Canadian Dan Hill finds it hard to face the music Special

Toronto - The new duet “Are you Ready?” featuring Dan Hill and the late Paul Quarrington examines facing our imminent mortality. And now for Dan, it’s a difficult song to hear.

The Canadian creative community was dealt a severe blow this year when celebrated author/musician Paul Quarrington passed away on January 21st, 2010. Paul was a novelist, musician, screenwriter and non-fiction writer and also well-known around Toronto as the front man for PorkBellys Futures. His artistic genius garnered him numerous prestigious awards including two Genies, the Stephen Leacock Medal, the Governor General’s Award for Fiction, and he was nominated for a Gemini and two of his novels were short-listed for Gillers. But though Paul was highly regarded in Canadian literary and musical circles, those who knew him best remember him more for his down-to-earth demeanor and an unceasing sense of humor. And he was one of Dan Hill’s best friends. Dan and Paul met each other in the 60’s as part of Don Mills’ circle of budding musicians- a group Dan refers to as a “merry band of creative misfits”. Fast forward 45 years, and Dan and Paul had both just finished new books and new CDs to go with them. They decided to do the some of their book tour together-- though with a twist. They would play music in between the readings much to the delight of their respective fans across the country. It was on one of these jaunts that Paul told Dan that he had been diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. Over the next few months, Paul never stopped creating-- squeezing every last second out of life doing what he loved doing best—writing and playing music. His final CD and Novel entitled: Cigar Box Banjo: Notes on Music and Life are the result of his final efforts—a rollicking retrospective of his creative ride and life experiences as a Canadian author and musician. During that time Paul also decided that facing death was the perfect muse for a song. He enlisted the help of Dan and another lifelong friend, musician Martin Worthy, to help him create it. The ensuing song “Are You Ready” is a powerfully moving piece combining the earthy whiskey bar drawl of Paul’s voice with Dan’s signature dulcet tones. The harmonies, lyrics, and melody seem to be heaven sent and are guaranteed to strike a universally emotional chord. At the end, Paul was ready to answer the question posed by the tear-inducing tune—he was prepared to move on. But Dan wasn’t prepared to lose a lifelong friend, and Dan still finds it difficult to think or speak about Paul without weeping… and listening to the song is still too much to bear. Listen to the duet here A documentary about Paul Quarrington directed by Bert Kish, and produced by Judith Keenan for BookShorts / CTV Bravo will air on Bravo May 29th, 2010. Entitled: Paul Quarrington: Life in Music, it gives you an insider’s peak into the creative and often tortuous process it took for the good friends to write the tribute together. And Paul’s final book, Cigar Box Banjo: Notes on Music and Life will be released at the same time. Dan has yet to read it. He says, “Paul saw all my conflicting sides: the good, the wild, the mischievous, the profane… and frankly, I am little nervous about what he's written about me. But as always, he will get the last laugh because I can’t extract any payback for secrets he undoubtedly exposes about me to the world at large, at least… not in this lifetime. We had many embarrassing misadventures.” For those of you who are not acquainted with Paul’s body of work, read his books, listen to his music, and watch the documentary. Only then will you understand why the loss of Paul's unique brand of expression leaves such a gaping hole in the Canadian creative landscape. For more information on Paul Quarrington, visit: quarringtonartsociety.ca

Paul Quarrington on BRAVO For more on Dan Hill, visit danhill.com