Media Release May 1, 2024
Regions Best of The Best Honoured By Forest City London Music Awards London Music Hall of Fame
Hip hop, children’s music, and 1960’s pop makes up the class of 2024 being inducted into the Forest City London Music Awards, London Music Hall of Fame during the Forest City London Music Week June 9 -16.
These individuals have carried the London Ontario banner across the country and around the world.The three new members of the Hall of Fame represent the breadth of talent from London and Southwestern Ontario and demonstrate that London Ontario has always been a place of music:
• Shad: Shad (Shadrach Kabango) is a rapper and presenter of Rwandan origin, born in Kenya and raised in London, Ontario. A two-time Forest City London Music Awards winner he has also been nominated for a Juno and shortlisted for the Polaris Prize. He was also the host of Q on CBC radio.
• Glenn Bennett: Glenn Bennett is a children’s music artist who won fans across North America and around the world. Signed to BMG music he released several top selling records and addition to producing and staring in his own kid’s television show. • The Capers: The Capers described themselves as being “incomparably versatile”. Their international following included aficionados of pop, funk, jazz, country, and of course, rock and roll music. Their audience founded fan clubs in Canada, as well as many of the larger cities in the United States.
“As we honour distinguished musicians and music community builders from our area, we uncover the tremendous impact the class of 2024 Hall of Fame inductees have had in our region and around the world” says London Music Hall of Fame Chair, Mario Circelli.
The 2024 Lifetime Achievement honourees represent individuals that have dedicated themselves to helping to build the regions music community over decades. “These lifetime achievement” recipients understood that any movement worth it’s cause starts from the ground up” says Circelli. These honourees gave Londoners a place to play or helped to add diversity to the music community.
• Ian Davies: Ian has been part of the fabric of the London music community for some 50 years. As a radio programmer and show host, music director and concert promoter. He has been raising the flag on local music and musicians since the beginning of his career.
• Siva Markandu: Siva’s journey in music began in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Despite the limited local scene, his passion for music thrived as he supported indie bands. After moving to Canada and enrolling at Western University he helped to change the music sound of London. As a DJ, venue manager and music promoter he helped to build London’s early hip hop, rap and urban music scene.
• Helen Haller: Helen owned and operated the Embassy Hotel with the Haller family for nearly 30 years, and under her leadership the Embassy became a legendary cultural venue for music performances of all genres. She encouraged local musicians to make music and gave them a venue to do so.The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes outstanding contribution to the music community over several decades.
Past honorees include: Amabile Choirs of London, metal stars Kittie, Doug Varty, Garth Hudson (The Band), Joey Hollingsworth, McAuley Boys, Phil Murphy, Orchestra London, dance band leaders Alf Tibbs and Johnny Downs are among those honoured. Memorable moments included 1970s’ rock band Thundermug reuniting for the 2006 ceremony and Canada’s Country Gentleman Tommy Hunter accepting an on-stage honour at his farewell concert at the RBC Theatre at Budweiser Gardens (then the John Labatt Centre) in 2012.
The London Music Hall of Fame is curated by the FCLMA and is Canada’s only city specific music hall of fame.
