is,” Vannelli mentioned.
“45s weren’t out till the early Sixties, so an artist would launch a 78 each three, 4, 5 months and perhaps put on the market or 4 that yr. If that they had success, they’d play the Copacabana or one thing like that. Then when the Sixties got here round, there have been no albums. I feel Frank Sinatra was one of many first artists that got here out with the lengthy participant, the LP, in 1958 or 1959. Then it turned the staple within the 60s and 70s. Albums turned the factor. Artists put out albums and both obtained wealthy or poor off of them. As listeners, and as youngsters rising up, that was our pastime. Again then we didn’t have telephones with 10,000 cuts per stream. So, we purchased an album and we poured over that album for a month and simply listened to it and listened to it after which rigorously put it away in our archives, into our library, and perhaps six months later we’d revisit it. It was a tradition again them. Listening to music within the Sixties and Seventies and even within the Nineteen Eighties was a tradition. And it’s now not a tradition. I feel lots of people, even folks of a sure age, have a tough time to sit down down for an hour. Now, it could be that they placed on a protracted participant whereas they’re cooking, whereas they’re having a celebration, and it fits the atmosphere. However to truly park your self down on a sofa and pay attention – that’s a rarity lately.”
Expertise is clearly the explanation behind the epoch-changing means music is ‘consumed’ [editor’s note, the writer of this article HATES that term] as a lot because it has modified the best way music is produced. It has added a levelling, democratizing, cost-effectiveness issue into the music creation equation that has allowed for extra folks to specific themselves, and extra alternative for these on the opposite finish of that relationship – the ‘shoppers,’ so to talk. Vannelli was an early adaptor of latest recording applied sciences, alongside his producer/brothers Ross and Joe, with whom he’s collaborated quite a bit over time.
“By 1983, which I feel was when the primary Apple laptop, the Macintosh got here out, we checked out it and mentioned, that’s the longer term. We’re going to have one field with all of the devices obtainable on it. We knew it was coming. So, I realized the language very, very early on, which suggests I’m snug with each the old fashioned and new college. Getting guys to rehearse, all that sort of stuff, in addition to getting all the brand new software program, the plug-ins, and all these issues. I imply earlier than lengthy I might really sit down and play all of the rhythm devices. I might really create a file myself with all the brand new software program that’s out. You continue to must assume old-fashioned within the sense that, although your supply system is model new and your piano is digital and also you’re utilizing all of the Thunderbolt 5s and so forth and so forth, you continue to have to have the ability to play it and conceive it. You continue to have to have the ability to write a lyric. Folks assume that they’re going to get away with making a file with AI. Nicely, they’ll get away with it, however that’s about all,” he mentioned, including that expertise might have aided within the mechanics and effectivity of songwriting, however that his course of continues to be one that’s extremely pure, and has tailored and advanced over time extra out of real curiosity and willingness to problem oneself than merely to point out off his technical prowess with all the brand new gear.
“It varies even lately, as a result of generally it could be simply slamming the keys and simply singing out loud and issues would come out simply unconsciously. And I’d be like, okay, that’s good. After which the perspiration a part of the method would occur the place you must end it. As an illustration, the A Good Factor file that got here out in 2009, that was all poetry, all lyrics first. After which I set music to it. So, that was a complete completely different approach; numerous enhancing out of stanzas and quatrains an all that. However that was one thing completely different. One time I used to be sitting down in a café and I noticed this lady wheel, what I took to be her husband in a wheelchair. He in all probability had a large stroke or had Parkinson’s or one thing and he was shouting out involuntary sounds and all that and he or she handled him with such dignity and spoke to him as if he was a person. I knew that’s what I’ve to put in writing about, this lady, this hero that I see earlier than me. I imply, it occurs for me in every kind of the way. However when your eyes are open and ears are open, there’s these minor miracles throughout you and also you need to log them. I are usually that means. My course of is both write lyrics after which sit on the piano and say, ‘effectively, what sort of music does this need to be?’ Or generally I’ll simply sit down and begin writing music and say, ‘oh, I’ve a lyric someplace and it could be good right here.’ Generally that works out, generally it’s trimming the sq. peg to slot in the spherical gap, or the opposite means round. There actually isn’t any set course of to it. It’s simply any which means you’ll be able to. The one factor I might say is admittedly the method is when you might have one thing you need to say, you need to get off your chest, one thing you assume is admittedly necessary. You don’t care the way you’re going to say it, however you’re going to say it.
