MUCH MASTER T: One VJ's Journey



For Immediate Release from ECW Press


MUCH MASTER T: One VJ's Journey

By Tony Young and Dalton Higgins


Master T has been an urban pop culture icon at "the nation's music station" over the last decade; in fact, he'd been an employee of Much from the time their doors opened in 1984. In 1990 he hit the air fulltime as a VJ with the intent of raising the profile of urban music in Canada. Since then he has earned a reputation for his relaxed, well-researched style and has been personally requested by musical artists such as Shaggy, Eminem, and the Spice Girls for high-profile interview segments.


This part-Much-retrospective, part-autobiography will provide a behind-the-scenes look at the man behind the music as he rubs shoulders with A-list celebrities from Barry White and the Backstreet Boys to Mary J. Blige and Madonna. Much Master T begins with Tony's immigration from England to Canada, covers his rise as a pitchman for the hugely successful Dance Mix CDs, discusses his views on the diversity of Canadian TV, and reveals his role in developing Much's unconventional style of political reportage. Included are tales of the trade from interviewing Tupac just days before his murder to coercing a very pregnant Lauryn Hill to perform an exclusive gig at his MuchMusic goodbye block party.


From the foreword to Much Master T by Shaggy:


"He understood the journey and the music. He not only spoke our language but he was very connected to the streets. He was the first representative of a "mainstream" media outlet to introduce urban music and style to the masses. He was also very much in touch with reggae music and responsible for the popularization of both urban and reggae music in Canada ...I would all but refuse to be interviewed by anyone else."


Tony Young (a.k.a. Master T) has released the first of a series of Master T-branded Urban Vibes cd compilations on EMI/Virgin Records as well as DVDs from his own Fullstedd production company. His music label, Serro Records, is developing Canadian talent and his website, Tmediamachine.com, is a one stop urban portal that will help Canadian entrepreneurs market their wares.


Dalton Higgins is one of the most provocative observers of pop culture in Canada. His works have appeared in The Source, Vibe, Amazon.com, Saturday Night, Now, the Toronto Star and CBC Radio One. The former editor of Word Magazine was a pundit on CTV's Talk TV Chat Room.


Join us at the MUCH MASTER T: One VJ's Journey book launch at Revival, 783 College St, November 20th from 7pm onwards. Between 8-9pm enjoy complimentary Courvoissier. 15$ at the door will get you a copy of the book and performances by I Drum Afro Percussion, dancer Augustus Malabre and vocalist Nicky Lawrence. Milton Blake will MC the evening hosted by Much Master T and DJ Dave ìDCî Campbell.


Much Master T available at all fine bookstores nationwide November 11th!

Posted:
Sun - March 16, 2003 at 04:45 PM      

©