CATALYSTS - The Anthem Team  

A Message from Ken Whiteley  - Anthem Recording Producer

Proudly Introducing the Anthem Catalysts

- still updating this page-

George Elliott Clarke

I'm George Elliott Clarke: a poet first - all else second. By my roots - African-American, Indigenous, Nova Scotian/Africadian, Afro-Metis - I'm nourished, but not entangled; and I'm a citizen of the world, in imagination, if not in fact. I earn my daily bread as a professor and writer, but I've also worked as a library activities programmer; computerized traffic signals controller; parliamentary researcher; student newspaper editor; community newspaper editor; social worker; parliamentary aide; and, of course, as a professor, first at Duke University and now at the University of Toronto, but with guest gigs at McGill, UBC, and Harvard.As a scholar, I've pioneered the study of African-Canadian literature; as a writer,I've brought "Blackened English" to poetry, drama, and fiction. And I've coined the term, "Africadian." www.georgeelliottclarke.net

Listen to Chris' interview: July 9/24

Chris White

With Nova Scotian roots that combine Black, White and Native heritage, Chris White was born into a musical family and developed skills as a songwriter and performer at an early age.  As a child, he performed in a vocal quartet with his siblings and sang in a choir led by his father, Bill White, an accomplished musician and community choir director.  Chris’ aunt, Portia White, was a classical singer of national historic significance, and his uncle, Lorne White, performed on CBC’s "Singalong Jubilee" program for its entire 13-year national television run.
 
Chris co-founded the Ottawa Folk Festival in 1993 and served as Artistic Director for 16 years.  Chris produces and hosts two weekly music programs on CKCU FM: "Canadian Spaces" (Canada’s longest-running folk music radio show) and "Special Blend" and received the Helen Verger Award in 2012 for his "significant, sustained contributions to Canadian folk music".

 
Karen Ashton

Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Karen is The First Lady of Electric Guitar! Think of Jimi Hendrix storming the Grand Ole Opry stage.

Linda Carvery

Still a Haligonian, Linda is the Diva of Nova Scotia's African Baptists and the VOICE of Black North Atlantic Blues and Gospel.

Ricky Atkinson

 Another Scotian "de souche," Ricky is a Toronto-based motivational speaker, talented potter, and Mr. Blues Extraordinaire on the harmonica.

Russ Kelley

For the first 25 years of his professional life Russ made his living as a musician/singer-songwriter, during which he played in a number of successful groups, toured in Canada and the US and had songs charted in Canada, including a number one hit in French Canada for Quebec's Renee Martel. Following a major vocal chords incident, he spent the next 20 years working in the public funding of the arts. He was a Program Officer in Music Section at the Canada Council for the Arts, the founding Executive Director of the Nova Scotia Arts Council, the Executive Director of Culture for Nova Scotia and he retired as the Head of Music for the Canada Council. He then returned to performing as a singer songwriter with two CDs of original songs to his credit and he continued to tour across Canada. More recently, he has focused his creative time with the Afro-Métis project, writing and performing two songs for the first CD! "Constitution " and writing two new songs for the upcoming second CD "Anthem".

Sid Ameen

Sid Ameen is a 19 year old Yoruba and Scottish musician raised in Ottawa. He has been playing piano, ukulele and guitar since his early childhood and took up the harmonica and banjo as a way of staying busy during the pandemic. He leads weekly singalongs for people with dementia and their caregivers and co-leads an inclusive choir for people with disabilities, their families and friends. A former member of a children’s choir led by Chris White, he continues to enjoy performing with him.

Sugar Plum Croxen

Like GEC, Plums hails from Newport Station, Hants County, NS, and plays beautifully all the music of that locale, but loves the accordion.

Sheila White

Sheila White is a lifelong musician and performer, who plays keyboards, trombone, recorder and guitar, sings and has written hundreds of songs. Sheila leads a community choir in Toronto, sponsored by Don Heights Unitarian Congregation, where she is the long-time Music Director and a Lay Chaplain. Twenty-four of Sheila’s songs are contained in her group’s original songbook, Power of Song.  Sheila is also a communications specialist and published author whose biographical novel, The Letters: Postmark Prejudice in Black and White, was released by Yorkland Publishing in 2023, to very positive reviews.  www.sheilawhiteseminars.com

Ken Whiteley  - Recording Producer

Ken Whiteley is a busy musician who is always involved in a number of projects. He is an active record producer, having worked on more than 135 albums. His productions have resulted in 11 Gold or Platinum albums, 22 Juno nominations, 2 Juno winners and 2 Grammy nominations, with total sales in excess of 8 million copies. He has written the music for a number of films and television programs. Whatever he does, it reflects his “brilliant musicianship and high test passion”. In the words of Sing Out! magazine, “Ken Whiteley is one of the best.” www.kenwhitely.com