“The trick is to look at and attempt to maintain again your personal opinion, proper? As a result of the minute your opinionate, then you definitely’re not the documenter. You’re not the observer. You attempt to inform the reality, and generally you must opinionate slightly bit, however I attempt to not moralize what I’m documenting within the tune. I simply attempt to current it as is, slightly bit like [Russian playwright Anton] Chekhov would do together with his performs, the place he would simply exhibit what the story was. He would simply reveal the story, let it unfold, and resist giving us his tackle whether or not it’s a great factor or unhealthy factor. I feel that’s the place I are usually much more lately. I attempt to reveal with out cloaking it with my very own opinion. In some methods, there’s going to be my opinion in there, however it’s opinion that’s nuanced. That’s the undercurrent as a result of I’m bringing a degree out, however I strive to withstand inserting myself into it too deep, so the viewers can get, or the listener can get, taken away quite a bit simpler. To me songwriting is to take folks on a journey with me. That’s all. I benefit from the journey and I take pleasure in this place that I’ve been in penning this tune and I hearken to it and say, ‘that’s a really attention-grabbing factor.’ Possibly you’ll just like the journey as effectively. Possibly you’ve been there earlier than. Possibly you’ll be able to relate to it and perhaps it pleases you. It’s quite simple. It’s taking folks on a journey or simply merely pleasing them, making them really feel good or making them assume slightly bit. It’s nearly like giving anyone the nod to agree along with your ideas and emotions as a author. You write a tune, you sing it, and somebody listens to it and so they go, ‘yeah, I’ve been there. It truly is one thing I’ve skilled. I agree with you.’”
The legacy of commercially profitable hit songs in Vannelli’s repertoire goes again 50 years. He admits that there are particular songs, sure chestnuts that not solely catapulted him to prominence, but in addition constructed his status as a bona fide hitmaker and artist of some significance and excellence. Some artists and bands, particularly ones who’ve continued to put in writing, file and launch new music, is probably not as enthused about trotting out their hits evening after evening, particularly when the music they’ve poured their coronary heart, soul and power into recently isn’t catching on due to the hyper-stimulated nature of {the marketplace} within the age of streaming, a dying terrestrial radio business and stripped again file labels. Or they’ve determined it’s not price their whereas to hassle with new music and contend themselves with ONLY taking part in the again catalogue. For Vannelli, his professionalism, the respect he has for his audiences, in addition to for his personal exhausting work, means he nonetheless enjoys taking part in songs equivalent to ‘Wild Horses,’ ‘Black Automobiles,’ ‘I Simply Wanna Cease,’ ‘Residing Inside Myself,’ ‘Hurts to Be In Love,’ ‘Folks Gotta Transfer,’ and others.
“You all the time get slightly little bit of a rush from the viewers once you play these songs. There are six or seven songs that I can’t get away with out taking part in. And you must discover a solution to convey your spirit to it as a way to really sing it, sing it effectively and play it effectively, so folks can take pleasure in it as a result of it means quite a bit to folks. It brings them again to a time of their lives. It’s necessary to them. There are perhaps artists who don’t give numerous thought to that. I’ve heard artists say, ‘I received’t play this tune anymore. I’ve performed it too many instances.’ However for those who’re actually empathetic, you consider your viewers otherwise you consider the individual in 1977, or 1985 that listened to that hit over and time and again, and so they need to hear it as a result of it brings them again to a sure time, a sure feeling of their life. If you are able to do that on the spur of the second and luxuriate in it and actually put your coronary heart and soul into it, as if it’s a brand-new tune, then you definitely’ve mastered one thing inside you as an artist. That’s how I take a look at it. And actually, Jim, it’s additionally a code you reside by. That you just’re going to both do your finest or not. Whether or not the viewers may be very attentive, or not so attentive. Whether or not it’s an ideal corridor, or a not-so-great corridor, no matter it’s, whether or not you’ve obtained a chilly, or not, you say, ‘I’m right here for this and I’m giving it 100 per cent,” he mentioned.
“I assume a part of the code is you determine that for those who don’t take pleasure in simply singing, taking part in and being onstage, then you definitely search for all these excuses to really feel good. ‘Oh, you understand, the viewers is aware of this one higher.’ Or ‘I’m not going to sing this tune due to this or that.’ No. I don’t take a look at it that means. I select 15 or 16 songs, I’m onstage for about an hour and 45, hour and 50 minutes, and I would like to have the ability to sing effectively, and I would like the band to have the ability to play their components very well, and I would like the sound engineer to do an ideal sound job on the board. After which it turns into price it to be on the highway. If it’s not, for those who’re not reaching for that top commonplace each evening, why be on the highway? Why carry out? Too many individuals who have gotten to my age [73] sort of telephone it in, or mail it in. And it’s not nice to go see them. It’s actually enjoyable to go see somebody who’s been in it for 50 or 60 years and their coronary heart and soul is completely in it and for his or her band to be spot on. Everybody marvels at that, like seeing a man on the health club who’s 80 years outdated and nonetheless in nice form. It’s very inspiring.”
