Michael Buble To Be Inducted Into B.C. Hall Of Fame

Michael BubleMichael Buble’s home province of British Columbia is tipping its hat to the Canadian crooner.

The Burnaby native, who has won a Grammy and several Juno awards, was among 10 people named to the B.C. Entertainment Hall of Fame on Tuesday.

Other 2009 inductees include television and film veterans Nicholas Campbell (”Naked Lunch,” “Da Vinci’s Inquest”) and Gabrielle Rose (”The Sweet Hereafter”), as well as Terry McBride, founder and CEO of Nettwerk Music Group, the label that represents Sarah McLachlan and The Barenaked Ladies.

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Michael Bublé and Emily Blunt Break Up

It seems that Michael Bublé and girlfriend Emily Blunt have gone their separate ways, reports E! News.

According to Bublé’s rep, the Canadian singer and the “Devil Wears Prada” actress have ended their three year relationship.

“Michael and Emily are no longer together as a couple, but they remain friends,” said Bublé publicist Liz Rosenberg.

Blunt met Bublé backstage after one of his concerts back in 2005 and the singer even penned the song “Everything” for Blunt. The pair also purchased a home in Vancouver.

“It was kind of love at first sight, but for a long time I thought it was infatuation,” he told Australia’s Sunday Mail in May. “But it wasn’t. It was love.”


Junos Recap: Feist Sweeps, Celine Snubbed

Leslie Feist came, saw and conquered at this year’s Junos.

The Toronto-based, Calgary-born singing sensation known simply as Feist, walked away with awards in all five categories she was nominated- including the coveted album of the year.

“I am a soft and sucky person, and I would be soft if it wasn’t for my human shields,” the singer said just before thanking her label, her producers and her band.

Feist took home single of the year, the first award of the night, for 1 2 3 4, the ditty that took the world by storm. Feist would be back on stage to accept a few more honours proving that the night was most definitely hers.

Feist may have beat out the best in Canadian music in her categories but others were honoured during the ceremony at Calgary’s Saddledome on Sunday night.

Homegrown host and international funnyman Russell Peters kicked off the night with a low blow joke aimed at Nickelback lead singer, Chad Kroeger. Peters ran on stage quipped that Kroeger was his limo driver as fans roared with laughter knowing the singer was recently found guilty of drunk driving.

The night went on to include some spectacular performances. Finger Eleven graced the staged with a powerful rendition of their song Paralyzer, opera singer Measha Brueggergosman honoured the late Oscar Peterson with two songs, and Anne Murray did a memorable duet with Jann Arden. The show wrapped up with R&B/Soul recording of the year winner Jully Black, singing her hit Seven Day Fool.

Other winners included Halifax indie band Wintersleep getting the new group of the year trophy as Blue Rodeo was named group of the year. The Juno fan choice award went to Michael Buble, who beat out Canadian legend Celine Dion for the nod. Dion was left empty-handed in all four of her nominations.


Buble Wins Big At Jazz Awards

Michael Bublé added some serious hardware to his ever-expanding trophy collection at the fourth annual Canadian Smooth Jazz awards.

The Canadian singer took home awards for Male Vocalist of the Year and Best Original Composition for Everything. Bublé would get five jazz awards in total on Friday night at the gala held at the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga, Ont.

Nominee Alfie Zappacosta performed at the event as well as Warren Hill performing Gimme Love. Montreal’s Les Sabler also sung his hit Food Chain.

Jazz legend Diana Krall was honoured with the female vocalist trophy while performer Carol Welsma won Album of the Year.

Other winners included Randy Crawford for International Vocalist and Toronto’s Jesse Cook for Guitarist of the Year.


And The Juno Performers Are …

Feist, Michael Bublé and Finger Eleven will be among the performers at this year’s Juno awards.

The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, who organizes the annual celebration of Canadian music, unveiled the first slate of performers on Tuesday. Additional acts are expected to be revealed next Monday, a day before the nominees for the 2008 awards are announced.

“Having artists such as Feist, Finger Eleven and Michael Bublé perform on the same night will be an incredible experience for the fans and audiences watching worldwide,” said CARAS president Melanie Berry.

“What a great way to show off our homegrown talent.”

Feist previously won new artist of the year and best alternative album, for “Let It Die,” at the 2005 gala.

This year’s ceremony will honour broadcasting mogul Moses Znaimer and country singer Paul Brandt with the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award and the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award, respectively.

The Junos are set to take place April 6 at Calgary’s Saddledome. In celebration, the city will host three days of festivities beginning April 4 and set to a “Wild West” theme.


Michael Buble: Still Shy, Despite Fame

He may be a powerhouse on stage, but outside of the spotlight Michael Bublé is still the same bashful boy from Vancouver.

“I’m still shy and nervous and insecure,” the crooner, 32, told The Canadian Press last Thursday. “I keep wondering when it’ll happen, and I don’t mean on stage because on stage I’m great but in my life, I keep wondering when I’ll walk into a room and not hunch and for when I won’t be insecure and for when I won’t be too loud to overcompensate for my insecurities,” he said.
“God gave me a real gift and that was to turn off the self-conscious switch on stage and honestly, I could be naked up there.”

With any luck, his confidence behind the mic will help him in front of a camera, as Bublé also said he has acting aspirations. His younger sister, Crystal, is already making the family proud in that genre: she was part of the Best Ensemble at the 1999 Phoenix Film Festival for her film Rollercoaster.

Bublé also announced the dates for the Canadian leg of his tour on Thursday, which will begin on January 10, 2008 in B.C.


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