One of many methods Vannelli believes artists can keep that zeal and dedication to their music, their craft of songwriting, the excellence of their stage present and the prodigious musical skills of their band is by really incorporating another retailers into their lives.
“Artists must develop different pursuits in life. You may’t be 85 or 90 years outdated and the one kicks you will get are from being onstage. You must have one thing in your life that motivates you as a result of it’s not solely about being on stage, which is all the time going to be an pleasurable rush. You must consider the journey, getting there, flights, sound checks, accommodations, this and that. It takes a toll even once you’re younger. I bear in mind being 30 and 40 and being on the highway and feeling beat up once you’re touring 10 hours on a aircraft, and even 5 hours, and the following day you’ve obtained to rise up and carry out. And generally the lodge is ok, however generally it’s not. Someday the folks within the room subsequent door are retaining you up, or the air conditioner doesn’t work, or the meals is terrible and also you get slightly meals poisoning – you identify it. There are such a lot of issues coming your means on the highway. So once you’re older, it hurts much more. Generally once I see these artists of their 80s and even 90s, I feel, ‘I want you had another focal point in your life that may actually make you passionate. What else have you ever achieved?’ And consider me, I’ll know when to hold it up. It could be a couple of years away, or it could be subsequent yr. I don’t know, however I do know once I’m onstage how easy it’s, or how tough it’s, and generally it’s slightly tougher than different instances, however more often than not, it simply comes out the best way I would like it.”
For Vannelli, it could come as a shock to some that his outlet is one other type of creativity, that also incorporates his musical ardour, however which is for a totally completely different viewers – graphic novels.
“I’ve been writing quite a bit. I’ve simply written seven books, and the primary of the collection goes to come back out subsequent yr. I’ve additionally written music for it. Every story goes to come back with an EP, plus the narration. That’s my new mission. I’ve additionally nearly completed a protracted novel, which might be going to be round 400 to 450 pages. However these seven books, referred to as ‘The E book of Seven,’ the primary one comes out in 2026. They’re graphic novels and so they’re not that lengthy, about 120 to 150 pages every. They usually’re tales which were residing with me for a lot of, a few years. I lastly completed them during the last 5 – 6 years. Now I’m simply compiling the music for the primary one, the primary story,” he mentioned.
“They’re seven disparate tales. They don’t repeat. It’s not a continuum, however there’s an undercurrent to all of them, and so they’re all impressed by private expertise, after which I’ve taken liberties with that private expertise to expound. I actually couldn’t inform you what it’s about with out gifting away the story, however the first one known as The Falconer. They’re near my coronary heart as a result of they’re all about what I consider in and the way I see issues. And but there’s nothing I consider that’s preachy about them. Many of the guide will probably be in color and the illustrations are amazingly lovely. And there’s additionally nice narration for many who need the audio guide model. To start with, I used to be beginning to write them as screenplays, however then I modified my thoughts, as a result of I don’t need anyone messing with them. I went to some administrators and other people within the film business and so they wished to alter issues. So, I made a decision, no, these will probably be books and I’ll codify my concepts and I’ll compete them. And they’re accomplished, though there is perhaps a couple of touches that I add right here and there earlier than they arrive out. However that is one thing I actually wished to do. The E book of Seven is not directly autobiographical as a result of they had been writing from firsthand expertise. So folks might actually learn into them journey of my life, you understand, with these books. I simply didn’t need to do an autobiography per se and bore folks with my life. I wished to create pleasurable fiction out of one thing actual.”
Discussions as to how The Falconer will probably be launched, marketed and bought are ongoing, however Vannelli mentioned he hopes an announcement will probably be coming quickly.
For extra data on the Canadian Songwriters Corridor of Fame, go to: https://www.cshf.ca.
For extra data on Gino Vannelli, go to: https://ginov.com.
- Jim Barber is a veteran award-winning journalist and creator primarily based in Napanee, Ontario, Canada, who has been writing about music and musicians for greater than 30 years. Moreover his journalistic endeavors, he works as a communications and advertising specialist and is an avid volunteer in his neighborhood. Contact him at bigjim1428@hotmail.com.
